verses read: Jeremiah 11:18-23
prayer: 10 minutes
Spent a large part of the day in school; followed by CG gathering. I guess the main thing is that the death knell of the music ministry has been sounded. It is with great sadness and a very profound sense of humility that it has fallen to me to be the one who has to make the decision to close it down. But it is closing not the result of failure to carry out it’s duty; but because it has fulfilled it and has now become redundant.
What will I tell my seniors? Especially those who met their spouses through the music ministry. Or those whose best memories are the nights spent rehearsing for musicals? Will tell them the truth. The ministry of music has matured enough to be handed back to the fellowship as a whole.
I will have fond memories of the music ministry; as well as sad ones. I remember the days spent at the engineering bridge three years ago; preparing for the Arts musical “No greater love”. Those were days when I hardly drove to school; staying back all the time was very draining. I was to act as some old man; and later on as a Roman Soldier who had to nail the crosses into Jesus’ arms. I still have a picture of the participants of the musical in my room. That seems like such a long time ago.
I remember rehearsing for carolling in the middle of September. Of how we found this strange corner of engineering faculty and would sing Christmas Carols in the middle of practically no where. How passer bys would stop and stare. I remember the retreat held at PMC at the end of that year; 2 guys and something like 11 girls. Was the butt of many jokes that year in PMC.
And I remember the tragic struggle I had when I felt the call to take up the position of chairperson in 2004. The first time I walked home from Parkway Parade in April 2004; to the monster 13 page proposal I wrote. All of it has come up to naught. The BCE was the beginning of the end; and the end is nigh. I remember wondering how I could get the minners involved in something which I myself had problems supporting. My fears would come true and I spent the next 6 months struggling with reconciling the min and the BCE. I failed quite miserably.
The worship project that I am now involved in was a ray of hope, for the min to regain a footing in the VCF. But unfortunately it was postponed to September. I will have to serve in my personal capacity rather than music ministry chair. And so, it will be with great sadness that I will have to recommend the closure of the music ministry to the council next week.
My heart is pained by this decision, but it is one that is a long time in coming. Perhaps the end was sounded before I even matriculated into NUS. The ministry of music is now the responsibility of everyone in the VCF.
