Chapel Services and Community Building

A few weeks back when the numbers of Singapore’s community cases of COVID-19 were rising, the whole country went back into Phase 2 of Heightened Alert with enhanced safe management measures. As a result, all our classes went back fully online, along with our weekly chapel services. How did it impact our community building?

The start of those few weeks back in Phase 2 was physically quiet and in a sense, lonely, because all of us were attending classes online and working from home. It was at this time that many of us developed an appreciation of the community EAST has at our online classes, Mentoring Groups and especially our chapel services which were conducted online. It was particularly helpful to have Breakout Room sessions during the service for brief greetings and communal prayer. Worshipping God together during the services (even online) does play a part in developing a spirit of community at EAST.

Indeed, having a committed community around oneself at EAST makes a whole world of difference in seminary life. This is especially so for our international students who are still back in their home countries attending school online due to travel restrictions at the moment. We are thankful for available online ways to conduct classes, learn together, have our Mentoring Groups and even minister together in recent years at the Mentoring Group Ministry Weekend. This additional way of practising community has opened up many opportunities to link up with ministry partners abroad.

As we give thanks for our community at EAST, it is worth noting that while being a student at seminary can be a lonely journey, the provision of a community of faith is a great counter against such threats of isolation. Community allows God’s intended means of encouragement, fellowship, accountability and support for one’s learning journey. This should also be a model for a life-long journey of faith beyond the seminary.

 

If you wish to join us and partake in the EAST Chapel Experience, simply drop us an email at eastnews@east.edu.sg and we will get back to you with the details!

 

#TogethernessInChrist #TogetherAsOne #EASTCommunity