On 25 Oct 2025, residents of St John’s Home (SJH) for the Elderly Persons gathered in the dining hall in anticipation. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of excitement, but what were they waiting for? 

They were waiting for the Prata Party at SJH to begin. Generous members of Bethesda Church (Bedok-Tampines) led by Pastor Ruth, organised and financed this memorable party for SJH residents.  

The Prata Party promised something special - no boring reheated frozen prata here. Instead, residents were treated to soft, freshly prepared prata. As they made their way to the dining hall, many couldn’t help but watch Springleaf’s LIVE prata station, where the chef skillfully kneaded, stretched, and flipped the dough. To make things even better, there was a wide selection of sauces. Residents could choose from traditional vegetable or chicken curry, egg, onion, or cheese for savory pratas, and chocolate, banana, milk, or red bean for those with a sweet tooth. For those with bigger appetites, they could even order large plaster pratas. 

Many residents had not enjoyed fresh prata for a long time, so it wasn’t a surprise that they were eager to dig in. Some could not wait for SJH’s staff and volunteers to take their orders and deliver the pratas, that they ordered the pratas themselves to get their food faster. Quite a few even went back for second and third servings. One resident skipped lunch to reserve their stomach for additional prata, while several wanted to “Da bao” (take away) extra pratas to their rooms after the party. However, they were not allowed to overeat for health and safety reasons. The residents had to eat their extra pratas on the spot.                     

No party is complete without music and games. There were plenty of both during the prata party. The event kicked off with karaoke, as SJH’s staff and volunteers from Bethesda Church (Bedok-Tampines) went around the dining hall to take prata orders. Residents enthusiastically participated in singing popular Teresa Teng songs, such as “The Moon Represents My Heart.” 

 After enjoying their prata meal, residents participated in organized activities such as passing the ball and football using balloons, directed by Pastor Ruth. These games were thoughtfully designed to provide light exercise and aid digestion. Dividing the residents into two teams fostered a healthy sense of competition, with members cooperating to achieve success. During the concluding balloon game, residents actively engaged one another, passing balloons across to their peers seated opposite, contributing to an atmosphere of enjoyment and camaraderie. 

Residents engaged in a cognitive activity by participating in their preferred game - Bingo. Everyone paid close attention to the numbers announced, aspiring to be among those who successfully completed a bingo. The event concluded with the distribution of goodie bags, marking a pleasant and fulfilling day for SJH’s residents. 

According to Bernard, one of the organisers from Bethesda Church, this was the church’s first time hosting a prata party for SJH’s residents. The idea originated from a member who suggested that many residents hadn’t enjoyed freshly made prata in quite a while. Another person recommended adding games that would give residents both upper and lower body exercise. From there, everything moved quickly. Everyone contributed ideas, time, and resources to make the prata party happen. Bernard estimated that with everyone helping, it took just two months to bring the event to life. 

Another volunteer from Bethesda Church, Swee Hua, was delighted by the residents' enthusiastic response, noting with excitement that many of them went back for seconds, thirds, or even fourth helpings of prata. Both Swee Hua and fellow volunteers were visibly happy when residents like Grace, Teresa, Alice, Wooi Fong, and Lay Ting eagerly shared how much they enjoyed the pratas and the celebration.  

Bernard shared that Bethesda may consider organising another prata party, given the positive response and enjoyment it brought to the residents. He expressed his intention to transition from being a newcomer to becoming a friend within the community. The prata party represented a constructive initiative for fostering relationships with SJH’s residents. Church members are also evaluating the possibility of increasing the frequency of their visits to SJH residents as a mean to further strengthen these connections. 

Overall, the prata party was an enjoyable and memorable occasion for both SJH’s residents and the organisers from Bethesda Church (Bedok-Tampines). 

If you’d like to create valuable experiences and lasting memories with SJH’s residents, feel free to reach out to – 6285 4446, progvm@stjohnseldershome.org.sg