Worshipping and Witnessing at High Praise 3
High Praise 3 themed “Christ Is Alive” was held on 1st December at Sts. Chastan and Imbert Church, Perai. The evening of joyful singing led by Rev. Fr. Louis Loi and accompanied by a power-packed choir including a backup band rallied the parishioners to worship the Lord with all their hearts.
In quoting 2 Samuel 6:14-15, Fr. Louis encouraged the parishioners to dance joyfully with their whole body because God deserves their honour and praise. Fr. added that despite one’s woundedness and brokenness, God still loves them. He invited the parishioners to recognise the Spirit within them, that grace may transform them and make them new. Whenever the Spirit touches, one becomes refreshed, alive and renewed.
With hearts and hands raised, the parishioners sang songs including Come Now is the Time to Worship, Kau Yang Layak, Ku Milik Mu, and Roh Mu Yang Hidup. Subsequently, several parishioners gave testimonies about how God has worked in their lives.
One shared about his journey of faith prior to being baptised. He took great lengths to grow in his faith by attending Mass and programmes such as Alpha and has taken a courageous step by choosing to be baptised next Easter. He shared about facing resistance from his father for his choice of going to church when he was younger but believes that being a baptised member of the Church will be a new chapter in his life.
For him, the Lord God is always present, guiding and showing him the right path. He added that the meaning of Christmas for him is love, joy, and hope and remembering God’s love when He sent His only son to die for everyone. His wish this Christmas is to see his father attend RCIA and become a Catholic.
Another testimony was given by a parishioner who recently lost his wife due to illness. He shared about how God has transformed his life from being a Sunday Catholic to one who now has a personal relationship with Christ. He added that joining the Catholic Charismatic Renewal gatherings including the Life in the Spirit Seminar was a turning point in his personal faith.
With the support of family and friends, he is coping well with his wife’s passing. It is not easy, but he is learning to let go because his wife has completed her mission on earth. His Christmas wish is to move forward, give courage and strength to others, serve the Lord, and to be a witness for Christ. He also wants to be an excellent example for his children.
The joyful singing continued after the testimonies were shared with voices raised in perfect harmony, believing every word and building an atmosphere of vitality and energy. High Praise 3 came to an end with the song Silent Night as the grand finale. The parishioners sang every word and left with something memorable to prepare for the Christmas season. (by Maryann Pragasam)
