There's no better way of ending something so good but by celebrating it
for not just one, but two days. Finally, the day we were waiting for has
arrived. My three month journey is about to end, but my service is just
about to stride anew.
It was Talk 12 of the Christian Life
Program, the Lord's Day, the penultimate event of the CLP for the
participants like me. This program started exactly three months ago.
Time flies so fast. The past 90 days has been filled with fun, faith,
praise, worship, prayers, greetings, learning, and so on. I am very
blessed for being introduced to the SFC Napico 2 chapter. Since I joined
the CLP, I have received countless blessings: in my work, family,
social relationships, and many more. I am truly grateful for all of
these, and I will keep on dedicating myself to service, the same way the
Lord God has continued loving me despite my shortcomings.
Saturday, December 1
This
day will be the last talk for the CLP Participants. We will be
celebrating the day with the rest of the SFC East A Sector community. We
arrived at the venue by around 5 in the afternoon, registered for the
event, took our seats and watched and listened to the sector Music Min
as they rehearse for the songs to be played later. Most of them were
songs we have already sang within the duration of the program. Let me
remember some of those here:
===
I am blessed by your love
And I'll never be the same
Blessed by your love oh Lord
I am blessed by your love
And forever I'll be yours
Blessed by your love oh Lord
===
You are the lord let my heart sing praise
Oh, oh let my heart sing praise to you
Halle, Hallelujah,
Halle, Hallelujah..
===
God is enough for me
Nothing else will ever be
And I am satisfied
For I have found my peace
===
You are praiseworthy
You are praiseworthy
You are praiseworthy oh my Lord.
===
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
== =
I will lift your name on high
And I'll forever worship you
And I will serve you with all of my heart
Coz you are my God
I'll forever be grateful
===
I am ablaze for You Lord
I wanna go out and spread Your love
Ablaze for You Lord
Together we're setting the world on fire
===
We
sang a couple more songs but I can't exactly recall all of those.
Nonetheless, those are songs that will resound in my head for a long
time.
I love the atmosphere at the venue. It reminds me of my
Press Con days back at Elementary and High School and the school-wide
events in college. Being in the company of this community makes me feel
younger. I can absorb the energy of the youth everywhere around me. I
really feel blessed by that time. Each chapter was introduced in a roll
call.
Moments later, the Lord's Day proper has started. Bro.
John and Sis. Lea from the Couples for Christ, our presenters of Talks 5
and 6, were also the facilitators of the Lord's Day. It is my first
time to witness and take part in this kind of event, though I heard
about this before. The event was characterized by the blessing of the
candle, wine and bread, along with the leader and the response of the
community, and with the praise and worship songs in between the
festivities. The experience is really great. I look forward to more of
these experiences, now as a new member of the community.
Next is
the Talk 12 proper. Bro. Rob Escano conducted the talk. He delivered
the talk in such a lively manner, that I can't help but laugh and smile
all the time, and be seriously listening and absorbing his shared
stories and the talk proper itself. Transformation in the Holy
Spirit/Christian Life is the theme of the talk. His first question was
how many times we have felt that we're down. He followed this up with
questions on standing up and what have we done to do so. I am sure that
the participants will have the same reflection as I did. Two things I
can remember exactly from the talk: First, we joined the CLP to
transform, to change for the good. Second, a description of the way we
pray- as we joined our hands in a prayer, each finger symbolizes the
following : Thumb - our closest loved ones; Point - friends, community;
Middle - Leaders ; Ring - weak ones; and Pinky - ourselves. This also
brings us back to the Theme of Napico 2's CLP : iPlant God. The seeds
have already been planted in everyone. It's just a matter of how we will
accept Jesus, so that the seeds will grow into a fully-bloomed tree.
After
the talk, we signified our covenant with the community. In my all
effort, I will abide by this covenant and hope to serve God by staying
and taking an active part in this community. We are now official members
of the Singles for Christ. We were overwhelmed for being welcomed to
the family in such a joyous manner. I really have found my peace here.
Next
comes the Dinner, something that showed the sharing of blessings within
all the chapters. Shortly after having ourselves stuffed, we prepared
for the presentations. This time, I'll be Dolphy, and my co-
participants will be playing the roles of people who took part in the
wonderful life of the late comedian. Thank God that our presentation has
been a good one.
Capping off the Lord's Day/ Talk 12 is the
praise fest. We were all singing to our heart's content. It is but
proper to give the Lord God all the praises and worships, for this is
just one of our ways of showing Him the Love he first gave us.
