Worship Symposium 2024
Worship for Everyone
Worship for Everyone
Be inspired and equipped to foster intergenerational worship and strengthen community bonds within your church.
Friday, 27 SeptembeR
1.30 to 9.30 PM
Saturday, 28 September
9 am to 5 pm
Toa Payoh Methodist Church
About the Theme
Understanding and appreciating the concept of intergenerational worship is essential for fostering unity and spiritual growth within the church. By involving everyone—from leaders to worshippers of all ages—we ensure that the message of intergenerational worship resonates throughout the congregation, leading to a deeper sense of community and collective worship experience.
Objectives
- To inspire the church to develop a vision for intergenerational worship within the church.
- To empower participants to initiate and support initiatives that promote intergenerational worship and community building within their congregations.
Who Should Attend
- Pastors
- Church leaders & staff
- Worship Ministry heads, staff & pastors
- Age Group Ministries (Youth, Children, Seniors) heads, staff & pastors
- Everyone!
Symposium Speakers
Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang
(via Zoom)
Topic:
A Renewed Vision from God:
An Intergenerational Perspective of Worship
Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang is an expert in the field of psychology and ministry, currently serving as the Spiritual Director at the American Association of Christian Counsellors. He has authored 17 books on topics ranging from lay counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy to spirituality and pastoral ministry. Dr Tan’s practical experience includes over 25 years as senior pastor of First Evangelical Church Glendale in California and his work has earned him many prestigious awards. This wealth of knowledge and experience makes him uniquely qualified to provide transformative insights in worship and ministry.
Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn
Topic:
Exploring the Transformative Power of Intergenerational Worship
Panellist:
Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship
Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn is the Chairman of Graceworks, a consultancy committed to the promotion of spiritual friendship in church and society through publishing and training. Since 1985, Dr Tan has been journeying with people through his ministry of preaching, teaching, writing and mentoring. He obtained a Master of Theology from Regent College, Vancouver, Canada, in 1984 and in 2006, he obtained his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, California. His primary passions include connecting the Word of God to the struggles of daily life, and the promotion of the discipline of spiritual friendship.
The Treasure Box
Panellist:
Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship
Topic:
Empowering Worship Leaders for Intergenerational Engagement
The Treasure Box is a local non-denominational Christian company, founded on the belief that spiritually healthy and whole families are central to God’s plan to bring His Kingdom on earth, and that the key to growing such families is in discovering the treasures of knowing and experiencing God together as a family through worship, prayer and studying His Word.
Rev Irene Thung
Panellist:
Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship
Rev Irene Thung is an ordained minister of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). Irene enjoyed a rewarding career for over twenty years as a lecturer and entrepreneur in the building industry before responding to God’s call. Prior to becoming a Methodist pastor, Irene has served in an independent church for five years. After serving many years as a local church pastor, she served as the Director of TRAC Seniors Ministry for several years before fully retiring at the end of 2022. Irene loves worship, preaching and teaching the Word of God to empower the believers to live for God.
Pastor Ian Wong
Panellist:
Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship
Pastor Ian Wong is a Pastor at Kum Yan Methodist Church, where he has been serving full-time for more than 20 years. Together with his wife Eeleen, they have had the privilege of building an authentic spiritual community with youth and young adults, and more recently, also with the older generations in the church. They are passionate about worship and the presence of God, and seeing generations walk together in love, whether around their dinner table or in the nations.
Ho Wei Hao
Topic:
Building Meaningful Relationships Across Generations
In his working life, Wei Hao had spent time as a Social Worker and then in different ministries in the Civil Service. After obtaining his Masters in Divinity, he is now part of the gig economy and involved in a few different vocations concurrently, which includes adjunct lecturing at a local seminary. One of his current burdens is to help bridge the gap between the different generations in the church and is co-author of the book: “The Generations Project - Bridging Generational Divides in the Singapore Church”.
Tham Pei Wen
Topic:
On Common Ground: Connecting Children to the Older Generation Through Music
Tham Pei Wen is a music curriculum specialist and choral conductor. She is currently a musical curriculum consultant with Methodist School of Music and Pathlight School. She also started choral and music making programmes at Pathlight School, Voices of Singapore and APSN Katong School. She believes strongly that music should be accessible to all, and this is seen in her work with children with special needs where she advocates for these children to discover their potential and grow in their ability to use music as a means of communication and expression.
