The Intimacy of Silence
By Rebecca Chen
Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS)
On a quiet Saturday in April, amidst the gentle rustle of leaves at the San Damiano Franciscan Centre, a group of women from Holland Village Methodist Church stepped into sacred stillness. They came not to escape the world, but to encounter the One who holds it. The HVMC-WSCS Ladies’ Retreat, on 12 April 2025, was not simply a pause from busyness - it was an invitation to come closer, to draw near to Jesus, and to be renewed in the deep silence of His presence.
Pastor Lye Mui Fong graciously served as the Spiritual Director for this retreat. Themed “The Seven Last Words of Jesus”, the retreat was anchored in Scripture and contemplative prayer. Participants spent unhurried hours in personal reflection, journaling, and meditating on God’s Word - practices that opened space for the Holy Spirit to move gently, yet profoundly.
The retreat format embraced silence as sacred - a rare gift in today’s always-on world. With phones set aside and conversations paused, the women practised holy listening - to Scripture, to their own hearts and most importantly, to God. “Be still, and know that I am God,” the Psalmist wrote. In that stillness, the truth of those words came alive.
A retreat is not reserved for a select few - it is a spiritual rhythm available to every believer, a sacred space where we can bring our questions, wounds, joys and dreams into God’s presence. Whether it's an afternoon of quiet, a walk with no agenda or a weekend set apart, may we learn to retreat not to withdraw, but to realign, remember and return to the One who calls us beloved.
Let us become women who listen, who wait, and who walk in step with the Lord. In a changing world, may we be anchored in the unchanging love and peace of Christ.
Here are a few reflections from the women who attended:
Rachel Low: “It allowed me to intentionally pause and focus on God alone… it gave me the right posturing toward Him.”
Magdalene Wong: “Thank you Eunice and Rebecca for organising this. I had a fruitful and refreshing time with the Lord!”
Angela Tan: “There were things that I had never realised before - worth every minute.”
Levanne: “I received fresh revelation of God’s great love and the spiritual refreshment to be anchored in God’s truth.”
Connie Wong: “It has been a heart-opening event for me. I have learnt to be silent and wait upon My Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Lay Hui Lim: “The retreat gave me time to quietly interpret and reflect the last meaningful and profound seven words of Jesus.”
Jacqueline Seow: “It opened my eyes to the spiritual meaning behind Jesus' words ‘I thirst’... truly, we love because He first loved us.”
Carol Ho: “Jesus is constantly at His redemptive work. Despite the excruciating pain on the cross, He brought hope which speaks of His immense pursuing love for us.”
Imelda Fyffe: “The first word of Jesus made me cry non-stop. Also the character of Mary really speaks so loudly to me. Are we always obedient to God like Mary?”
Choo Ai Ling: “Reflecting on one of Jesus' last words, ‘It is finished’, has inspired me to refocus on obedience and His purpose for my life.”
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