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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Chosen by God to play important roles in our lives

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"I would love to see the Catholic community start understanding that people with intellectual disability are gifts to the world and have been specially chosen by God to play important roles in our lives. We must spread the awareness that they are not ‘mistakes of creation’ or ‘burdens’ placed on our society. To understand this, all we need to do is to open our hearts and encounter these gentle souls."
~ Dr Chen Shiling with husband Liam at the health screening of clients
from the Association for Persons with Special Needs Centre for Adults.
https://www.facebook.com/EnterArena/posts/10153666589453276
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Wed, Sep 30, 2015 at 1016 am
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2345489644/permalink/10153671369774645/

Inspiring story of how a local Catholic doctor's volunteer work with intellectually disabled persons (PWID) led her to become an advocate for PWID who aims to set up a one-stop centre to provide lifelong care for their physical and mental health.

Dr Chen: "God’s presence has been very clear. And He is very clearly directing me to do this work. He is right there, in the centre of it, leading the entire thing... I would love to see the Catholic community start understanding that people with intellectual disability are gifts to the world and have been specially chosen by God to play important roles in our lives. We must spread the awareness that they are not ‘mistakes of creation’ or ‘burdens’ placed on our society. To understand this, all we need to do is to open our hearts and encounter these gentle souls."

From the parents of a girl with developmental delays: "Mr Teo feels that people with disability just need a little accommodation, not pity. He and Mrs Teo noticed that some parishioners seem to frown at people with intellectual disability in church. “If we go to church we must go with a more open heart, be more accepting of others.” Mrs Teo said."
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Led by God, Dr Chen Shiling felt a calling to minister to the communityOn her first day as a volunteer with a group of intellectually disabled (ID) children and adults, 17-year-old Chen Shiling was so frightened that she decided she was never coming back.

Yet she found herself inexplicably drawn to them before the day ended. So for the next six years, she returned every Sunday to interact and help out at MINDS (Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore) Youth Group.

She took a break from volunteering after graduating from the National University of Singapore at age 23 but connected with MINDS again five years ago. By then she had become a medical doctor.

Dr Chen told CatholicNews, “That year I felt very strongly that there was something out there in the community for me. So I went back to MINDS and said to them, “I’m a doctor now. What can I do for you?”

Now, with help from her physician husband Liam, Dr Chen serves people with intellectual disability (PWID) and credits God with leading her towards her ministry to this group.

She started organising medical health screenings after the meeting with MINDS. The team, which includes doctor and nurse friends, as well as medical students, offers general consultation and specialist support, such as dermatologists for skin problems.

Dr Chen has also started making home visits as part of her medical service to individuals with ID.

More recently, she also started conducting health screenings to clients of other voluntary welfare organisations like the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN) and Down Syndrome Association (DSA).

Said Dr Chen, “The more health screenings I did, the more I realised that it is not enough. The healthcare needs of PWIDs are just not met or they are very poorly met once they reach adulthood.”

She explained that children with ID have paediatricians to take care of them until they reach 18. But once they grow up, paediatricians will have to discharge them. This leaves them to navigate the system on their own.

The Adult Neurodevelopmental Service from the Institute of Mental Health provides excellent care for PWIDs with mental health needs, said Dr Chen. However, there are no doctors in Singapore dedicated to caring for the complex physical health of these people.

The health screenings and home visits for individuals with ID are only starting points. Dr Chen is looking towards setting up a centre offering comprehensive medical services for PWID. Helping parents plan for the future medical care of their ID children will also be an important service of that centre.

Looking back to the day she first came face to face with children and adults with ID, Dr Chen is convinced it was God who softened her heart towards them.

Recently, she registered Happee Hearts Movement as a non-profit entity, which creates awareness of and advocates for PWID.

The parishioner of the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary said, “God’s presence has been very clear. And He is very clearly directing me to do this work. He is right there, in the centre of it, leading the entire thing.”

And how does she feel about all the people she has been serving? “Throughout the years, every single time I encounter them, they keep giving me something very precious. They teach me about life, about love, about what it means to give. Essentially they teach what it means to be human. I encounter this every single time.”

On how the Catholic Church in Singapore could support her work, Dr Chen responded:

“I would love to see the Catholic community start understanding that people with intellectual disability are gifts to the world and have been specially chosen by God to play important roles in our lives. We must spread the awareness that they are not ‘mistakes of creation’ or ‘burdens’ placed on our society. To understand this, all we need to do is to open our hearts and encounter these gentle souls.”

