Manila South Biñan BS Group Baptized 36

The Biñan bible study group led by WCG-Manila South PT Chairman Nomer Venus met Sunday, 21-Dec-2008 at Villa Silvina Resort to baptize 36 members. The group is composed of the workers and their families of GRECOM Painting Applicators Services, a business owned by Pastor Nomer and his wife Gemma. Those baptized are mostly husbands and wives and their teen children, some 14 households. These are previous EE contacts which formally gathered for a regular bible study for about 2 months now. They have been requesting for baptism so the meeting at Villa Silvina Resort was arranged to address the request.

The meeting started with a worship service led by Pastor Ding Guerrero, devotional from Eph 1 from Pastor Nomer, and a message about baptism by Pastor Andy Ducay. Baptism ceremony follows with Pastors Nomer and Andy officiating, and Pastor Ding, Sister Gemma and daughter Rachel laying on hands and praying over the baptized. The rest of the day was spent in celebration with a potluck lunch, games and swimming. – Eric Absalon

Calamba Kiddie BS Celebrates Annual Year-end Party

The weekly Kiddie Bible Studies,(Outreach)  in Prinza, Calamba City meeting at the Manila South Church’ constructed  GI sheets rooofings, celebrated the holiday party on the afternoon of December 21, 2008.  There were 22 kids and two mothers who  attended the affair.  It is the time the Church wanted to extend our hand of fellowship. The celebration was started with a prayer.  The kids sang, played a lot of games and had some camaraderie.  One of the  mother participated and introduced some games that the children  enjoy. 

The party ended in the sharing and eating sumptous meal, each one bring home fruits and food. By these we hope and pray that the seed of Christ teachings will grow and bud in their hearts to make them  a better citizens of our community and an effective messenger of Christ. 

Pampanga Church Celebrates Christmas 2008

Some 100 Pampanga brethren (an exceptionally high attendance) gathered at their worship hall last Sunday, December 21 to celebrate Christmas and rejoice over the birth of Christ. A variety of delicious food was prepared for lunch and for the afternoon snacks which everyone enjoyed. Aside from songs and dances, the afternoon was fun-filled with parlor games which the whole family got involved in and really enjoyed. Families were surely strengthened through this wonderful celebration of an important Christian event.

The message during the morning's worship service focused on "Immanuel -- God with us." Throughout the Advent season, related messages focused on the importance of the incarnation showing God's faithfulness and God's great love for all humanity.

To allow for brethren to have family reunions with their own families and relatives during Christmas and New Year (a Filipino tradition), December 21 was chosen as the local church's Christmas party and celebration.

Having gained a better understanding of the importance of the incarnation and Trinitarian theology, the Pampanga brethren really celebrated the occasion more meaningfully and joyously.

Speaking of Life 121: Christmas Command

Not long ago someone told me that I had no business celebrating Christmas because, they said, there is no command in the Bible to do so.  And if Jesus didn’t command the keeping of Christmas, then it is a sin to do it.

I felt bad for the person, not only because their logic is faulty, but because their faulty logic is keeping them from enjoying one of the most meaningful and joyous celebrations of the year.

The person was arguing from the non-existence of evidence, a case of faulty logic. He reasoned that since there is not a specific command to do something, it is wrong to do it. Of course, if such reasoning were to be applied consistently to the way we conduct our worship, we would need to make plenty of changes.

For example, we would need to discontinue the use of projectors, church buildings, musical instruments, hymnals, seating in pews, Sunday school, children’s church, our general worship meeting format and just about everything connected with our worship services. Why? Because none of these are specifically commanded in the Bible.

Moreover, we could not have any special services to commemorate events such as Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, anniversaries, the dedication of a new church building or a memorial for a departed member of the congregation.

The fact that the Bible does not command us to celebrate Christmas is not a valid argument against Christmas celebration.

Regardless of whether or not we choose to celebrate Jesus Christ at Christmastime, one thing most believers agree on is that there is nothing in the world more worthy of celebration than God becoming man with us and for us.

Jesus’ entrance into the world was a cause of great rejoicing and celebration, because in Jesus God was reconciling the world to himself. At Jesus’ birth people who loved God rejoiced in praise, and even the angels praised God.

In Luke 2:10-14, an angel of God described the birth of Jesus as "good tidings of great joy for all the people.'' Since it was appropriate for angels to rejoice at the birth of Jesus, it is certainly in keeping with the message of Scripture for Christians to do so too.

Following the apostle Paul's instruction in Romans 14, it is important that Christians respect one another's views on this subject and not judge one another. Neither those believers who celebrate the birth of Jesus, nor those who don't, are more righteous or more evil than the other.

Christians are free to decide for themselves about whether and how to celebrate Christmas.

We can all learn to say with Paul: "Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord....

I’m Joseph Tkach, speaking of LIFE.

Copyright 2008 Worldwide Church of God

Prayer Request

Daisy Awayan, wife of Mr. Raul "Loloy" Awayan (a pastoral team member of the Cagayan de Oro Church) was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Please remember the Awayan family in your prayers at this time.

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Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)