2 & 3 May 2026 (Pastoral Page) HAVE YOU EATEN?

by Asst Ps Timothy Lee

“Have you eaten?” 吃了吗 is a traditional, caring greeting in many Asian cultures. It’s not usually a literal question, but a warm way of asking, “How are you?”—a recognition that food and well-being are closely connected. As we often say, 能吃是福—being able to eat is a blessing.

Recently, I shared a table at a coffeeshop with a Swiss national who has been in Singapore for two years. When I asked what he enjoys about Singapore, he immediately mentioned the weather and the food. Our conversation quickly turned to the different varieties of food here. Indeed, Singapore is a food paradise. Our multicultural society brings together a wide variety of cuisines, and many of us are passionate about discovering new places to eat.

Yet meals do more than nourish our bodies—they also nourish our relationships. Around the table, we bond, laugh, listen, and belong.

One of the videos from the Parenting Teenagers Course highlights the importance of having relaxed meals in building strong family relationships. During our discussion, one mummy shared that asking each child, “How was your day?” felt like an interrogation. So they introduced a simple idea: “SOM”—Sharing Over Meals. When she says “SOM,” everyone knows what to do—sit down, eat, and share. It helped create a natural space for everyone to talk about their day—what happened in school, at work, and in life.

In my family, we have intentionally practised the habit of having meals together. From the time our children were young, we made it a priority to sit at the table together for our meals. This required discipline, especially with our busy and different schedules, but it has become a routine that we continue to this day. Meals have become a time for connection, laughter, and sometimes even difficult conversations—yet it is always a place where we feel we belong as a family.

The Bible often mentions meals, highlighting their significance in various contexts. For example, the Passover meal is described in Exodus 12. Additionally, Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana (John 2:1–11), and He frequently shared meals with others (Matthew 9:10; Luke 19:5–7). The Lord's Supper serves as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and fellowship among believers (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). In the early church, believers would break bread and share meals together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:46). Finally, the book of Revelation points us toward the great wedding banquet that is to come (Revelation 19:9).

As a church, we have various opportunities to have meals together. Our CARE Groups often gather around food—whether it is a meal before the meeting or supper afterwards. There are also CG social events and celebratory meals. These are not just about food, but they are an essential part of community building.

For those who are new to our church, our Connection Meals are a wonderful way to meet our church leaders and get to know the church.

Many who attended the Community Meals in March enjoyed not only the food, ice cream, and coffee but also the fellowship and birthday celebrations. As we look forward to the next Community Meal on June 27 and 28—our intergenerational weekend—let us come to connect across different ages and stages of life.

There are also simple, informal ways to practice this. Invite someone out for a meal, share a coffee, or include someone who might otherwise be eating alone.

So, the next time we ask, “Have you eaten?”—let it be more than just a greeting. May it be an invitation to care, to connect, and to share life together. Until that great wedding banquet, may we continue to gather with glad and sincere hearts, sharing not only food but also our lives in Christ.