On 5 April 2026, worshippers gathered at Wesley Methodist Church to celebrate Easter Sunday, a day marked by triumph, hope and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The sanctuary was adorned in white and gold, reflecting the liturgical colours of victory and joy.
UNITED IN WORSHIP THROUGH MUSIC AND PRAISE
The service opened with a magnificent musical offering by a combined ensemble of orchestra and choir. Strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion and keyboards came together in harmonious praise, accompanying voices from the Dawnbreakers, Wesley Heralds, John Wesley Choir, Wesley Chorale and the Sunbeams Children’s Choir.
It was a rare and grand gathering of musical worshippers whose jubilant melodies filled the sanctuary with a profound sense of celebration and reverence. Before the service commenced, Rev Raymond Fong invited early attendees to pray over the worship team, a fitting reminder that all praise begins with consecration.
Worship leaders Ms Wong Ee Hwee and Dr Irwin Seet led the congregation through the sacred journey of Holy Week. From Palm Sunday, where cries of ‘Hosanna’ welcomed the King, to Maundy Thursday, where Christ humbled Himself in service and commanded us to love one another and to Good Friday, where believers stood beneath the cross in awe of His sacrificial love, each moment built towards the culmination of Easter Sunday.
Then came the glorious proclamation: the stone was rolled away. Christ has died, Christ has risen and Christ will come again. In this declaration, the Church finds its unshakeable hope.
“Christ has died, Christ has risen and Christ will come again. In this declaration, the Church finds its unshakeable hope.”
THE EMPTY TOMB AND A LIVING HOPE
The sermon, delivered by Bishop Philip Lim, drew from Luke 24:1–12. He reflected on the sealed tomb, secured under the authority of Pontius Pilate, and the bewilderment of the women who found it empty.
Their fear at the appearance of two angels was met with a question that continues to echo through the ages: ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen.’
Bishop Lim highlighted the disbelief of the disciples, who dismissed the women’s testimony as nonsense. This response mirrors the scepticism seen in today’s world, where the resurrection is often regarded as mere fiction.
THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH
Yet the resurrection stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith, a decisive demonstration of God’s power over sin and death.
Drawing from 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 and the Apostles’ Creed, the Bishop reaffirmed the centrality of Christ’s resurrection: the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Even in the early Church, doubts arose but the truth of the risen Christ endured, transforming fearful followers into bold witnesses.
“Even in the early Church, doubts arose but the truth of the risen Christ endured, transforming fearful followers into bold witnesses.”
LIVES TRANSFORMED BY THE RISEN CHRIST
A powerful testimony was shared of Mr Bruce Lim, whose life was radically changed through an encounter with Christ. Once trapped in a cycle of addiction and crime, he witnessed the transformation of a friend who had come to faith.
This encounter led him to cry out, ‘Lord, if You are real, come and help me.’ That prayer marked the beginning of a new life, one redeemed and restored by the power of the risen Christ.
The Bishop also reflected on Mary Magdalene, whose journey from fear to faith exemplifies the transformative power of remembering Christ’s words. Once delivered from darkness, she remained faithful even at the cross.
What changed her and the other women was this: they remembered His words (Luke 24:7–9). In remembering, their fear gave way to faith.
ANCHORED IN GOD’S PROMISES
This call to remembrance is especially urgent in today’s world, marked by uncertainty, wars and global unrest. When circumstances shake us, believers are called to anchor themselves in the Word of God, to remember His promises, His faithfulness and His victory.
The service continued with Holy Communion, a sacred act of remembrance and participation in Christ’s redemptive work. In partaking of the bread and the cup, the congregation not only recalled Christ’s sacrifice but also proclaimed His victory and anticipated His return.
It was faith made tangible, Word and sacrament held together in worship.
“When circumstances shake us, believers are called to anchor themselves in the Word of God, to remember His promises, His faithfulness and His victory.”
LIVING THE REALITY OF EASTER
The service concluded with the medley Resurrection Joy, a fitting finale that encapsulated the heart of Easter. It was a celebration not only of what Christ has done but of what His resurrection means for every believer: victory over sin, hope in the face of despair and the promise of eternal life.
Indeed, Easter is not merely an event to remember, it is a reality to live. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
(Photos by William Choo, CJ Goh, Melvin Quah and Julian Wee)
View and download more Easter service photos here.
Missed the service? You can watch the video and read the sermon notes here.
Read also: Wesley Methodist Church 141st Anniversary—Jesus, Light the Way and Lead Us On
