From 22 August to 6 September, Fort Canning Hill was illuminated, both metaphorically and literally, by Wesley as the church participated, for the second time ever, in the 16th annual Singapore Night Festival (SNF).
Blessed to be a blessing, Wesley@NightFest (W@NF) returned once again, bigger, better and brighter as part of the SNF’s SG60: Island Nights celebration over eight dazzling evenings. As part of the festivities and in commemoration of the 140th anniversary of Wesley, more than 800 passionate volunteers serving in over 1,000 volunteer positions came together to bring to our Singapore community a plethora of activities. The activities range from photo booths with live actors, an origami station, musical performances and more, all inspired by the syncretic theme of “Light on the Hill: Island Celebrations”.
A Community Transformed by Service
“In a bustling city, it can be easy to lose our sense of connection. Wesley@NightFest provided a space where people could not only experience the warmth of our community but also see the love of God in action,” said Rev Raymond Fong, Pastor-in-Charge of Wesley Methodist Church. “As we serve, we are not just giving; we are being transformed ourselves, reflecting the hope and grace we have received from Christ.”
“Wesley@NightFest was a beautiful demonstration of what it means to be a ‘Light on the Hill’. It wasn’t just about illuminating a physical space with bright lights, but about our community coming together to share the light of Christ with Singapore. This event was a testament to the power of a church united in service,” added Pastor Ray. “To see so many volunteers, from all walks of life, dedicating their time and talents to bless our community was truly moving. This is what a ‘church in the city’ looks like—a people with a shared heart to love and serve our neighbours.”
Beyond the performances by Wesley’s own choirs and string ensemble, Wesley also had the distinct honour of featuring guest performers at Wesley@NightFest. The event included the youthful and energetic choirs from ACS Barker and ACS Primary and the soulful music teams from the Methodist School of Music.
Said principal of ACS Barker, Khoo Tse Horng: “We are incredibly honoured to have our ACS (Barker Road) Choir performed at Wesley@NightFest.”
Describing the choir presentation as more than just a performance and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the students and teachers, Khoo added: “It aligns perfectly with our student’s creed, where our students are to develop their talents to serve God and others. We are thankful that our students could steward their talents to serve and glorify God and to bless the larger community. Indeed, to God be the glory! The best is yet to be!”
Island Vibes and Heartfelt Hospitality
Be it vintage artefacts, women sashaying in Peranakan kebayas or custom TikTok filters inspired by tropical island themes, the Wesley community’s dedication shone through in how they transformed the English-Gothic church into a tropical island paradise. Yet, beyond the vibrant colours, bright lights and jovial laughter, what truly reinvigorated the more than a century-old church was the sense of community that radiated through each and every volunteer. A strange warmth filled the air that night, not to be mistaken for the Singaporean climate, pulsating with the heartbeat of the Wesley community.
Beyond the dazzling displays and fun-filled booths, a powerful sense of community and the heartfelt dedication of volunteers transformed the event. From live actors and origami instructors to ushers and heritage tour guides, Wesley’s volunteers came together to share warmth and laughter with everyone who visited.
When asked why they decided to step forward, “community” was the word that departed from almost every volunteer’s lips. For Joanna Koh, a volunteer at the augmented reality (AR) photo booth, community was what made her cell group all decided to help out at the W@NF together. A regular volunteer with Wesley’s Alpha programme, Joanna’s foray into the W@NF was merely an extension of a larger passion to serve and give back.
Similarly, Stefanie Chao, a live actor at the island-themed photo booth, shared how she began volunteering in this ministry with her friends. Moreover, she recounted the importance of community and community support, even for visitors at the live actor photo booth. Likening their apprehension to her own before her friend’s encouragement, she mentioned witnessing visitors initially nervous to participate at the photo booth until their friends jumped in to join them.
