Voice: Ting Ai
Today is Thursday, 31st of July. As we start another day, let us observe a moment of silence.
We pray:
Blessed are you, creator of all,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As your dawn renews the face of the earth
bringing light and life to all creation,
may we rejoice in this day you have made;
as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep,
open our eyes to behold your presence
and strengthen our hands to do your will,
that the world may rejoice and give you praise.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen
We praise and pray in the words of Psalm 146:
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
3 Put not your trust in princes,
in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.
4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth;
on that very day his plans perish.
5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
7 who executes justice for the oppressed,
who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8 the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 8:16-24
16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. 18 With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.19 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. 20 We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, 21 for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. 22 And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. 24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Reflection
Fund-raising Principles
With so much fund-raising going on in our churches today, it is helpful to reflect on a few guiding values we can observe in the Apostle Paul’s approach.
1. Relationships Precede Requests
Paul cared deeply for the people who were entrusting him with their gifts. Fund-raising was not a cold transaction—it flowed out of genuine relationships. If we invest more energy in asking for funds than in building trust and friendships, the effort may feel transactional or even mercenary. Sustainable support is hard to build without a foundation of real pastoral care and relational investment.
2. Accountability Matters
Paul rarely worked alone. He functioned as part of a team, and these fellow workers served as his accountability partners. He wrote, “we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man” (2 Corinthians 8:21). A clear conscience before God is vital—but not always visible to others. That’s why transparency, accompanied by trusted co-workers, was essential for integrity and credibility.
3. Fund-Raising for the Sake of Others
Paul often raised support not for himself alone but for others. These partners were “messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 8:23). Their proven character and fruitful ministry served as a visible testimony of their worthiness of support. Paul used his influence to channel resources toward others in the mission field. Today, trusted leaders can play a similar role—advocating for those whose work deserves encouragement and support.
With so much money flowing in Singapore, it is timely to return to these biblical principles. And if we do err as givers, let us err on the side of overflowing generosity toward the ministry of the saints.
We end with this Collect:.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth Is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Teresa’s Song (Dare I Go) by Ethel Yap
How does it feel to be completely alone
How does it feel to have no place to call home
To be a wanderer, forever to roam
Dare I go there with You?
What does it mean to walk in Your steps
What does it mean to give all that I have
Utterly stripped down, laid empty and bare
Dare I go there with You?
Dare I go there with You, Lord?
Dare I go there with You?
What does it look like to have nothing else but You
What does it mean to have all my delight be in You
To let Your joy become my clothes and my food
Fill my cup, Lord, to full
Dare I go there with You, Lord? Dare I go there with You?
To You I plead, that You’ll supply all I need
Dare I go there with You?
BRIDGE
Are You calling me to be hungry?
Are You calling me to be poor?
Am I learning each face is just You in disguise
Do I know that when I’m resting in Your love
Your grace is enough
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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