The 15th day of Chinese New Year, commonly known amongst the Chinese community as ‘Chap Goh Meh’, is a celebration that is hard to miss. It represents the 15th and final day of the Lunar New Year, a day also regarded as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. Traditionally, young unmarried women would gather to throw tangerines into the sea with the hope that their future spouse will pick it up. Do you know that this custom of throwing tangerines originated from Penang?

While people were busy throwing tangerines elsewhere, GCC had their own special Chap Goh Meh celebration on a beautiful Sunday evening. Service was great with many visitors joining us to worship and to praise the King of Love. While it was Valentine’s Day for the Chinese community, it was also a day where we were reminded of a Person’s love to the whole of humanity.

Appropriately enough, Pastor Edward spoke on the subject of love, scripture taken from Matthew 22: 34-40 (The Greatest Commandment). He focussed on two key issues. We are to (1) love God first and upon fulfilling the first, it will grant us the capacity to (2) love others as well. Sometimes in life, we become too engrossed in the many things we may be doing and if we are not careful enough, we’ll become paralysed by those distractions. We will then miss the point – which is to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deut 6: 5).

Enjoying the Pot Bless Dinner

After the service, we all stayed back for a special Chap Goh Meh pot bless dinner in church! We had a variety of food being served and everyone had a good time just mingling around and getting to know one another. Truly, we want to thank God for occasions such as this where we can celebrate the festive season together as a family. We come together because we are in love with One true God – Jesus Christ!

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”
John 13:34