CNY Resolutions

Happy Lunar New Year, dearest choir! Hope everyone's having a great time visiting relatives, playing cards, munching on goodies and enjoying themselves. Amidst our celebrations, let's not forget that the New Year is also a time for us to reflect on all that has happened in the past year. Of course, one thing that comes with such reflections is the making of resolutions, so to help you start out, here are a few friendly suggestions on resolutions you might consider making this year:

1. Count Your Blessings
Before you sleep each night, make an effort to list out some of the blessings God has given you during the day. Try to name at least five incidents in which God made His presence known to you. Thank Him for even the smallest of miracles: that you crossed the road safely, got to school on time, met up with close friends etc. You'll be surprised at how wonderful life can be with a simple shift of perspective.

2. Offer Up Your Day to God
Before you begin each day, lift up a prayer to the Father, offering your entire day to Him. Teach yourself to have no expectations--do not ask anything of Him, except for the peace and courage necessary to accept all that He has prepared for you, even if His plans may seem to go against your intentions at first sight. Offer up your day, have no expectations, and see what God can do for you when you place your life in His gentle hands.

3. Say a Prayer Before Every Task
Even when performing the simplest of tasks--such as going to school or starting on your homework--make an effort to whisper a short prayer to God, asking Him to guide you in all you do. Who knows what wondrous results one tiny action might produce when God is the one prompting it?

4. Praise the Lord Before Others
One simple way to evangelise is to show others how much you appreciate God and how wonderful it is to be loved by Him. When you feel a desire to praise the Lord, do so confidently, even in front of your non-Christian friends. You might just pique someone's curiosity that way, and inspire him to learn more about this God that you are so joyously giving praise to.

5. Read the Word of God
Take some time every day to read the Bible. You could read it from cover to cover, or say a little prayer ('Speak Lord, your servant is listening.') before flipping to a random page and start reading from there (I personally do the latter and often find myself surprised by what God has to say to me). Listen to all He has to say to you and equip yourself with the Word and wisdom of God. Only then can you be prepared to go out and spread the Good News.

Happy holidays everyone! May you find joy, prosperity, love and success in the Lord in the year ahead!

A Trip Back to 2011...

As the new year begins to unfold before us, let us take a moment to pause and reflect on the year that has just passed. 2011 has been an awesome journey for STAC indeed; we have gained new and wonderful members and shared many unforgettable experiences together. Let us never forget that every passing moment is a gift from God, even the times of pain or sorrow. Praise the Lord, and may all of you have a blessed 2012!

Blessed Christmas!

It's the Christmas season, and what a wonderful time it's been indeed! Of the many highlights: Party@Marilyn's and STAC Retreat 2011 - The I in Christ. It's been an enjoyable and blessed Christmas, and we thank God for all He has done for us the past year.

Merry Christmas, dear STAC, and may God bless you abundantly this holiday season!

The I in ChrIst

The STAC bi-annual retreat is coming up in only a couple of weeks' time! Are you guys ready for The I in ChrIst? It's gonna be three days of self-reflection and self-discovery. And of course, fellowship and fun!

Venue: Choice Retreat House
Date: 19 to 21 December

Hope to see you all there! :)

Confirmation

Today is a very special day for six of our young members. To our dear confirmants--Vanessa, Priscillia, Belicia, Matthias, Yendall and Sean--God bless and have a wonderful Confirmation experience!

We'll be praying for you guys as you take this last step out of your catechesis phase and into the life of an adult Catholic. But remember, while Confirmation brings catechism to a close, it doesn't mark the end of your faith journey; it is only the beginning of God's great plan. Keep praying, keep serving and keep growing in Christ. Most importantly, may you discover your vocation in this great big world.

All the best, and enjoy this very special day! :)

God Bless!

To all students taking their GCE 'O' and 'A' Level papers, God bless and stay strong! Remember to always keep God first in your mind, and He will lead you wherever you need to go. Trust in Him and He will not leave you to fend for yourself! :)

And just a little piece of advice: now is definitely not the time to be mugging. Nothing's gonna get in that way. The day before your paper, just take two hours or so to do revision at a leisurely pace, then take a short break and do the same thing again. Make a list of all the things you might be unsure of, and just before the exam, go through that list again. Stay relaxed and you'll retain information better! :D

P.S. This was my personal revision technique for my Os. I didn't get a fantabulous single-digit score, but I still did pretty good :3 So hopefully this will work for you guys as well!

Bon Voyage!

Beatrice and Priscillia are headed overseas and won't be with us till November. We wish them both safe and fun-filled journeys, and will keep them in our prayers. Have great fun, you two, and do share your experiences with us when you get back! Bon voyage and God bless! :)