WORD
CIRCULAR DECEMBER 2015
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This advent season, let’s focus our attention on Jesus Christ who is our deliverer, comforter, and friend. May God find us ready to welcome Him into our hearts. May this season of Advent be a fruitful and grace-filled one. May His kingdom come and His divine will be done always in our lives. God bless us all!
• Pastor Jireh •
Pastor’s NOTE
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E N D A R E Y
P A R T Y
Breakout & BARBECUE
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BREAKOUT (ESCAPE ROOM THING)
3pm Katipunan Sign-up at the lobby to reserve your slot.
B A R B E C U E ( PA R T Y )
5pm Mike Velascos’ House Fun. Food. Fun.
DEC5 •3-8PM Tara na!
FOR DETAILS CONTACT
Mike Velasco 0917.587.3146 Pastor Jireh 0917.534.1616
COMMUNITY
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Christmas
comes early for
Oranbo kids by NIkki Ebrada
Being a first-year MBA student at DLSU, part of the requirements of my Lasallian Business Leadership, Ethics, and CSR class is to conduct a Service Learning activity for our community of choice. My group mates and I chose the Oranbo community. Our professor keeps track of what we learned through an individual blog, which we update after every lesson/activity. This is what I wrote for my experience last November 15, 2015: For Day1 of our Service Learning activity, we conducted a “Pag-iipon and Munting Negosyo” Seminar for the moms. For Day 2 of our Service Learning, the group wanted to conduct a program wherein we could “give-back”. Since Christmas is drawing near, we thought of having a Christmas Party for the kids. The group met at around 11AM at Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons. Our major task, pre-event, was the packing of the lootbags for the kids. Luckily, there was a lot of space in the parking area of Estancia hahaha! After packing, we had a quick lunch, and then proceeded to the venue at RPSTA (which is where WORDCOMM-Oranbo holds its 5pm Sunday Service).
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For the program, we had games such as Stop Dance, Newspaper Dance, and Calamansi Relay. We also had a “talent show” wherein the kids volunteered in pairs to sing/dance. All of the 5 groups danced. It was so cute because they really had choreographed dance steps! We also had some prizes raffled off and given to the kids. The day ended with the kids having snacks and drinks. Before they left, we gave them lootbags, which they were all so happy to receive. If you think that handling 51 kids aged 3-11 is easy, think again. It was quite a challenge for us because as the day progressed, the kids were getting rowdier and noisier. Good thing we were able to set some rules and regulations before the party started, and nevertheless, the group had such a great time! It was also heart-warming to hear from the kids that they had fun and that they enjoyed. I remember when I was a child, I would always look forward to Christmas parties and opening and receiving gifts. It’s sad to know that there are a lot of kids out there who don’t get to enjoy the privileges I’ve enjoyed growing up - and this is why holding the Christmas party for the kids was something I was most eager to do. It made me remember the blessings I take for granted everyday, and most of all, the importance of bringing joy to others and sharing the Christmas spirit.
Influence
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ADVENT: Preparing our hearts for the coming of our King
Time flies and December is coming fast. People are getting busy preparing for Christmas parties, reunions, exchanging of gifts, and many special gatherings. On the other hand we know for a fact that in some parts of the world, people are suffering and are filled with fear because of terrorism, wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, famine, and other natural disasters and calamities just like what happened lately in Syria, Paris, Japan, and not to mention the growing tensions because of territorial dispute between China, the Philippines, and others in the South China Sea — also known as the West Philippine Sea. Chaos is the overarching theme that you can get from the news all over the world. It seems like the world isn’t going to get better anymore.
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Perhaps some of us are also experiencing chaos and disaster in our own lives. Pains, problems, and difficult circumstances seem to always hunt us down and are impacting our career, families, and relationships. But, as we start to celebrate advent, let’s pause for a while and ponder on the good things that God has done in our lives and the things that matter the most. Despite of what’s happening around the world, more than the Christmas parties that we anticipate to enjoy, and the gifts that we are eager to receive, let’s not forget the true reason for this season, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the manifestation of God’s great love for us. For the next four Sundays in our advent series, Let’s explore the different themes of advent — hope, peace, joy, and love — in relation to commemorating Christ’s first coming, and preparing for His second coming. Together, let’s anticipate God’s blessings through his word that we will be hearing from our beloved pastors.
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Because we know that what we’re waiting for is sure, we will not grow weary and tired for our hope is in the Lord. He will never fail us because He is a faithful and trustworthy God. We all look forward for the day when us Christians will be rescued by Christ from this fallen and chaotic world and will reign with Him forever. When that perfect time comes, I hope and pray that we will all hear God’s sweet commendation, “Well done my good and faithful servant!” As Christians, we should be excited that sooner or later, Christ will come again and will deliver us from all difficulties and sufferings that we experience in this world. I believe that to live a life that’s not expectant about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is an insult to our faith and to God himself. If we value the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, it must be seen in our words, actions, and deeds. It’ll give us a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
So let’s serve more, give more, love more, and pray more, as we actively wait for the Lord.
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Piack
Bless a
wordcomm
Annual Missions Outreach Be part of these children’s Christmas by picking a name and granting the wish list of their ‘baby’. Gifts can be dropped off at our Sunday Gatherings, and/or our office at RFM Bldg., Pioneer Street, Mandaluyong on or before DECEMBER 11, 2015 (F ).
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