Seeing Double http://suchurch.blog.com Thoughts and Inspirations from Silliman Sat, 30 May 2009 16:27:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 en hourly 1 Moving On… http://suchurch.blog.com/2009/05/30/moving-on/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2009/05/30/moving-on/#comments Sat, 30 May 2009 16:27:53 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada
But as the the cliche goes, the only thing that's constant in this world is change, I changed my mind after studying for two and a half months and decided I have to find work in order to support my family. This happened because I the scholarship that I was hoping to have didn't materialize and thus, I have to make a decision in favor of my family.

Today, I'm connected with Silliman University's Broadcast Project covering its radio and cable television channel programs as coordinator. I'm on my sixth month and I'm hoping that I'm doing well. I'm actually enjoying! However, there are a lot of things that needs to be done with these particular outfits and I feel I'm ill-equipped since the job needs some investment in the so-called "necessary tools of the trade." Anyway, I'm still here doing my best.

Sooooo, I believe I will be making changes in this blog site, perhaps close this down or maintain this but change its title or heading.

We'll see... ]]> It has been quite some time now that I’ve been able to post in this blog. The reason is that my term as Pastor for Witness and Service in Silliman University Church already expired and, even though I still am qualified for a last term of another two years, I have opted not to avail of such. My term expired last May 2008. I was actually planning to pursue my Masteral studies then after serving Silliman University Church for five years.

But as the the cliche goes, the only thing that’s constant in this world is change, I changed my mind after studying for two and a half months and decided I have to find work in order to support my family. This happened because I the scholarship that I was hoping to have didn’t materialize and thus, I have to make a decision in favor of my family.

Today, I’m connected with Silliman University’s Broadcast Project covering its radio and cable television channel programs as coordinator. I’m on my sixth month and I’m hoping that I’m doing well. I’m actually enjoying! However, there are a lot of things that needs to be done with these particular outfits and I feel I’m ill-equipped since the job needs some investment in the so-called “necessary tools of the trade.” Anyway, I’m still here doing my best.

Sooooo, I believe I will be making changes in this blog site, perhaps close this down or maintain this but change its title or heading.

We’ll see…

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2009/05/30/moving-on/feed/ Are We Blind Also? http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/03/14/are-we-blind-also/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/03/14/are-we-blind-also/#comments Fri, 14 Mar 2008 07:55:04 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada Texts: Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
March 2, 2008
Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church

Good morning! Have you ever been blind in your life? Or have you ever tried acting blind in your life?

One activity during IPR sessions that I’ve experienced is called the “blind walk” where participants are paired with each other and are instructed to take turns playing blind while the other partner with the good sight leads the ‘blind’ around. With that activity, we were able to appreciate our sight more and also appreciate those who lead us to the right paths. Most often than not, one can only appreciate the sight that God has given to us when we experience blindness. You yourself can do that by trying to imagine going home after this worship service with your eyes shut. It’s definitely difficult, right?

According to the 2006 World Health Organization estimate, 40 to 45 million people are blind worldwide, and an additional 160 million individuals suffer from low vision. The three major causes are cataract, trachoma and glaucoma, accounting for over 70 percent of all cases of sightlessness. However, a few cases of this condition are congenital, which means one is already blind at birth.

In biblical times, blindness was also prevalent. Our gospel reading today in John chapter 9 is about a person who has congenital blindness – he was blind since birth. However, even though his story is pivotal to this passage, the central message is not about his blindness, but about the blindness and sin of those around him – of the religious teachers and authorities around him. As was Jesus’ style in effectively preaching about the good news and teaching the people about this, Jesus makes a very important point in using not only the blind man’s condition, but more especially the kind of blindness that afflicts even those who have good sight but questionable intentions.

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’”

Then Jesus went on to heal the blind man, and indeed the work of God through his healing was displayed in his life as he witnessed to those around him the miracle he has experienced.

This would have been a very good ending to the story. But no, the story didn’t end there. It went on and through the Pharisees, the teachers and authorities of the law, the question was then refocused on sin. The question on who sinned and caused the man’s blindness—the blind man himself or the parents—was again raised. What’s worse was that these Pharisees went to the extent of saying that the one who sinned was Jesus because he healed the blind man on a Sabbath.

In our time today, we still hear a lot of those who believe that what caused one’s affliction is because of his or her sin or the sin of the parents. But we need to be reminded that all people—all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Not all afflictions therefore, not even most, can be blamed on the sin of the person who must bear that affliction, or - as in the case of a genetic defect or a birth accident like that of the man born blind must have had - upon the sin of the parents. I believe that that is not the way our loving, caring God works.

Of course some afflictions are obviously results of sin like becoming a mental case because of drug addiction and the drug trade, but many afflictions experienced by the people cannot be blamed on someone, nor should we go about blaming them on someone. For that is not what we are called to do.

As believers we are to look at Jesus, who, in our passage today, set the example for us to do, and that is for us not to bring judgment but healing to those who are afflicted. This is what Jesus is about: he has come to bring us relief from those things that afflict us -- to give sight to the blind and to heal the lame, and to set free those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord to those who are poor.

This is what God wants us to do with our lives, and this is what the cross is ultimately all about—to bring forgiveness and salvation to sinners, to show the love of God to those who, by any other standard, are unlovable.

Talking about blindness in our times today, I would like to classify them into two: first is the kind where one is afflicted with challenges or problems in one’s life. Are you suffering from a certain ailment or sickness that won’t easily go away, or are you burdened by a concern that disturbs you? Are you experiencing financial difficulties and are having a hard time making ends meet?

I intentionally selected the first hymn, "Blessed Assurance", today for us to sing because this was written by Fanny Crosby, who has blind. When Fanny was six weeks old, she had an eye infection.  Her regular doctor was out of town, and a man posing as a doctor gave her the wrong treatment. Within a few days, she was totally blind.

If that happened to some people, I’m quite sure they would be very bitter and would probably spend a lifetime feeling sorry for themselves.  Fanny was never bitter and she never felt sorry for herself. Instead of being bitter and feeling sorry for herself,  instead of blaming the doctor for his "sin" against her and dwelling in darkness all her days, Fanny used the gifts that God had given her to write over 8,000 hymns and poems to praise and glorify God.

We might know who caused her blindness - but to Fanny knowing who caused her blindness didn't matter.  Nor did it matter to her that she was blind - because in her mind she could see. She might not have been healed like that blind man in our passage today, but surely, through her affliction, the work of God is made known in her life. I hope that we can all be like Fanny Crosby. But sadly no, there are those whom I classify with a different kind of blindness.

Like the Pharisees in our story, there are those of us who only see and seek what’s good for our own selves. There are those who cannot see beyond themselves, who are myopic enough to be blind. These are the likes of those who engage in corrupt practices and steal from others. The ones like those who benefit from transactions like the aborted NBN-ZTE broadband deal, those who cannot be contented with what they have, those who like to play the blaming game instead of having the attitude of helping those who are poor and oppressed, those who turn their backs against the truth and cover their faces with lies. These blind men and women only do things that will benefit them and don’t care less about those who are in need. They come to their synagogues and yet don’t practice what they have learned there. These are the those who have blind hearts because of their sins.

This season of lent, we are continuously called to examine ourselves and see what blinds us these days.

However, we are to remember that while we were yet blind and sinners all, in God’s utmost love, God's mercy and God's amazing grace, Jesus died for all of us, not to judge us but to heal us of our blindness, to heal us of our afflictions, to bring salvation to all those who ask for it.

May the work of our almighty loving God be displayed in our lives. Amen.
]]> Texts: Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
March 2, 2008
Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church

Good morning! Have you ever been blind in your life? Or have you ever tried acting blind in your life?

One activity during IPR sessions that I’ve experienced is called the “blind walk” where participants are paired with each other and are instructed to take turns playing blind while the other partner with the good sight leads the ‘blind’ around. With that activity, we were able to appreciate our sight more and also appreciate those who lead us to the right paths. Most often than not, one can only appreciate the sight that God has given to us when we experience blindness. You yourself can do that by trying to imagine going home after this worship service with your eyes shut. It’s definitely difficult, right?