Dr Eudenice Palaruan
Topic:
One Heart, One Mind: Explore the Power of Music in Bridging Generational Gaps
Dr Eudenice Palaruan is the Choral Director at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). He also arranges for the SSO choruses and the Singapore Symphony Choruses community outreach programmes. In addition, the SSO choruses have premiered new choral works written by local composers and arrangers in Singapore under his direction. He taught composition and choral conducting in institutions such as the University of the Philippines College of Music, the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, and St Paul University College of Music and the Performing Arts. Currently, he teaches at the Singapore Bible College (SBC) School of Church Music and directs the SBC Chorale.
And an evening worship led by
That’s Worship is a worship and worship creative movement in Singapore that at its heart, desires to see the nations worship our Lord Jesus Christ. They believe that worship is more than just a song. Our lives, our testimony, our thoughts, our choices, our talents. That’s Worship. And for them, Inspiring Creativity, and Empowering Believers are key pillars of their ministry ideals. They are passionate to see the Church of this nation unlock her gifting in the creative space, and endeavour to provide a platform for creatives of the kingdom to be empowered to express, experiment and excel in their God-given talents, gifting and abilities.
Plenary Sessions
Friday, 27 September
A Renewed Vision from God: An Intergenerational Perspective of Worship
by Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang (via Zoom)
This session will inspire transformative changes in how participants engage with ministry, cultivating a unified, spiritually enriched congregation that embraces intergenerational worship.
Exploring the Transformative Power of Intergenerational Worship
by Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn
Intergenerational worship has the power to unite people of all ages, fostering a stronger sense of community and mutual understanding. It highlights the value of diversity and the importance of learning from one another. Explore how intergenerational worship impacts congregations from biblical, theological, and cultural perspectives.
Panel Discussion
Saturday, 28 September
Exploring Unity Across Generational Gaps:
Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship
Panellists: Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn, The Treasure Box, Rev Irene Thung, Pastor Ian Wong
Understand the diverse dynamics of age groups and the intricate divides within worship communities. Explore connections and discover how unity across all generations can be achieved.
Toolbox
Saturday, 28 September
For those in Children’s Ministry:
On Common Ground
By Tham Pei Wen
Giving children access to our timeless God, connecting them to the older generation through the language and music of the psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
For everyone:
Building Meaningful Relationships Across Generations
By Ho Wei Hao
This workshop will enhance your understanding of how different generations view faith and life, offering practical strategies for building intergenerational relationships within your churches and organisations.
For Worship Leaders:
Leading Across Generations - Empowering Worship Leaders for Intergenerational Engagement
By The Treasure Box
This toolbox is designed to engage worship leaders with suggestions and insights needed to facilitate meaningful intergenerational worship experiences.
For Choirs:
One Heart, One Mind
By Dr Eudenice Palaruan
Explore the power of music in bridging generational gaps. "One Heart, One Mind" is designed to blend voices and foster a shared understanding and passion for the songs we sing.
Programme Outline
Day 1
- 1 pm - Registration
- 1.30 pm - Opening Worship
- 2 pm - Plenary Session: A Renewed Vision from God: An Intergenerational Perspective on Worship by Rev Dr Tan Siang Yang (via Zoom)
- 3.50 pm - Q&A
- 4 pm - Break
- 4.30 pm - Conversation Groups with Ho Wei Hao
- 5.30 pm - Dinner Break (on your own)
- 7.30 pm - Evening Worship by That’s Worship
- 8 pm - Plenary Session: Exploring the Transformative Power of Intergenerational Worship by Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn
- 8.50 pm - Q&A
- 9.30 pm - End of Day 1
Day 2
- 8.30 am - Registration
- 9 am - Morning Prayer
- 9.30 am - Panel Discussion: Exploring Unity Across Generational Gaps: Navigating the Complexities of Intergenerational Worship with Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn, The Treasure Box, Rev Irene Thung and Pastor Ian Wong
- 11 am - Tea Break
- 11.30 am - Conversation Groups with Ho Wei Hao
- 12.30 pm - Lunch Break
- 2 pm - Tool Box (practical equipping sessions) with Tham Pei Wen, Ho Wei Hao, The Treasure Box and Dr Eudenice Palaruan
- 3.30 pm - Tea Break
- 4 pm - Closing Worship
- 5 pm - End
Registration
Fees: $110 (incl. GST) per participant*
Register by 20 September
*Groups of 10 participants will enjoy a 10% discount!
