Christmas Joy in the Heart of the Community (A Manna Bridge Carolling Experience)

It was apparently 32°C on the afternoon of 14 December, but it felt like 38°C. But this did not deter the group of some 80 JCCians (ranging from ages <1 to 80+) from heading out to spread some Christmas joy to the residents of Blocks 111-114 as part of the Manna Bridge carolling event.

This is the second year we’ve gone carolling with the Manna Bridge residents. However, we did it in the late afternoon this year (instead of at night) to suit the residents’ schedules – elderly folks sleep early!

My group, consisting of mainly folks from Taman Jurong CG, S2S, and Frogpole, went to Block 113, the block we’ve adopted and visited over the past two years or so. Having told the residents about the carolling event since September, there was certainly anticipation among both the residents and us.

The residents welcomed us happily, almost always confessing that they did not know any songs. Yet they smiled as we sang carols (perhaps Joy to the World struck a chord?) and were visibly more relaxed when we sang the Chinese songs (e.g., 一件礼物,恩典之路).

After concluding our singing, we would say a short prayer for the residents, asking that the joy of Christmas and the good news of Jesus Christ would come to them this season, before giving them a small gift. Naturally after that we would engage in some small talk/ catch-up while often having to turn down offers of drinks. (We came prepared with our own water supply.)

One incident stood out: Uncle Hee Kao, whom we almost always visit during the monthly Manna Bridge sessions, took up his back scratcher and used it as a makeshift drumstick, tapping away to the beat. We were very encouraged and lent him our tambourine for a better percussion experience.

When we were done, we gathered at the first floor, for the “finale”, well a two-part finale actually. First, we sang to a resident who sat at his door and waved his hands in the air, as if he were the conductor and we the choir. The joy on his face was visible to all. Next, we entered his neighbour’s house – a unit shared by several Indian migrant workers. They welcomed us in with joy and even bought a log cake for the occasion. Ecstatic (and even whistling), they recorded the whole thing on their phones; some were on videocalls with family/friends at home. They also extended their hospitality to us, cutting the cake and offering it by hand directly to us (a culture shock for most of us). Amid the celebration, we requested one of them to read out the pamphlet given to them, which summarised the true meaning of Christmas.

Looking back, even though we only spent about 2+ hours carolling, it was no doubt time well-spent. The smiles on the residents’ faces and the chance to tell them about God’s love was well worth enduring the heat for. I pray that God will continue to speak to the residents in time to come and that more JCCians would join us in carolling come December 2025!

Samuel Chong

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