According to the 2006 World Health Organization estimate, 40 to 45 million people are blind worldwide, and an additional 160 million individuals suffer from low vision. The three major causes are cataract, trachoma and glaucoma, accounting for over 70 percent of all cases of sightlessness. However, a few cases of this condition are congenital, which means one is already blind at birth.

In biblical times, blindness was also prevalent. Our gospel reading today in John chapter 9 is about a person who has congenital blindness – he was blind since birth. However, even though his story is pivotal to this passage, the central message is not about his blindness, but about the blindness and sin of those around him – of the religious teachers and authorities around him. As was Jesus’ style in effectively preaching about the good news and teaching the people about this, Jesus makes a very important point in using not only the blind man’s condition, but more especially the kind of blindness that afflicts even those who have good sight but questionable intentions.

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.’”

Then Jesus went on to heal the blind man, and indeed the work of God through his healing was displayed in his life as he witnessed to those around him the miracle he has experienced.

This would have been a very good ending to the story. But no, the story didn’t end there. It went on and through the Pharisees, the teachers and authorities of the law, the question was then refocused on sin. The question on who sinned and caused the man’s blindness—the blind man himself or the parents—was again raised. What’s worse was that these Pharisees went to the extent of saying that the one who sinned was Jesus because he healed the blind man on a Sabbath.

In our time today, we still hear a lot of those who believe that what caused one’s affliction is because of his or her sin or the sin of the parents. But we need to be reminded that all people—all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Not all afflictions therefore, not even most, can be blamed on the sin of the person who must bear that affliction, or - as in the case of a genetic defect or a birth accident like that of the man born blind must have had - upon the sin of the parents. I believe that that is not the way our loving, caring God works.

Of course some afflictions are obviously results of sin like becoming a mental case because of drug addiction and the drug trade, but many afflictions experienced by the people cannot be blamed on someone, nor should we go about blaming them on someone. For that is not what we are called to do.

As believers we are to look at Jesus, who, in our passage today, set the example for us to do, and that is for us not to bring judgment but healing to those who are afflicted. This is what Jesus is about: he has come to bring us relief from those things that afflict us — to give sight to the blind and to heal the lame, and to set free those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord to those who are poor.

This is what God wants us to do with our lives, and this is what the cross is ultimately all about—to bring forgiveness and salvation to sinners, to show the love of God to those who, by any other standard, are unlovable.

Talking about blindness in our times today, I would like to classify them into two: first is the kind where one is afflicted with challenges or problems in one’s life. Are you suffering from a certain ailment or sickness that won’t easily go away, or are you burdened by a concern that disturbs you? Are you experiencing financial difficulties and are having a hard time making ends meet?

I intentionally selected the first hymn, “Blessed Assurance”, today for us to sing because this was written by Fanny Crosby, who has blind. When Fanny was six weeks old, she had an eye infection.  Her regular doctor was out of town, and a man posing as a doctor gave her the wrong treatment. Within a few days, she was totally blind.

If that happened to some people, I’m quite sure they would be very bitter and would probably spend a lifetime feeling sorry for themselves.  Fanny was never bitter and she never felt sorry for herself. Instead of being bitter and feeling sorry for herself,  instead of blaming the doctor for his “sin” against her and dwelling in darkness all her days, Fanny used the gifts that God had given her to write over 8,000 hymns and poems to praise and glorify God.

We might know who caused her blindness - but to Fanny knowing who caused her blindness didn’t matter.  Nor did it matter to her that she was blind - because in her mind she could see. She might not have been healed like that blind man in our passage today, but surely, through her affliction, the work of God is made known in her life. I hope that we can all be like Fanny Crosby. But sadly no, there are those whom I classify with a different kind of blindness.

Like the Pharisees in our story, there are those of us who only see and seek what’s good for our own selves. There are those who cannot see beyond themselves, who are myopic enough to be blind. These are the likes of those who engage in corrupt practices and steal from others. The ones like those who benefit from transactions like the aborted NBN-ZTE broadband deal, those who cannot be contented with what they have, those who like to play the blaming game instead of having the attitude of helping those who are poor and oppressed, those who turn their backs against the truth and cover their faces with lies. These blind men and women only do things that will benefit them and don’t care less about those who are in need. They come to their synagogues and yet don’t practice what they have learned there. These are the those who have blind hearts because of their sins.

This season of lent, we are continuously called to examine ourselves and see what blinds us these days.

However, we are to remember that while we were yet blind and sinners all, in God’s utmost love, God’s mercy and God’s amazing grace, Jesus died for all of us, not to judge us but to heal us of our blindness, to heal us of our afflictions, to bring salvation to all those who ask for it.

May the work of our almighty loving God be displayed in our lives. Amen.

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/03/14/are-we-blind-also/feed/ Happy New Year! http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/happy-new-year/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/happy-new-year/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:20:05 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada
I hope I will be able to post more sermons and reflections and be able to find someone who will volunteer to update the SU Church website more often. Any volunteers? ]]> As one of the pastors of Silliman University Church, I can say that SU Church ended 2007 and began 2008 with quite a hectic schedule. This was due not only to the Christmas and New Year’s celebration but also due to the passing away of three prominent Silliman personalities. We said our goodbyes to Prof. Emiliano Ygnalaga, Sr. who in his prime was a chemistry teacher in college and once the principal of the high school departner; Dr. Imelda Y. Flores, who was a professor at the English department; and just recently Mr. James A. Palmore, the last of the original American missionaries in Silliman who served the university for 37 years.

I hope I will be able to post more sermons and reflections and be able to find someone who will volunteer to update the SU Church website more often. Any volunteers?

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/happy-new-year/feed/ The Love of God http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/the-love-of-god/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/the-love-of-god/#comments Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:06:38 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada I Corinthians 13; John 3:16
Anthony Corpus & Aire Armentano Wedding
2:00PM, December 29, 2007

Good afternoon! Today is a very special day for all of us, especially for these two who have come before God – Anton and Aire – to make a very important covenant: the covenant of marriage.

Covenants or agreements are very familiar words in our times today. We also call them contracts, which basically are deals, pacts or promises made by at least two parties who agree on some very important things which bind them to act and work for its consummation or realization. And today, Anton and Aire are going to come together to agree to become one as husband and wife not just for a couple of weeks or months or years, but for a lifetime.

Weddings during the Christmas season are causes for double celebrations as we celebrate not just the coming together of two persons, but also because of the season's very reason --  the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ through his birth.

I would say that getting married in Christmas, with all its preparations, is very much like preparing and celebrating Christmas itself.

Take for example the celebration of the weeks before Christmas itself. The Christian community started to get very busy especially at the very beginning of the month of December. Aside from the commercialism that has somewhat overtaken the busyness of those who are preparing for the season, the Christian community led by the church celebrates Advent. Advent is a celebration of waiting and preparing for the coming birth of Jesus. There are four advent weeks that we celebrate before Christmas day.

I can say that celebrating Advent in preparation for the celebration of Jesus' birth is like Anton and Aire's as well as their family's preparation for these lovely couple's wedding today. It is always filled with anticipation and excitement. In our Christian calendar, the anticipation that we call Advent has been given themes for its celebration, and these themes I can also very well identify with what and how the family must have felt in their preparations as well.

The first week of Advent is known as the Advent of Hope. The theme of Hope is very much relevant in the lives of God's people, Israel as they were in such a dire condition when they cried out to God for help. In their cries for help, God answered them and promised them a Savior who would free them from their oppressors and lead them to new life. This promise was given to them through the prophets of old and this promise was what sustained them even through the most difficult moments of their lives.

I say that the whole wedding preparations, even in the very early stage of these lovely couple's decision to be wedded, has been an Advent of Hope—hope that soon, you two will finally be together as husband and wife, that you will not be lonely and alone anymore, hope that soon your parents will finally have grandchildren.

The second week of Advent is the Advent of Peace. Peace is something that is very elusive nowadays. We usually equate peace as the absence of war or hostilities. However, there is more to peace than just the absence of war. As we all have experienced peace is something that flows out of our lives in knowing that despite difficult times, we will live through them. God's people longed for peace in spite of the difficulties that they have experienced. War was a reality in their times but the peace that they longed for was not just the ending of war but something that is experienced from within.