Acknowledging that volunteering might be daunting, the team leader responsible for all photo booth actors and urban sketchers at this year’s W@NF, said: “I would like to encourage our church members who sit on the fence when it comes to volunteering to just take the first step.” Remarking that “it is very hard to say yes, until the moment one actually says okay,” Sandra Hee also recounted how her volunteering unexpectedly affirmed her connection to the Wesley community: “Sometimes as volunteers we think we are giving, but in serving, we are actually receiving back even more.”
Jeanne Lim, a volunteer at the origami booth, praised the Wesley community’s dedication to preparing each and every volunteer for their relevant role. Despite not knowing any origami herself, she recounted how “with proper training, I am ready to not just tackle, but teach, even complex designs.” Even then, just by soaking in the atmosphere at the W@NF, one can see the range of skill sets needed and capacities available for one to serve, be it as a medic or usher. For instance, Angele Lee, an usher, whose affirming smiles and upbeat demeanor seemed to visibly brighten up the faces of a group of Anglo-Chinese Primary School choir boy after their performance at the sanctuary.
Wesley’s Place in the Wider Community
Yet, to quote heritage tour guide Hoe Su Chien: “Wesley is ‘in the world, but not of the world.’ That is to say, that Wesley does not exist in a vacuum, but as a part of the larger Singaporean community and we want to step out of our comfort zone to be part of our daily wider community around us.” This was echoed by Lee Siew Cheng, another tour guide, who shared: “I enjoyed sharing the historical contributions of Wesley Methodist Church, as well as the larger Methodist community, to Singaporean society from education, to healthcare and philanthropy.”
As one of the volunteers, Dr Vincent Oei, who served as a team leader, medic and AR ambassador at various times on all eight nights, reflected on how he came into this whole experience hoping to serve not just Wesley, but Singapore, or more specifically the Bras Basah area, as a whole: “We seek to transform Wesley into a ‘light on the hill’”.
Similarly, Jonathan Tan, a visiting Wesley member, shared his own hopes for Wesley to become a “church in the city”, a homing beacon for believers and non-believers alike. Referencing the popularity of churches as tourist destinations, Jonathan cheerfully exclaimed his conviction that with its warmth and own storied history, the Wesley community could become the same.
A Visitor’s Unexpected Encounter
Thankfully, it seems that Dr Oei’s prayer was granted through an anecdote by Sandi, a British expatriate who had wandered into Wesley after being allured by its lights. Having noticed the brightened church silhouette from the bottom of Fort Canning Hill, Sandi, along with two friends, had trekked up despite not knowing if the church was even part of the SNF. However, they were quickly welcomed with warm hospitality and directed to the various engaging booths by Wesley’s friendly ushers. Sandi affirmed how what really touched him was the all-encompassing gregariousness of the many volunteers at Wesley.
All in all, Wesley’s participation in the SNF was, by most metrics, a triumph! From the perfectly captured aesthetic of a nostalgic Singaporean past to the positive affirmations of visitors, churchgoers and the public alike, one cannot help but applaud the Wesley community for coming together to serve.
“I went to W@NF with my daughters, who brought their non-Wesleyan friends from the Wesley Agape Pickleball Ministry. I really enjoyed the ukulele performance by Wesley GYM (Glowing Years Ministry) and I look forward to visiting the next Wesley@NightFest again,” said 74-year-old Mrs Doris Phua, a church member who went on the fourth night as a visitor.
“I have been worshipping at Wesley for many years,” explained Phua. “But the heritage tour at W@NF showed me there’s still so much more to discover about our beloved church’s history. Even Wesleyans should come to W@NF.”
View and download more Wesley@NightFest photos here.
(Photos courtesy of Wesley@NightFest photographers)
Shine Your Light, Serve at Wesley!
Inspired by the incredible community spirit at Wesley@NightFest? Every church event is an opportunity to serve and shine for God, not just within our church but also in our wider community. We invite you to be a part of our next event. If you feel called to serve, please contact us at mailbag@wesleymc.org for more information on how you can get involved.
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