It
is now time for another celebration. It will be the Chapter's Christmas
Party shortly. We immediately went to Alpadi Resort in Antipolo to hold
our party.
===
Sunday, December 2
We went to Antipolo
with Bro. Denden leading the way for the participants, and took the
ride with Sis. CJ, a young professional who went out her way to
celebrate our graduation. We initially planned of partying after the
Lord's Day, that is, by 12 midnight onwards. But due to the fatigue and
drowsiness, we cancelled and reserved it for the next day.
Our
call time was 7 in the morning on Sunday. The schedule has been set for
the activities all day long. I slept by around 1 am, woke up by 6 and
had my morning routine. By around 8, we had a short exercise and our
first activity: morning worship with Bro. Jhat and Sis. Gemma, our
chapter heads, leading the way. Bro. Elmar read the daily Gospel, and we
had a group sharing/reflection after. "Are you prepared to face Jesus?"
"Can you see Him every day?" "In what ways can you prepare for this
meeting?" We all had our share of stories, and I really enjoyed
listening to the bigger group. Breakfast comes next, and we prepared for
the next activity. Dressed as Gods and Goddesses, we started our second
activity for the day; the awarding/ conferring of SFC Kits for us, the
graduates/new members, and the awarding of the Service Team as well.
Overall, it was a fun session. We had a couple of pictures, and a dozen
of laughs as we enjoyed the creative awards Bro. Jhat and Sis. Gemma
came up for the ST. It is worth noting that it rained while the awarding
is in progress. It seems that the skies are celebrating with us . We
started the CLP back in those rainy days. It is nice to end this with
the downpour as well. This marks the start of something great for all of
us.
We had our lunch shortly after, and proceeded with the
exchange gift. To end the fun with a blast, we had the swimming
"sessions". I really enjoyed the whole day with the community.
Time
to look forward. Time to serve God. I will continue nurturing the seed
planted within me. I know that all of us think the same. Let us grow
together in Christ. And with this, May God be Praised.
===
Let
me end this by thanking all the people who have been a part of this
wonderful experience. The CLP is something I will always look back to. A
life-turning point, indeed. I am really blessed by a Great God.
To
Sis. Melai, the first person from the community whom I had a
conversation with. Thank you for all the text messages, and for handing
me the bookmark/invitation that started it all.
To Bro. Elmar, our Team Leader for this CLP and also one of the first from the group who welcomed me.
To
Bro. Denden (Pogi :D). For the continuous support, reminders, messages,
and for being such a good facilitator to me. Thanks for listening
willingly to all my stories and for following up each time with your own
views, advice, and throughts. I look up to you as a "Kuya".
To Bro. Jhat, our Chapter Head, who welcomed us with a short pep talk and the instructions on the weekly songs.
To Bro. Vic, our assistant facilitator, for the same messages and stories he shared to us.
To Sis. Kathy, for picking up my paper plane that could not fly, yet heard my first sharing in the community :)
To
Bro. Ross, for the coin and bottle magic trick, which I can't still
figure out how it happened. Also, for thanks for the warm greeting.
To Sis. Eden, for the nice chat we had about joining the community and our careers.
To Bro. Icep, for the silent but warm welcome gestures.
To Bro. Brian, for the advice on how to learn playing a guitar.
To
Sis. Shai, the first sister/co-participant who I had a chat with.
Thanks for the free-flowing conversation we had back then. :)
To
Brothers Rix, Arjay, and Jervie (the Pogi Group). I really enjoyed the
sharing we had. I learned something from all of you, aside from the Pogi
Clap and the Likes. Thank you.
To Bro. Mark, for the first greetings and short stories you shared with me.
To
fellow participant Brothers Bent, Crist, Aries, Tien, John and
Lawrence. Thanks for the company and the short talks we had, and for
looking at me as a Kuya. We have a long way to go, brothers.
To
Sis. Angie, for being just bubbly and always wearing a smile in her
face. Now I understand why she deserve the Crush ng Bayan award :D
To
Bro. Jeff, for the instructions during our presentation practices, and
for the understanding. And of course, for the gift I received in our
party.
To Sisters Angela and Princess. Looking forward to more jolly chats with you two :)
To Sister Jen, for sharing her stories about career and also a good conversation.
And
to all who can't be mentioned by names, for offering the friendly
handshakes and smiles before/during/after our Saturday talks. I am truly
grateful for accepting me as a part of the community.
Forever I'll be grateful.
For I have found my peace.
I am Truly Home.