Our wedding preparations can also be likened to the Advent of Peace. Every one little detail in the preparation that gets to be done is one block of peace that builds up to the eventual consummation of the wedding ceremony. That is why in our preparations we get very uneasy when there are things that are not yet that clear. We want everything to be black and white as far as the preparations are concerned, we don't want anything left unturned. And of course, the final peace that we all long to see is that peace that we all will experience in a little while when finally these two will emerge from this sanctuary as husband and wife.

The Advent of Love comes next in the run-up to the Christmas celebrations. The coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the result of the greatest love story of our faith. Because of the wrong that we have done and the selfish tendencies that we all have, all of us have become sinful before our perfect God, and we all deserve to be punished and put to death. However, out of God's great love and abundant mercies, God sent Jesus Christ, God's son, to suffer and die on our behalf. This is love, the people long time ago, longed for this to happen in order for them to live new lives, lives not under the harsh and cruel tenets of the law but under the care and comfort of God's great love through Jesus Christ. Our most favorite verse in John 3:16 says it all: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life." Wow!

Of course wedding preparations are very much like the Advent of Love. Obvious ba? These two are very much in-love with each other! It is just my prayer that this love that you have for each other will follow the kind of love that God expects from his people, the kind of love that Paul told the people in Corinth to have in their dealings with each other, and we have heard this read awhile ago, the very famous I Corinthians 13, the love chapter. As you make your vows, consider this very seriously, for love unlocks the very secrets of marriage.

The last Advent is that of Joy. Joy is something that we don't need to explain, for even babies know what it is. During Christmas we sing the song, 'Joy to the Word, the Lord is come.' Today, we just don't sing that song but we also sing it loud in our hearts for today's celebration of Anton and Aire's coming together.

God's coming to earth through Jesus Christ, the Emmanuel—'God with us' is the fulfillment of that promise that God made with the people. Jesus' birth is the execution of that covenant that God made long ago to his people.

Today, therefore, as both of you Anton and Aire, make your covenants to each other, remember that you are doing these before God, rendering it holy and precious, not only for the both of you but also for the people who are here to witness your love for each other and especially for God. May your coming together be a source of hope, peace, love and joy not only for the both of you but for all of us and God. Amen. ]]> I Corinthians 13; John 3:16
Anthony Corpus & Aire Armentano Wedding
2:00PM, December 29, 2007

Good afternoon! Today is a very special day for all of us, especially for these two who have come before God – Anton and Aire – to make a very important covenant: the covenant of marriage.

Covenants or agreements are very familiar words in our times today. We also call them contracts, which basically are deals, pacts or promises made by at least two parties who agree on some very important things which bind them to act and work for its consummation or realization. And today, Anton and Aire are going to come together to agree to become one as husband and wife not just for a couple of weeks or months or years, but for a lifetime.

Weddings during the Christmas season are causes for double celebrations as we celebrate not just the coming together of two persons, but also because of the season’s very reason –  the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ through his birth.

I would say that getting married in Christmas, with all its preparations, is very much like preparing and celebrating Christmas itself.

Take for example the celebration of the weeks before Christmas itself. The Christian community started to get very busy especially at the very beginning of the month of December. Aside from the commercialism that has somewhat overtaken the busyness of those who are preparing for the season, the Christian community led by the church celebrates Advent. Advent is a celebration of waiting and preparing for the coming birth of Jesus. There are four advent weeks that we celebrate before Christmas day.

I can say that celebrating Advent in preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth is like Anton and Aire’s as well as their family’s preparation for these lovely couple’s wedding today. It is always filled with anticipation and excitement. In our Christian calendar, the anticipation that we call Advent has been given themes for its celebration, and these themes I can also very well identify with what and how the family must have felt in their preparations as well.

The first week of Advent is known as the Advent of Hope. The theme of Hope is very much relevant in the lives of God’s people, Israel as they were in such a dire condition when they cried out to God for help. In their cries for help, God answered them and promised them a Savior who would free them from their oppressors and lead them to new life. This promise was given to them through the prophets of old and this promise was what sustained them even through the most difficult moments of their lives.

I say that the whole wedding preparations, even in the very early stage of these lovely couple’s decision to be wedded, has been an Advent of Hope—hope that soon, you two will finally be together as husband and wife, that you will not be lonely and alone anymore, hope that soon your parents will finally have grandchildren.

The second week of Advent is the Advent of Peace. Peace is something that is very elusive nowadays. We usually equate peace as the absence of war or hostilities. However, there is more to peace than just the absence of war. As we all have experienced peace is something that flows out of our lives in knowing that despite difficult times, we will live through them. God’s people longed for peace in spite of the difficulties that they have experienced. War was a reality in their times but the peace that they longed for was not just the ending of war but something that is experienced from within.

Our wedding preparations can also be likened to the Advent of Peace. Every one little detail in the preparation that gets to be done is one block of peace that builds up to the eventual consummation of the wedding ceremony. That is why in our preparations we get very uneasy when there are things that are not yet that clear. We want everything to be black and white as far as the preparations are concerned, we don’t want anything left unturned. And of course, the final peace that we all long to see is that peace that we all will experience in a little while when finally these two will emerge from this sanctuary as husband and wife.

The Advent of Love comes next in the run-up to the Christmas celebrations. The coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the result of the greatest love story of our faith. Because of the wrong that we have done and the selfish tendencies that we all have, all of us have become sinful before our perfect God, and we all deserve to be punished and put to death. However, out of God’s great love and abundant mercies, God sent Jesus Christ, God’s son, to suffer and die on our behalf. This is love, the people long time ago, longed for this to happen in order for them to live new lives, lives not under the harsh and cruel tenets of the law but under the care and comfort of God’s great love through Jesus Christ. Our most favorite verse in John 3:16 says it all: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” Wow!

Of course wedding preparations are very much like the Advent of Love. Obvious ba? These two are very much in-love with each other! It is just my prayer that this love that you have for each other will follow the kind of love that God expects from his people, the kind of love that Paul told the people in Corinth to have in their dealings with each other, and we have heard this read awhile ago, the very famous I Corinthians 13, the love chapter. As you make your vows, consider this very seriously, for love unlocks the very secrets of marriage.

The last Advent is that of Joy. Joy is something that we don’t need to explain, for even babies know what it is. During Christmas we sing the song, ‘Joy to the Word, the Lord is come.’ Today, we just don’t sing that song but we also sing it loud in our hearts for today’s celebration of Anton and Aire’s coming together.

God’s coming to earth through Jesus Christ, the Emmanuel—’God with us’ is the fulfillment of that promise that God made with the people. Jesus’ birth is the execution of that covenant that God made long ago to his people.

Today, therefore, as both of you Anton and Aire, make your covenants to each other, remember that you are doing these before God, rendering it holy and precious, not only for the both of you but also for the people who are here to witness your love for each other and especially for God. May your coming together be a source of hope, peace, love and joy not only for the both of you but for all of us and God. Amen.

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2008/01/09/the-love-of-god/feed/ Giving Thanks to God http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/26/giving-thanks-to-god/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/26/giving-thanks-to-god/#comments Mon, 26 Nov 2007 07:54:53 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada Preached during the 8:00AM Worship Service
Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church
Text:  Psalm 100:1-5

Good morning! How are you? Kumusta? Greetings like these usually elicit more or less the kind of response like that of the greeting, and we usually shot right back – “I’m fine, Okay lang, Mao ras gihapon, etc.” These are exactly not serious talks nor in-depth conversations, but small talks that have evolved into clichés. These clichés have become normal brief interchanges among friends and acquaintances.

We couldn’t help it but clichés have in one way or another become a way of life for some, if not most, of us today. The sad thing is that, if this is will become the essence of our communication today, for sure our relationships will definitely stall instead of improve. Worse it might go down the drain. It is only through the honest sharing of emotions and feelings that we develop our relationship with others.

Nothing is truer in our relationship with our God. Sadly, in the hustle and bustle of our lives, we tend to just easily mutter a worn-out sentence or two to God and call it a prayer and go one with our lives. Yes, while God can hear us even in these kinds of prayer, sadly, our relationship with God will surely suffer.

Our scripture today comes from a book that expresses the heart and soul of humanity. In it are found the very expressions of authors who experienced doubts, fears, joys and jubilations honestly expressed in words. All these point to a relationship between the writers and God that is truly deep, honest and genuine. (iLumina Bible Software)

Psalm 100 expresses one of the central themes of the book of Psalms, that of Thankfulness.

