Aug – August started with a mini retreat with a group of 6 bankers as a follow up from a lunch time fellowship meeting.  It was also in this month that we did our first “reel” retreat using movies as retreat materials for personal reflection.  Six participants and two movies – “The Kite Runner” and “Ratatouille” from 7-11 Aug all took place at the Nest.  This was also with days of silence and accompaniment.

Sep – This month saw us going to KL, 18-22 Sep, to be with Spring Rain Revival Church on the invitation of Ps Nellie Chan.  SRRC is a Chinese church that’s been moved into a transitional situation due to change of Senior Pastor of the original church.  The group that stood with Ps Nellie is made up of lay people, keen but weak in the Word and knowledge of God.  We took the Saturday night service followed by a 2-day retreat.  We came home feeling the need for some kind of follow-up work, God willing, in the coming season.

Sep ended with the 2^nd Beginners’ (28-30 Sep) retreat with SJSM at Montfort Centre.  A total of 17 retreatants were at this retreat and as a spin off from this group, we have been invited to give retreat to Victory International Church and a SJSM cell group early 2010.  The dates for another two such retreats with SJSM have been confirmed for 2010.

Oct - Oct was a time for us to “put our own house in order” and the only meeting we took was to preach at City Gate Church, 11 Oct on “Truth Telling”.

Appreciate your ongoing prayers for us and the retreatants throughout this time.  This year we are seeing 5 missionaries and 2 pastors at these retreats besides returnees and a handful of newbies.  For all these we are grateful to God from whom all blessings flow.

Pipeline – To plan for 2010-2011 calendar and theme.  We are hoping to factor in a sabbatical training at St Buenos, God willing, in 2011/12.  This 3-month sabbatical training comprises a 30-day retreat component followed by equipping training for the retreat work.  Covet your prayers.

Simon & Rinda

10 Nov 2009

 16-18 March - The New Year started out slow as the 1^st retreat took place only in mid-Mar with St John’s St Margaret’s with a 3-day retreat for beginners.  There were 17 attendees from various churches as it was opened to non-SJSMers.

 30 March – This was a Quiet Day with Alpha Singapore office staff at The Nest as part of their ongoing soul-caring for the staff.

April - In April the 1^st 5-day Silent retreat took place at The Nest, 8-12 Apr with a group of 5 retreatants as we traced the footprints of Jesus in the last 6 days of His Passion Week beginning with Mary’s posture of anointing His feet with pure nard. This was followed by a Quiet Day on 18 Apr at the FMM House @ Holland Road for a cell group of 32 ladies. April ended with a Soaking Night for WRPF’s Worship Team on 30 Apr at the Church’s premises.

9-11 May – This weekend retreat at Montfort Centre went to a cell group from SJSM.  Members were predominantly retirees and semi-retirees who had a very profound encounter with the Lord through the life of Peter.

20-23 May – We were at Pulai Springs, JB, with the Alpha Singapore office for their annual staff retreat.  This is our 2^nd year in running a retreat for the workers of which we are grateful to be a blessing to them in return as they continue to bless Singapore with the Alpha Course.

 June - This is a quiet month with only a 3-day retreat for Fountain Gate Ministry, 19-21 June at Montfort Centre.  FGM specialises in Counselling and Inner Healing.  This retreat was for their volunteers.

 July - The month started with a mini 2-day retreat for WRPF’s worship team of 15 at LifeSprings.  Theme was “TIP-WIP” and though the retreat was short, the Lord was mighty in our midst!  Life stories were shared and team unity brought to another level.

              Month ended with a 24-hour program catered for group of 6 bank staff from RBS.  This has been a follow-up from a lunch time talk in early-June.  This was a highlight for me as it was good to be able to step into the banking scene again after 21 years to feel the pulse of the marketplaces.  It was in that lunch meeting that I could see what the Lord has done in me that’s priceless.  I saw also the needs of the Church in the marketplaces. 

 Work in Progress – This very much sums up what the year has been for Simon.  While it is a well-deserved “sabbatical” rest after 29 years of ministry, it is also a “transitional” phase where he is learning to take it slowly and in tandem with the Lord.  What’s immediate is to settle our housing matters and have the physical office set up.

What’s in the pipeline is the design of the ministry website and the unveiling of the ministry name in due time.   The manuscript for the book launch is completed but in a kind of “cold storage” while we wait for the right editor to come alongside and help us in this.

Thank you for upholding us in prayers.  Please continue to do so even as we learn to transit.  What’s ahead we don’t fully understand.  But Who’s ahead, that we do know fully.  And to follow Him, regardless, is our intent.

 Simon and Rinda

8 TO 12 APRIL 2009 @ MONTFORT CENTRE

$400 FOR TWIN SHARING

While Lent is the 40 days leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday, it is a time to remember that our life is borrowed. Our breath, our life, all of our days are on loan to us and one day we will have to return to our Lender, God. Whatever we “lent” we must return! Why not come away and make this Easter truly a time to reflect in what ways and how have we been returning to the Lord with all our souls, hearts, strength and minds. Registration is now open! Please see Simon Tan or Rinda Teo for details. Or email simonrinda@singnet.com.sg for registration form.