For more on the Happee Hearts Movement visit their Facebook page, or email happee.hearts@gmail.com


‘Brother teaches me unconditional love’

John (not his real name) can sit still for hours listening and humming to children’s worship songs or watch Hi-5, an Australian television show popular with young children.

Except that John is no longer a child. At 33, he has the intellectual capacity of a two-year-old.

John belongs to a group of individuals in Singapore who are seldom seen in public due to their Intellectual Disabilities (ID).

Said his elder sister, Jenny: “The neighbours have called the police many times and even spoken to the Member of Parliament for our ward due to his shouting and tantrum throwing at night.

“This has caused added stress, fights and unhappiness in the family.”

But on a good day, he and Jenny would sit together watching television or singing his favourite children’s worship songs, “which are his way of connecting to God,” said Jenny.

Recently John was hospitalised due to a rare condition that attacks his immune system. During one of her visits, Jenny sang to him a line from a children’s worship song. Usually unable to hum beyond six notes, he managed to complete a whole line of the song. “He found comfort in it,” said the Catholic parishioner in the Serangoon area.

John was in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital for two months. “We nearly lost him twice,” Jenny stated.

Those episodes taught her that “our life is in God’s hands,” said Jenny, adding how having John has been a source of grace. “He teaches me what is meant by unconditional love.”

While John’s family has stopped taking him to Church since he was six, Jenny suggests that the Church can welcome children with ID by conducting awareness programmes to educate parishoners, organise catecism classes that are catered to children with ID, and give ID children a special corner so they can attend church without distracting others.


A future for their special daughter


Before having their daughter Shui Shann, Mr William Teo and his wife, Mrs Emily Teo, were preoccupied with chasing the 5Cs.

Now they are busy trying to make life easier for her future. “She brought us down to realise that life is not all about that [5Cs],” Mr Teo said.

Shui Shann was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay when she was 18 months.

In 2003, she enrolled in Yio Chu Kang Garden School, which is run by Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). At the end of that year, Mr Teo and other parents in the school initiated a caregivers group. It was a platform for mutual support and parents raised concerns about their children’s lives after they leave the school.

These concerns later evolved into worries about how the children would cope when their parents were no longer able to care for them.

Said Mr Teo, “Having a good quality of life is about the ability to make choices, say, a choice of employment, social and recreational activities, accommodation, and so on. To have the ability to choose, there must be a range of options available.”

Mr and Mrs Teo are encouraging fellow parents to consider Permanency Planning. The term refers to the process of transitioning children in foster care to a more permanent care arrangement. In recent times, it has also been used to refer to arrangements for people with intellectual disability when their parents are no longer able to look after them.

“The caregiving ‘hat’ parents wear can be overwhelming,” said Mr Teo.

“As parents reach the age where they start worrying about their ability to take care of themselves, they find it difficult to pass this ‘hat’ along. However, if the ‘hat’ can be sliced into smaller pieces, different people or organisations can be found to take on the different responsibilities.”

Mr Teo feels that people with disability just need a little accommodation, not pity. He and Mrs Teo noticed that some parishioners seem to frown at people with intellectual disability in church.

“If we go to church we must go with a more open heart, be more accepting of others.” Mrs Teo said.

By Mel Diamse-Lee
Details
Parent Category: 2015
Category: OCTOBER 04, 2015, Vol 65, No 20
 Hits: 25
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Friday, September 25, 2015

Joke ~ Subway Sandwich

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Joke ~ Subway Sandwich
~ Date Posted on FB; Thu, Sep 24, 2015, at 0927 pm


Get it? Turkey... NOT... Thirty!

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Circle of Fifths (Circle of 5THs) ~ by fONS (PGA)

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Click to enlarge for easy reading.