Thankfulness—this is what we are celebrating today. Although the history of the American Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the lives of the early Pilgrims, our thanksgiving today should be a reflection of our very own experiences in light of our Christian faith.

So, why do we give thanks today? Yes, we do recognize that everything comes from God and so we give thanks. However, we must remember that beyond this seeming cliché of thanking God for everything, there’s a deeper meaning to all of these. We need to recognize that there are certain essential traits that characterize genuine thanksgiving. (from C. Welton Gaddy, Genuine Thanksgiving, The Minister’s Manual, 1998-1999)

First is that Christian thanksgiving stems from a relationship. The story of Abraham being chosen by God to be the ‘Father’ of all nations is a story of a covenant relationship. The story of the fall of humanity necessitated the need for us to be redeemed. And in the story and history of our faith, God called out Abraham and established a covenant, an agreement, for them to help God achieve the plan of redeeming the people and the creation. God made a covenant with Abraham, for God to bless Abraham in order for him to be the father of a great nation, for God to bless this great nation with their own land, and sustain, provide and protect them against their enemies.  In return, as their part of the covenant, the people, through Abraham should agree to be used by God to become a blessing to all nations and thereby redeeming them back to God.

The story of Abraham and his call is the story of the very reason why we exist as a community of faith and why weare here as a community of faith today—because of the covenant between God and the people, the very story of our faith. And this covenant continues on with the greater covenant relationship of salvation that we have in Jesus Christ.

Christian thanksgiving therefore comes from a relationship with God.

Secondly, we need to remember that faith fashions Christian thanksgiving. Genuine thanksgiving is an act of faith. We don’t do it for us to feel good, but we thank God as a response to God’s goodness, and responding to God with thanksgiving is as natural as breathing. This is who we are as Christians, being thankful is second nature. Even in suffering we are reminded to be thankful, not because of the sufferings but that inspite of the sufferings God is still with us helping us along the way and strengthening and ever equipping us to face such situations. For as St. Paul said in Romans (5:3-4), “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.” Thanksgiving is always an act of faith.

Lastly, genuine thanksgiving finds expression in ministry. Let us remember God’s promises, let us remember that God promised to bless us—and I’m sure God did—and this God did for a very important purpose—for us, in return, to become blessings to others. If we are to examine our lives today, to count our blessings—everything that we have today—we can indeed very well say that we are all blessed.

One secret that I always love to share in terms of being so much blessed by God comes from Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30. In the parable, all of us are entrusted with blessings for us to make productive use—and that is to become blessings and in the process, be blessed ourselves. Those who use their talents, gifts and everything that God gave will surely receive more. For whom will God entrust his blessings but to those who know how to use them wisely and for the right purpose?

This is our covenant with God in the many blessings that we have and we have to recognize this by being thankful to God for entrusting us with such blessings and responsibilities.

As a people who have received God’s blessings, we are therefore expected to become blessings ourselves to others.  Becoming a blessing to others therefore means reaching out to others and sharing the Good News of God’s salvation, not just in word but more so in deed, in the way that God is leading us—in the way we live, relate with our family, our neighbors, our fellow workers in our workplaces and with the community as a whole.

As members of the household of God, we therefore have to remember that we have a covenant with God not just to go about with our daily routines, we have a covenant with God to be a blessing to the rest of God’s creation.

In our covenant, God intends us to be channels of God’s blessings to the world and that is the very reason why we are so blessed, in order for us to become blessings to others.  Being blessed by God therefore is not a privilege but a responsibility, a great responsibility that is borne out of our gratitude to God for God’s love to us through Jesus Christ.

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving  let us remember that God is again reminding us to do our part of the covenant, telling us to ‘Go and be a blessing to others as I have blessed you.’

In loving gratitude to God let us altogether respond to become blessings to each other, loving and caring for all as members of the household of God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

]]>

Preached during the 8:00AM Worship Service
Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church
Text:  Psalm 100:1-5

Good morning! How are you? Kumusta? Greetings like these usually elicit more or less the kind of response like that of the greeting, and we usually shot right back – “I’m fine, Okay lang, Mao ras gihapon, etc.” These are exactly not serious talks nor in-depth conversations, but small talks that have evolved into clichés. These clichés have become normal brief interchanges among friends and acquaintances.

We couldn’t help it but clichés have in one way or another become a way of life for some, if not most, of us today. The sad thing is that, if this is will become the essence of our communication today, for sure our relationships will definitely stall instead of improve. Worse it might go down the drain. It is only through the honest sharing of emotions and feelings that we develop our relationship with others.

Nothing is truer in our relationship with our God. Sadly, in the hustle and bustle of our lives, we tend to just easily mutter a worn-out sentence or two to God and call it a prayer and go one with our lives. Yes, while God can hear us even in these kinds of prayer, sadly, our relationship with God will surely suffer.

Our scripture today comes from a book that expresses the heart and soul of humanity. In it are found the very expressions of authors who experienced doubts, fears, joys and jubilations honestly expressed in words. All these point to a relationship between the writers and God that is truly deep, honest and genuine. (iLumina Bible Software)

Psalm 100 expresses one of the central themes of the book of Psalms, that of Thankfulness.

Thankfulness—this is what we are celebrating today. Although the history of the American Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the lives of the early Pilgrims, our thanksgiving today should be a reflection of our very own experiences in light of our Christian faith.

So, why do we give thanks today? Yes, we do recognize that everything comes from God and so we give thanks. However, we must remember that beyond this seeming cliché of thanking God for everything, there’s a deeper meaning to all of these. We need to recognize that there are certain essential traits that characterize genuine thanksgiving. (from C. Welton Gaddy, Genuine Thanksgiving, The Minister’s Manual, 1998-1999)

First is that Christian thanksgiving stems from a relationship. The story of Abraham being chosen by God to be the ‘Father’ of all nations is a story of a covenant relationship. The story of the fall of humanity necessitated the need for us to be redeemed. And in the story and history of our faith, God called out Abraham and established a covenant, an agreement, for them to help God achieve the plan of redeeming the people and the creation. God made a covenant with Abraham, for God to bless Abraham in order for him to be the father of a great nation, for God to bless this great nation with their own land, and sustain, provide and protect them against their enemies.  In return, as their part of the covenant, the people, through Abraham should agree to be used by God to become a blessing to all nations and thereby redeeming them back to God.

The story of Abraham and his call is the story of the very reason why we exist as a community of faith and why weare here as a community of faith today—because of the covenant between God and the people, the very story of our faith. And this covenant continues on with the greater covenant relationship of salvation that we have in Jesus Christ.

Christian thanksgiving therefore comes from a relationship with God.

Secondly, we need to remember that faith fashions Christian thanksgiving. Genuine thanksgiving is an act of faith. We don’t do it for us to feel good, but we thank God as a response to God’s goodness, and responding to God with thanksgiving is as natural as breathing. This is who we are as Christians, being thankful is second nature. Even in suffering we are reminded to be thankful, not because of the sufferings but that inspite of the sufferings God is still with us helping us along the way and strengthening and ever equipping us to face such situations. For as St. Paul said in Romans (5:3-4), “We also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.” Thanksgiving is always an act of faith.

Lastly, genuine thanksgiving finds expression in ministry. Let us remember God’s promises, let us remember that God promised to bless us—and I’m sure God did—and this God did for a very important purpose—for us, in return, to become blessings to others. If we are to examine our lives today, to count our blessings—everything that we have today—we can indeed very well say that we are all blessed.

One secret that I always love to share in terms of being so much blessed by God comes from Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matt. 25:14-30. In the parable, all of us are entrusted with blessings for us to make productive use—and that is to become blessings and in the process, be blessed ourselves. Those who use their talents, gifts and everything that God gave will surely receive more. For whom will God entrust his blessings but to those who know how to use them wisely and for the right purpose?

This is our covenant with God in the many blessings that we have and we have to recognize this by being thankful to God for entrusting us with such blessings and responsibilities.

As a people who have received God’s blessings, we are therefore expected to become blessings ourselves to others.  Becoming a blessing to others therefore means reaching out to others and sharing the Good News of God’s salvation, not just in word but more so in deed, in the way that God is leading us—in the way we live, relate with our family, our neighbors, our fellow workers in our workplaces and with the community as a whole.

As members of the household of God, we therefore have to remember that we have a covenant with God not just to go about with our daily routines, we have a covenant with God to be a blessing to the rest of God’s creation.

In our covenant, God intends us to be channels of God’s blessings to the world and that is the very reason why we are so blessed, in order for us to become blessings to others.  Being blessed by God therefore is not a privilege but a responsibility, a great responsibility that is borne out of our gratitude to God for God’s love to us through Jesus Christ.

Today, as we celebrate Thanksgiving  let us remember that God is again reminding us to do our part of the covenant, telling us to ‘Go and be a blessing to others as I have blessed you.’

In loving gratitude to God let us altogether respond to become blessings to each other, loving and caring for all as members of the household of God, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/26/giving-thanks-to-god/feed/ Pastor, Priest, etc. http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/19/pastor-priest-etc/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/19/pastor-priest-etc/#comments Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:14:34 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada November 11, 2007, Church Workers Sunday
8:00AM Worship Service, Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church

Biblical Texts: Hebrews 5:1-5; Luke 1:5-9

Good morning! Several years ago a young pastor, fresh from the seminary, was called to become the administrative pastor of UCCP Valencia. Being a small church, and like almost all the rural churches, the church can only hire one personnel – the pastor, and all the rest of those who are involved in the church are volunteers. One day while the pastor, who was then single, was busy cleaning the parsonage and was in her ordinary cleaning clothes, a visitor came and said, “Day where can we find the pastor?” Amused with the unexpected visitor and the unexpected question, the pastor asked back, “Kay ngano man diay sir?” To which the visitor answered while stretching his neck and trying to look inside the house, “Basta kay naa koy tuyo niya. Asa man sya day?” “Ah, kuan, ako man ang pastor diri nong.” Perhaps her answer didn’t quite sink in immediately, or maybe because he didn’t believe the young pastor who was in her ordinary cleaning clothes. “Ang pastor ang akong gipangita day. Asa man sya? Kanang tigulang ba.”

Friends, in our celebration of the Stewardship Month, we emphasize today the Stewardship of Pastors, this Sunday being designated in the UCCP Calendar as Church Workers Sunday. That is why we are very happy and thankful that our liturgists today are fellow church workers coming from different special assignments and some students from the Divinity School.

Just like any other ordinary beings, church workers come in different sizes, from different backgrounds, with different characters and nuances. Just like that pastor in UCCP Valencia, some are very young while others, like our Pastor Emeritus Dr. Proceso Udarbe, are quite advanced in age. Some are introverts while some surpass a politician’s gift of gab and are very sociable.

While our scripture passages today in Hebrews and in Luke talk about priests, let me first talk about some of the other functions and roles of church workers in our community.

Aside from being a janitor and utility person at times like that of our pastor then in UCCP Valencia, church workers are basically teachers, always preparing for the Sunday School classes and Bible Studies. In larger churches, pastors become Deans of the most basic Theological School there is, and that is of course the church, where studies about who God is being taught, not only in Sunday Schools and Bible studies but even through the sermons and meditations that are preached. That is why pastors are worried no end when the church’s Sunday Schools and Bible study sessions are not well attended. Students just don’t go to seminars and listen to lectures once in a while, they go and attend regular classes to study and interact with their teachers in order to really understand what the lessons are all about and how these can be used in their day to day lives. I experienced teaching in the university and I always tell the students to study hard because what they learn in class will be of great use once they are already in the field. This is the desire of every church worker-teacher, that the lessons of the faith are seriously learned and applied to the lives of the community of faith.

Church workers also act as advisers, especially to the church-related groups such as the Women’s, Men’s, Young Adult’s and Youth groups in their different activities.

Corollary to being advisers, they are also counselors, someone who listens to members’ problems and helps them look at life in the eyes of our faith. Church workers spend quite a lot of time listening to members’ different concerns and problems and helping them unburden their loads.

Church workers are all missionaries, and they are most ready and willing to go where God sends them, even to assignments that are quite difficult and challenging. Church workers as missionaries always rely upon God’s guidance and strength in everything that they do, for in their own strength they can do nothing.

One of the things that we are currently doing is the campaign for the rural pastors fund drive. With this fund drive, we are actually recognizing the status of church workers as missionaries being sent to ‘mission’ areas, places where church workers’ financial support is not an issue not only because that is not the primary focus or reason for being of church workers, but also because the constituents or congregation that they are serving simply cannot afford even to provide three square meals a day for their own families.

In most small to medium sized churches, church workers are also the administrators of their churches and are bestowed administrative or managerial prerogatives and responsibilities in running the affairs of the church. In big churches like Silliman Church, an administrative officer or assistant is very much needed as the church workers are all preoccupied with the other functions more inherent in church workers. The presence of other regular church staff and personnel, and the responsibilities of maintaining order and managing its properties and resources is more than enough to take away some of the most important functions of church workers. And in our case, I believe we have to act on this, especially as we prepare for the hosting of the UCCP’s General Assembly in 2010 and our church’s centennial celebrations come 2011.

Church workers are also prophets. Prophets in the olden times are popular or unpopular due to their no-holds-barred telling of the truth about God’s judgment on his people. Prophets warn the people of their impending doom when they don’t follow God’s commands. Prophets shake the people and open their eyes to the reality of their sinfulness, their greediness. This function is why a lot of our church workers are branded as communists as they tell of the truth about God’s message for the people to help the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed; to bring a message disturbing the comfortable, for them to comfort the weary, for the rich to help and distribute their wealth to the needy who are also created and loved by God.

Yes, being prophets and disturbing the comfortable is a daunting task of church workers. However, church workers are also pastors. We like to call our church workers ‘Pastors’ for the very reason that the pastoral function is something that we very much love to be experienced from our church workers. As pastors, church workers are the shepherds of the flock, ever providing love and care to the congregation. The pastoral duty of every church worker is a reflection of the loving, caring, merciful and gracious nature of our God. As shepherds, pastors lead the flock to the right place, to the right mind set, to the right direction in their lives.

A big chunk of the role of church workers assigned in a church or local congregation is that of being a priest. Yes, pastors or church workers also function as priests. We are priests. Sometimes people call me ‘father’ when I’m attending functions and wearing my clerical garb, and I smile because I am a father of my three children, but yes, we church workers function as priests as well. In our gospel reading in Luke, we are given a glimpse of the life of one of the priests at that time—Zechariah, who was married to Elizabeth who also came from a priestly lineage. They were the parents of John the Baptist.

As priests, church workers perform sacramental rites and functions that remind us all of our holy relationship with God. In the Old Testament priests perform a very important role in the life of God’s people. In our Hebrew scripture, we are made to understand the calling and role of priests:

 1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today, I have begotten thee";

Yes, as priests, church workers are, as verse 1 say, “chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God.”

But the coming of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, opened up the whole priesthood to all of us who believe in him. That is why we can now come before God without the necessity of priests to come to God on our behalf. In the passion story, the temple veil was torn apart, opening our access to God through Jesus Christ. And this direct access to our loving, caring and merciful God granted to all those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, accorded us the title of the so-called universal priesthood of all believers.

As we celebrate Church Workers Sunday today, let us remember our church workers wherever they may be serving today, and let us remember our call to support them in their ministry and mission which is God’s ministry and mission in the world. Moreover, let us remember that as the death and resurrection of Christ has torn the veil in the temple, we are all called as well to do God’s work and mission in this world today. Amen.

]]>

November 11, 2007, Church Workers Sunday
8:00AM Worship Service, Udarbe Memory Chapel, Silliman University Church

Biblical Texts: Hebrews 5:1-5; Luke 1:5-9

Good morning! Several years ago a young pastor, fresh from the seminary, was called to become the administrative pastor of UCCP Valencia. Being a small church, and like almost all the rural churches, the church can only hire one personnel – the pastor, and all the rest of those who are involved in the church are volunteers. One day while the pastor, who was then single, was busy cleaning the parsonage and was in her ordinary cleaning clothes, a visitor came and said, “Day where can we find the pastor?” Amused with the unexpected visitor and the unexpected question, the pastor asked back, “Kay ngano man diay sir?” To which the visitor answered while stretching his neck and trying to look inside the house, “Basta kay naa koy tuyo niya. Asa man sya day?” “Ah, kuan, ako man ang pastor diri nong.” Perhaps her answer didn’t quite sink in immediately, or maybe because he didn’t believe the young pastor who was in her ordinary cleaning clothes. “Ang pastor ang akong gipangita day. Asa man sya? Kanang tigulang ba.”