FCGDAEB = Father Christmas Gave Dad AElectric Blanket

BEADGCF = Blanket Exploded And Dad Got Charred Feet

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Monday, September 21, 2015

Jazz Study ~ Common Scales Harmonized to Triad chords & 7th chords (Table 5)

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Jazz Study
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Harmonizing Scales

The notes in a scale can also be used to build the chords and chord progressions played in a song (please refer to the chord’s section for a detailed analysis on chords). For example, the notes from the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G, A, B) can be used to build many chords. Table 1 below shows the seven basic chord triads built using the notes from the C major scale.
Chord Name
Chord Notes
C Major
C, E, G
D Minor
D, F, A
E Minor
E, G, B
F Major
F, A, C
G Major
G, B, D
A Minor
A, C, E
B Diminished
B, D, F
Table 1 (above) - C major scale chord triads

Notice how all seven chords were constructed using the seven notes from the C major scale. This is true for every major scale. The G major scale (G, A, B, C, D, E, F#) is shown on the next page and uses the same chord types that the C major scale uses in the same order.
Chord Name
Chord Notes
G Major
G, B, D
A Minor
A, C, E
B Minor
B, D, F#
C Major
C, E, G
D Major
D, F#, A
E Minor
E, G, B
F# Diminished
F#, A, C
Table 2 (above) - G major scale chord triads

For all major scales, the first note in the scale is played as a major chord. In the C major scale example, C is the first note in the C major scale and is played as a major chord. In the G major scale example, G is the first note in the G major scale and is played a major chord. The second and third notes in a major scale are played as a minor chord. The fourth and fifth notes are played as major chords. The sixth note is played as a minor chord, and the seventh note is played as a diminished chord. This order must be followed to ensure the notes in the chords come from the major scale’s notes. Remember, these rules are true for all major scales. The table 3 below shows these rules for any major scale using roman numerals for scale steps. Please note, uppercase roman numerals are used for major chords, and lowercase roman numerals are used with minor chords.


Chord Name (any major scale)
Chord Notes
I Major
1, 3, 5
ii Minor
2, 4, 6
iii Minor
3, 5, 7
IV Major
4, 6, 1
V Major
5, 7, 2
vi Minor
6, 1, 3
vii Diminished
7, 2, 4
Table 3 (above) - Harmonized Major Scale

This table, however, only shows seven chords, one chord for each note in the scale. There are many chords that can be built using the notes from a scale, and the next table 4 shows 27 chord types harmonized to the major scale. Notice that each of the seven notes has many chord types associated with it (the chords chapter will discuss how to build chords). This will allow greater creativity with so many chords to choose from!
Major Scale Tone Numbers
Chord Name (any major scale)
I
Major, Sus2, Sus4, Added Ninth, Sixth, Sixth added Ninth, Major Seventh, Major Ninth, Major Thirteenth
ii
Minor, Sus2, Sus4, Minor added Ninth, Minor Sixth, Sixth added Ninth, Minor Seventh, Minor Ninth, Minor Eleventh, Minor Thirteenth, Dom Seventh Sus4, Dom Ninth Sus4, Dom Thirteenth Sus4
iii
Minor, Sus4, Minor Flat Six, Minor Seventh, Dom Seventh Sus4
IV
Major, Sus2, Added Ninth, Sixth, Sixth added Ninth, Major Seventh, Major Ninth, Major Thirteenth
V
Major, Sus2, Sus4, Added Ninth, Sixth, Sixth added Ninth, Dom Seventh, Dom Seventh Sus4, Dom Ninth, Dom Ninth Sus4, Dom Eleventh, Dom Thirteenth, Thirteenth Sus4
vi
Minor, Sus2, Sus4, Minor added Ninth, Minor Flat Six, Minor Seventh, Minor Ninth, Minor Eleventh, Dom Seventh Sus4, Dom Ninth Sus4
vii
Diminished, Minor Seven-Flat Five
Table 4 (above) - 27 chord types harmonized to the major scale

After learning how to harmonize a few scales, it should be clear to see that any scale can be harmonized to build many chords. Table 5 below shows several examples of common scales harmonized to triad chords and seventh chords. These triad chords can be extended even further to give even more chord possibilities! *click the table below for full sized image.




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Original Source Link

Scales Lessons 3 ~ Harmonizing Scales

Table 5 - Common Scales Harmonized to Triad chords & 7th chords
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Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Fire Course I attended in 2002

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Found some old notes of a Fire Course I attended in 2002.


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_____________________________________________
From: PL
Sent: Tuesday, 19 November, 2002 10:26 AM
To: PGA
Cc: OHY
Subject: Re: fire warden

HEEE HEEE...THIS IS SO COOOOOOL!  Gotta get cha an outfit for christmas!