Friends, in our celebration of the Stewardship Month, we emphasize today the Stewardship of Pastors, this Sunday being designated in the UCCP Calendar as Church Workers Sunday. That is why we are very happy and thankful that our liturgists today are fellow church workers coming from different special assignments and some students from the Divinity School.

Just like any other ordinary beings, church workers come in different sizes, from different backgrounds, with different characters and nuances. Just like that pastor in UCCP Valencia, some are very young while others, like our Pastor Emeritus Dr. Proceso Udarbe, are quite advanced in age. Some are introverts while some surpass a politician’s gift of gab and are very sociable.

While our scripture passages today in Hebrews and in Luke talk about priests, let me first talk about some of the other functions and roles of church workers in our community.

Aside from being a janitor and utility person at times like that of our pastor then in UCCP Valencia, church workers are basically teachers, always preparing for the Sunday School classes and Bible Studies. In larger churches, pastors become Deans of the most basic Theological School there is, and that is of course the church, where studies about who God is being taught, not only in Sunday Schools and Bible studies but even through the sermons and meditations that are preached. That is why pastors are worried no end when the church’s Sunday Schools and Bible study sessions are not well attended. Students just don’t go to seminars and listen to lectures once in a while, they go and attend regular classes to study and interact with their teachers in order to really understand what the lessons are all about and how these can be used in their day to day lives. I experienced teaching in the university and I always tell the students to study hard because what they learn in class will be of great use once they are already in the field. This is the desire of every church worker-teacher, that the lessons of the faith are seriously learned and applied to the lives of the community of faith.

Church workers also act as advisers, especially to the church-related groups such as the Women’s, Men’s, Young Adult’s and Youth groups in their different activities.

Corollary to being advisers, they are also counselors, someone who listens to members’ problems and helps them look at life in the eyes of our faith. Church workers spend quite a lot of time listening to members’ different concerns and problems and helping them unburden their loads.

Church workers are all missionaries, and they are most ready and willing to go where God sends them, even to assignments that are quite difficult and challenging. Church workers as missionaries always rely upon God’s guidance and strength in everything that they do, for in their own strength they can do nothing.

One of the things that we are currently doing is the campaign for the rural pastors fund drive. With this fund drive, we are actually recognizing the status of church workers as missionaries being sent to ‘mission’ areas, places where church workers’ financial support is not an issue not only because that is not the primary focus or reason for being of church workers, but also because the constituents or congregation that they are serving simply cannot afford even to provide three square meals a day for their own families.

In most small to medium sized churches, church workers are also the administrators of their churches and are bestowed administrative or managerial prerogatives and responsibilities in running the affairs of the church. In big churches like Silliman Church, an administrative officer or assistant is very much needed as the church workers are all preoccupied with the other functions more inherent in church workers. The presence of other regular church staff and personnel, and the responsibilities of maintaining order and managing its properties and resources is more than enough to take away some of the most important functions of church workers. And in our case, I believe we have to act on this, especially as we prepare for the hosting of the UCCP’s General Assembly in 2010 and our church’s centennial celebrations come 2011.

Church workers are also prophets. Prophets in the olden times are popular or unpopular due to their no-holds-barred telling of the truth about God’s judgment on his people. Prophets warn the people of their impending doom when they don’t follow God’s commands. Prophets shake the people and open their eyes to the reality of their sinfulness, their greediness. This function is why a lot of our church workers are branded as communists as they tell of the truth about God’s message for the people to help the poor, the marginalized and the oppressed; to bring a message disturbing the comfortable, for them to comfort the weary, for the rich to help and distribute their wealth to the needy who are also created and loved by God.

Yes, being prophets and disturbing the comfortable is a daunting task of church workers. However, church workers are also pastors. We like to call our church workers ‘Pastors’ for the very reason that the pastoral function is something that we very much love to be experienced from our church workers. As pastors, church workers are the shepherds of the flock, ever providing love and care to the congregation. The pastoral duty of every church worker is a reflection of the loving, caring, merciful and gracious nature of our God. As shepherds, pastors lead the flock to the right place, to the right mind set, to the right direction in their lives.

A big chunk of the role of church workers assigned in a church or local congregation is that of being a priest. Yes, pastors or church workers also function as priests. We are priests. Sometimes people call me ‘father’ when I’m attending functions and wearing my clerical garb, and I smile because I am a father of my three children, but yes, we church workers function as priests as well. In our gospel reading in Luke, we are given a glimpse of the life of one of the priests at that time—Zechariah, who was married to Elizabeth who also came from a priestly lineage. They were the parents of John the Baptist.

As priests, church workers perform sacramental rites and functions that remind us all of our holy relationship with God. In the Old Testament priests perform a very important role in the life of God’s people. In our Hebrew scripture, we are made to understand the calling and role of priests:

1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “Thou art my Son, today, I have begotten thee”;

Yes, as priests, church workers are, as verse 1 say, “chosen to represent other human beings in their dealings with God.”

But the coming of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, opened up the whole priesthood to all of us who believe in him. That is why we can now come before God without the necessity of priests to come to God on our behalf. In the passion story, the temple veil was torn apart, opening our access to God through Jesus Christ. And this direct access to our loving, caring and merciful God granted to all those who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, accorded us the title of the so-called universal priesthood of all believers.

As we celebrate Church Workers Sunday today, let us remember our church workers wherever they may be serving today, and let us remember our call to support them in their ministry and mission which is God’s ministry and mission in the world. Moreover, let us remember that as the death and resurrection of Christ has torn the veil in the temple, we are all called as well to do God’s work and mission in this world today. Amen.

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/11/19/pastor-priest-etc/feed/ Mission: Silliman University http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/15/mission-silliman-university/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/15/mission-silliman-university/#comments Mon, 15 Oct 2007 08:29:22 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada Luke 17:11-19; 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Sunday, October 14, 2007, SU Church Udarbe Memory Chapel (8AM Service)

Today is the second Sunday in the month of October, the month that we designated as Mission Month.

Our Lectionary reading today from the Epistles is a letter from St. Paul to one of his younger followers—Timothy. In this particular text, Paul somewhat reminds Timothy of the basic things that they have held on to from the very beginning of their mission. Perhaps Timothy, as a young person, has encountered so many difficulties in bringing himself before the people, especially to those who are older than him. I can very well understand Timothy, for in my own different experiences as well, being the youngest pastor in the pastoral team, I myself have encountered difficulties in effectively putting God’s message across and in challenging people to respond to God’s call.

Timothy, from time to time, must have encountered the teachers of the faith and some of those who are way ahead, not only in terms of age, but also in terms of experience and scriptural studies. This must have caused great feelings of inadequacies and insecurity in Timothy specially when older people probably must have rebuffed him by saying something like – ‘daghan pa kang kaonong bugas,’ or ‘padulong pa ka, ako pabalik na,’ etc. This is especially unnerving when in a seemingly heated discussion the an older person would say this in the event of his inability to defend his or her stand on a particular issue.

Timothy must have been a very good student of Paul that he, like Paul, must have also earned the ire of some of the teachers of the law. As a young person this could have somewhat discouraged Timothy from continuing on with the task given him. And so Paul, through this second letter reminds Timothy of what our faith stands for and what this faith in our Lord Jesus Christ means to all of us who very much need the message of salvation.
Like Timothy, today we are reminded as well of who we are and what we are called to do. In celebrating Mission Month this month of October, we are given more than enough time to reflect upon the very reason of our existence as Silliman Church.

What is our mission? Why do we exist as SU Church?

When I joined the pastoral team ministry of SU Church almost five years ago, the question of identity, of who we are and what we are really called to do and become, where and for whom –became a very important question as the church struggled to clarify its identity. After a series of consultations, workshops, brainstorming and of course prayers, the church finally was able to come up with a mission statement that would guide itself in living out its life and ministry. "To proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in Silliman University and the larger community, to invite all into a life of discipleship and dynamic witness."

With this Mission Statement we are very much reminded that our primary mission field is Silliman University—the faculty, staff, alumni and students of this university and of course its immediate environs.

If we look back to the history of Silliman University, who and what she is now is a product of a conscious recognition of our forerunners in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is very much evident in the rich historical heritage of Silliman. This is also evident in how the community thinks highly of Silliman when it comes to its moral and spiritual stance in virtually all of life’s issues. And we owe these all to the faith of those who have gone ahead of us.

We can recall that Silliman University is a product of mission; what reasons could have driven Horace Silliman to donate the initial $10,000? Silliman University is known for the work of the foreign missionaries who came here to help start up this institution. What reason/s could have driven them to come here and work with and for the people in putting up this school? What reasons could have made them strong in facing difficult challenges along the way? We all know the answer, and we very well know that it is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this faith, even with the size of a Mustard seed as we have shared in last week’s message, a faith that is alive and working, a faith in a Savior that moves us to do acts of kindness without counting the cost, a faith that moves us to share God’s wholistic salvation to all. This is our faith and this is what Paul reminds us of as our very message to the people.

And this is what we are celebrating today, this second Sunday of the Mission Month. That is why our leadership today is from the University as we all remind ourselves of who we are and what we are called to do.
From this mission field then, it is but natural for us to grow and expand in terms of reach as students go out from this place and bring with them the faith that has been planted in their hearts. With the presence of students coming not only from the different nooks and crannies of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the Word of God can even reach to the so called ‘ends of the earth’ as we also share our faith to those students who come from other countries who have become quite numerous lately as shared with us last week.

Indeed, our mission field is great and at times daunting, but this is who we are and what we are called to do. Like Timothy, let us continue to “remind them of these things”—our faith, our savior, our message of peace, hope and love—and let us “Do [our] best to present [ourselves] to God as [a people] approved, [workers] who [have] no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Amen!

]]> Luke 17:11-19; 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Sunday, October 14, 2007, SU Church Udarbe Memory Chapel (8AM Service)

Today is the second Sunday in the month of October, the month that we designated as Mission Month.

Our Lectionary reading today from the Epistles is a letter from St. Paul to one of his younger followers—Timothy. In this particular text, Paul somewhat reminds Timothy of the basic things that they have held on to from the very beginning of their mission. Perhaps Timothy, as a young person, has encountered so many difficulties in bringing himself before the people, especially to those who are older than him. I can very well understand Timothy, for in my own different experiences as well, being the youngest pastor in the pastoral team, I myself have encountered difficulties in effectively putting God’s message across and in challenging people to respond to God’s call.

Timothy, from time to time, must have encountered the teachers of the faith and some of those who are way ahead, not only in terms of age, but also in terms of experience and scriptural studies. This must have caused great feelings of inadequacies and insecurity in Timothy specially when older people probably must have rebuffed him by saying something like – ‘daghan pa kang kaonong bugas,’ or ‘padulong pa ka, ako pabalik na,’ etc. This is especially unnerving when in a seemingly heated discussion the an older person would say this in the event of his inability to defend his or her stand on a particular issue.

Timothy must have been a very good student of Paul that he, like Paul, must have also earned the ire of some of the teachers of the law. As a young person this could have somewhat discouraged Timothy from continuing on with the task given him. And so Paul, through this second letter reminds Timothy of what our faith stands for and what this faith in our Lord Jesus Christ means to all of us who very much need the message of salvation.
Like Timothy, today we are reminded as well of who we are and what we are called to do. In celebrating Mission Month this month of October, we are given more than enough time to reflect upon the very reason of our existence as Silliman Church.

What is our mission? Why do we exist as SU Church?

When I joined the pastoral team ministry of SU Church almost five years ago, the question of identity, of who we are and what we are really called to do and become, where and for whom –became a very important question as the church struggled to clarify its identity. After a series of consultations, workshops, brainstorming and of course prayers, the church finally was able to come up with a mission statement that would guide itself in living out its life and ministry. “To proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in Silliman University and the larger community, to invite all into a life of discipleship and dynamic witness.”

With this Mission Statement we are very much reminded that our primary mission field is Silliman University—the faculty, staff, alumni and students of this university and of course its immediate environs.

If we look back to the history of Silliman University, who and what she is now is a product of a conscious recognition of our forerunners in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is very much evident in the rich historical heritage of Silliman. This is also evident in how the community thinks highly of Silliman when it comes to its moral and spiritual stance in virtually all of life’s issues. And we owe these all to the faith of those who have gone ahead of us.

We can recall that Silliman University is a product of mission; what reasons could have driven Horace Silliman to donate the initial $10,000? Silliman University is known for the work of the foreign missionaries who came here to help start up this institution. What reason/s could have driven them to come here and work with and for the people in putting up this school? What reasons could have made them strong in facing difficult challenges along the way? We all know the answer, and we very well know that it is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this faith, even with the size of a Mustard seed as we have shared in last week’s message, a faith that is alive and working, a faith in a Savior that moves us to do acts of kindness without counting the cost, a faith that moves us to share God’s wholistic salvation to all. This is our faith and this is what Paul reminds us of as our very message to the people.

And this is what we are celebrating today, this second Sunday of the Mission Month. That is why our leadership today is from the University as we all remind ourselves of who we are and what we are called to do.
From this mission field then, it is but natural for us to grow and expand in terms of reach as students go out from this place and bring with them the faith that has been planted in their hearts. With the presence of students coming not only from the different nooks and crannies of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, the Word of God can even reach to the so called ‘ends of the earth’ as we also share our faith to those students who come from other countries who have become quite numerous lately as shared with us last week.

Indeed, our mission field is great and at times daunting, but this is who we are and what we are called to do. Like Timothy, let us continue to “remind them of these things”—our faith, our savior, our message of peace, hope and love—and let us “Do [our] best to present [ourselves] to God as [a people] approved, [workers] who [have] no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Amen!

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/15/mission-silliman-university/feed/ October is Mission Month in Silliman Church http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/04/october-is-mission-month-in-silliman-church/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/04/october-is-mission-month-in-silliman-church/#comments Thu, 04 Oct 2007 18:10:36 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada In the UCCP Calendar, the Mission month is celebrated during August. However, due to Silliman University's Founders Day celebration during August, Silliman Church moved its celebration of the Mission month to October. And yes, we're celebrating Mission month this month and, as we had our hands full last September celebrating CEN month, this time we are inviting all of us to reflect on God's call for us as a church, and where God is sending us.

Firstly, this coming Sunday we are celebrating Worldwide Communion Sunday and we have invited the International Students in Silliman University to take leadership roles in all our worship services. The Rev. Col. Andres Legaspi will be giving the message during the 6:30AM SU Heights Worship Service while I'll be taking charge of the 8:00AM Morning Service at the Udarbe Memory Chapel. Pastor Noel Villalba will lead the 10:00AM and 4:00PM services while Pastor Haniel Taganas will be in the 5:30PM Contemporary Worship at the Udarbe Chapel grounds.

We hope to see you this Sunday!

By the way, the invitation for you (if you are in Dumaguete City) to enjoy the PICNIC this coming Saturday is very much open. We are holding a Church-wide Picnic starting at 4:00PM this October 6 as a closing celebration of the CEN month. We will be acknowledging those who have been instrumental in making the CEN month celebration a huge success. This will also be a time for us to come together in fellowship and enjoy each other's company as we have barbeques, and perhaps a good movie afterwards.

See you!

]]>

In the UCCP Calendar, the Mission month is celebrated during August. However, due to Silliman University’s Founders Day celebration during August, Silliman Church moved its celebration of the Mission month to October. And yes, we’re celebrating Mission month this month and, as we had our hands full last September celebrating CEN month, this time we are inviting all of us to reflect on God’s call for us as a church, and where God is sending us.

Firstly, this coming Sunday we are celebrating Worldwide Communion Sunday and we have invited the International Students in Silliman University to take leadership roles in all our worship services. The Rev. Col. Andres Legaspi will be giving the message during the 6:30AM SU Heights Worship Service while I’ll be taking charge of the 8:00AM Morning Service at the Udarbe Memory Chapel. Pastor Noel Villalba will lead the 10:00AM and 4:00PM services while Pastor Haniel Taganas will be in the 5:30PM Contemporary Worship at the Udarbe Chapel grounds.