_____________________________________________
Pereira Alphonsus
19/11/2002 10:18:13
To: OHY
cc: PL
Subject: Re: fire warden

Ok, will try.
What'll I have to do?

 
pga

_____________________________________________
OHY
19/11/2002 09:48
To: CSL
cc: PLNews/MediaCorp@MediaCorp 
Subject: Re: fire warden

PGA?  can u do us the honours?

_____________________________________________
CSL on 18/11/2002 04:34:58 PM
To: OHY/MCN
cc: 
Subject: fire warden

hi, our mcn fire warden rep is CAS.  the other is LA, who'll be transferred to grp HR next mth.  need yr help, any guy you can nominate as the other rep?  thks in advance.

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Tuesday, September 01, 2015

Psalm 114 (UK) & Psalm 116 (US)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2015 at 12:58 PM
Subject: Psalm 114 ~ 24th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)


This is the first time I notice that the Psalm Numbers are different by more than one, Psalm 114 (UK) and Psalm 116 (US).

UK Version's Psalm 116 is the combination of US Version's Psalm 114 & Psalm 115.


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Responsorial Psalm ~ Greek, UK and Singapore version

Psalm 114
~ 24th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)

[Response]
I will walk in the presence of 
the Lord in the land of the living.

or:
R. Alleluia.

[V1]
I love the Lord for he has heard
the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me
in the day when I called him

[V2]
The surrounded me, the snares of death,
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress.
I called on the Lord's name.
O Lord my God deliver me!

[V3]
How gracious the Lord, and just;
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts;
I was helpless so he saved me.

[V4]
He has kept my soul for death,
my eyes from tears 
and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living.
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To be able to sing to the same tune.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

I will walk, I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

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Responsorial Psalm ~ Hebrew, US version
Psalm 116
~ 24th Ordinary Sunday (Year B)
PS 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

[Response] R. (9)
I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

or:
R. Alleluia.

[V1]
I love the LORD because he has heard
my voice in supplication,
Because he has inclined his ear to me
the day I called.

[V2]
The cords of death encompassed me;
the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
I fell into distress and sorrow,
And I called upon the name of the LORD,
“O LORD, save my life!”

[V3]
Gracious is the LORD and just;
yes, our God is merciful.
The LORD keeps the little ones;
I was brought low, and he saved me.

[V4]
For he has freed my soul from death,
my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
I shall walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
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However, it is easier to look for this Psalm on the internet as Psalm 116.
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Psalm 116
New International Version (NIV)

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
    he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
    I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
    the anguish of the grave came over me;
    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Lord, save me!”
5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;
    our God is full of compassion.
6 The Lord protects the unwary;
    when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return to your rest, my soul,
    for the Lord has been good to you.
8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the Lord
    in the land of the living.
10 I trusted in the Lord when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted”;
11 in my alarm I said,
    “Everyone is a liar.”
12 What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
    is the death of his faithful servants.
16 Truly I am your servant, Lord;
    I serve you just as my mother did;
    you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—
    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Footnote:
Praise the Lord.[a]
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Psalm 116
New Life Version (NLV)

Praises to God for Being Saved from Death

1 I love the Lord, because He hears my voice and my prayers. 2 I will call on Him as long as I live, because He has turned His ear to me. 3 The strings of death are all around me. And the fear of the grave came upon me. I suffered with trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I beg You, save my life!”

5 The Lord is loving and right. Yes, our God is full of loving-kindness. 6 The Lord takes care of the child-like. I was brought down, and He saved me. 7 Return to your rest, O my soul. For the Lord has been good to you. 8 For You, O Lord, have saved my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk with the Lord in the land of the living. 10 I believed when I said, “I am very troubled.” 11 I said in my fear, “All men are liars.”

12 What should I give to the Lord for all the good things He has done for me? 13 I will show Him my thanks for saving me with a gift of wine and praise His name. 14 I will keep my promises to the Lord before all His people. 15 The death of His holy ones is of great worth in the eyes of the Lord. 16 For sure I am Your servant, O Lord. I am Your servant, the son of the woman who served You. You have set me free from my chains. 17 I will give a gift of thanks to You and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will keep my promises to the Lord before all His people, 19 in the holy place of the Lord, and in the center of you, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!
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Psalm 116
New King James Version (NKJV)

Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.
2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.
3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”
5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.
7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
8 For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.
9 I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.
10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”
12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.
16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,
19 In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Footnote:
Praise the Lord!
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