We hope to see you this Sunday!

By the way, the invitation for you (if you are in Dumaguete City) to enjoy the PICNIC this coming Saturday is very much open. We are holding a Church-wide Picnic starting at 4:00PM this October 6 as a closing celebration of the CEN month. We will be acknowledging those who have been instrumental in making the CEN month celebration a huge success. This will also be a time for us to come together in fellowship and enjoy each other’s company as we have barbeques, and perhaps a good movie afterwards.

See you!

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/10/04/october-is-mission-month-in-silliman-church/feed/ Today we celebrate UCM (United Church Men) Sunday http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/23/today-we-celebrate-ucm-united-church-men-sunday/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/23/today-we-celebrate-ucm-united-church-men-sunday/#comments Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:06:27 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada

September 23, that's today, is designated to be UCM Sunday and we celebrated it without a bang but with solemn worship services. Our 6:30AM worship service at the SU Heights Chapel in barangay North Junob had for their speaker Mr. Leonel de Jesus who is currently the SU Church UCM President. At 8:00AM at the Udarbe Memory Chapel, I was tasked to take over the preaching assignment due to the backing out of our invited speaker due to conflict of schedule. The same is true with the 10:00AM worship service--Pastor Noel Villalba has to take the reign as the scheduled preacher backed off early on. On the other hand Mr. Clinton Jubela, an active member of the UCM was the preacher during the 4:00PM worship service and I believe he was able to share his experiences in the UCM.

However, the 5:30PM contemporary worship, which by the way is still ongoing as of this posting, is having a wonderful time together with a local youth theater group led by Dessa Quesada. Their group called the YATA, short for Youth Advocates Through Arts, is performing "Mata Na!", a 'theatrical informance' that tackles stories, issues and laws pertinent to the discussion of Violence Against Women and Children, specifically human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence and rape.

Earlier on, I started the afternoon with the prisoners over at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center, as it was our (SU Church) assigned Sunday to lead the worship service for the UCCP group inside. After that I have to run to the SU Assembly Hall for the Bike for Life forum. You can read all about what this Bike for Life campaign is all about here.

Well, all's well that ends well, as they say. Tomorrow, the UCM will gather for their weekly Bible Study schedule at 7:30PM at the church conference room. However, tomorrow's session will be different as it will be a movie night with "Evan Almighty," and with the hope that the movie will generate enough interest for the UCM to continue to examine what God would have them do with their lives.

Till next posting. To God be the glory!

]]>

September 23, that’s today, is designated to be UCM Sunday and we celebrated it without a bang but with solemn worship services. Our 6:30AM worship service at the SU Heights Chapel in barangay North Junob had for their speaker Mr. Leonel de Jesus who is currently the SU Church UCM President. At 8:00AM at the Udarbe Memory Chapel, I was tasked to take over the preaching assignment due to the backing out of our invited speaker due to conflict of schedule. The same is true with the 10:00AM worship service–Pastor Noel Villalba has to take the reign as the scheduled preacher backed off early on. On the other hand Mr. Clinton Jubela, an active member of the UCM was the preacher during the 4:00PM worship service and I believe he was able to share his experiences in the UCM.

However, the 5:30PM contemporary worship, which by the way is still ongoing as of this posting, is having a wonderful time together with a local youth theater group led by Dessa Quesada. Their group called the YATA, short for Youth Advocates Through Arts, is performing “Mata Na!”, a ‘theatrical informance’ that tackles stories, issues and laws pertinent to the discussion of Violence Against Women and Children, specifically human trafficking, child abuse, domestic violence and rape.

Earlier on, I started the afternoon with the prisoners over at the Negros Oriental Detention and Rehabilitation Center, as it was our (SU Church) assigned Sunday to lead the worship service for the UCCP group inside. After that I have to run to the SU Assembly Hall for the Bike for Life forum. You can read all about what this Bike for Life campaign is all about here.

Well, all’s well that ends well, as they say. Tomorrow, the UCM will gather for their weekly Bible Study schedule at 7:30PM at the church conference room. However, tomorrow’s session will be different as it will be a movie night with “Evan Almighty,” and with the hope that the movie will generate enough interest for the UCM to continue to examine what God would have them do with their lives.

Till next posting. To God be the glory!

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/23/today-we-celebrate-ucm-united-church-men-sunday/feed/ Youth Sunday!!! http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/16/youth-sunday/ http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/16/youth-sunday/#comments Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:39:38 +0000 Rev. Callum Tabada Today we celebrated Youth Sunday under the bigger celebration of the Christian Education and Nurture month. I am so happy to see so much enthusiasm in the youth today as they took the leadership of all our worship services, from the 6:30AM Silliman Heights Chapel service, down to the 8:00AM, 10:00AM, 4:00PM worship services and the specially made for the youth 5:30PM contemporary service. The 4:00PM spilled over its alloted time, pushing the 5:30PM service to start past 6:00PM already. But hey, they had a great time worshipping God with music, testimonies, and messages from the youth as well as from Pastor Haniel.

 I joined in the 8:00AM service, it being my 'regular' worship assignment and served as its minister. Cool! Micah Dagaerag, a philosophy student, gave the message while Jennelie Bomediano who just passed the Medical Technology board examinations last week gave a testimony. Our 8AM worship service was held at the big church since the body of Dr. Raymundo R. Dato, Sr. was still in the Udarbe Memory Chapel. We held the funeral service at 1PM and had the commital soon after day. However, I didn't go to the commital anymore since I was scheduled to go on our Sunday shut-in visits together with some members of the Board of Elders.

We were able to visit Mrs. Dolores Tabasuares who is already 84; Major Rustico and Mrs. Edna Paralejas who are 88 and 86, respectively; and Mrs. Genovena Macalisang who is also in her 80s. With me were Prof. Connie Cadeliña, Mr. Clinton Jubela and a Divinity School Field Education student (Yen-Yen).

Coming back to church at the end of our shut-in visits, I chanced upon Neil Rio who just had their 3rd child baptized during the 4:00PM worship service. Neil and I go way back together in our NSDC-CYF (Negros-Siquijor District Conference Christian Youth Fellowship) years where we were both actively involved in the leadership.

Praise and thanks be to God for a very fruitful Sunday! To God be the glory indeed! 

]]>

Today we celebrated Youth Sunday under the bigger celebration of the Christian Education and Nurture month. I am so happy to see so much enthusiasm in the youth today as they took the leadership of all our worship services, from the 6:30AM Silliman Heights Chapel service, down to the 8:00AM, 10:00AM, 4:00PM worship services and the specially made for the youth 5:30PM contemporary service. The 4:00PM spilled over its alloted time, pushing the 5:30PM service to start past 6:00PM already. But hey, they had a great time worshipping God with music, testimonies, and messages from the youth as well as from Pastor Haniel.

 I joined in the 8:00AM service, it being my ‘regular’ worship assignment and served as its minister. Cool! Micah Dagaerag, a philosophy student, gave the message while Jennelie Bomediano who just passed the Medical Technology board examinations last week gave a testimony. Our 8AM worship service was held at the big church since the body of Dr. Raymundo R. Dato, Sr. was still in the Udarbe Memory Chapel. We held the funeral service at 1PM and had the commital soon after day. However, I didn’t go to the commital anymore since I was scheduled to go on our Sunday shut-in visits together with some members of the Board of Elders.

We were able to visit Mrs. Dolores Tabasuares who is already 84; Major Rustico and Mrs. Edna Paralejas who are 88 and 86, respectively; and Mrs. Genovena Macalisang who is also in her 80s. With me were Prof. Connie Cadeliña, Mr. Clinton Jubela and a Divinity School Field Education student (Yen-Yen).

Coming back to church at the end of our shut-in visits, I chanced upon Neil Rio who just had their 3rd child baptized during the 4:00PM worship service. Neil and I go way back together in our NSDC-CYF (Negros-Siquijor District Conference Christian Youth Fellowship) years where we were both actively involved in the leadership.

Praise and thanks be to God for a very fruitful Sunday! To God be the glory indeed! 

]]> http://suchurch.blog.com/2007/09/16/youth-sunday/feed/