The Church is in the PITS, thus needs a TIPS

The Church is in the PITS, thus needs a TIPS

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, July 9, 2019, Sarum College, Salisbury, England

Methodism is a movement of renewal, a renewing force within the Church of England, committed to prove in experience what the church professed in doctrine. John Wesley tried to renew the Church to its original purposes of existence passionately lives out the transformative apostolic traditions and the great commission of Jesus Christ, thus incarnate the love of God, made practical the professed doctrines and mission of the Church, in solidarity with the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited, deprived but struggling people towards the fullness of life. The Church should be freed from privatized leadership and program components, wherein the leadership and administrative responsibilities in all the aspects of the Church confined only to the ordained and the lay people are merely spectators. Preserving the fixed rules and hierarchy of authority and forget the distinctive being and calling of the Church. It should be freed from individualism and institutional, that being a Christian is an individual matter and is not essentially bound to life with others, and imitating the organizational structures and management of profitable corporations confined in the bureaucratic pressures. Thus, the Church consciously or unconsciously hides the hunger of the people for companionship and community, overlooked the status of the body and the spirit of the people, and narrowed with the fixed rules and hierarchy of authority. The Church should be freed from being traditional, in a sense that the Church lost from its purpose of existence and from its understanding of the tradition. The apostolic tradition and ministry passed on to the Church is to be contextual in doing the ministry. What the Church inherited from our fore-parents of faith was how to become proactive of the realities of the times, and how to live out faith in our context. Moreover, the Church should be redeemed from being separated from the people by having a big gap between the lay people and the clergy. Though, the authority to preside the sacraments is only for the clergy but to become sacramental is for everybody’s calling either clergy or lay. In our understanding, sacraments are collective celebration of clergy and lay making the grace of God visible to them, through them, and with them in the unity of the Spirit of God poured out upon them that made them empowered to preach good news to the poor, enlightenment, freedom and liberation, provide sanctuary, and the realization of the fullness of life. The Church should be sacrament of God’s grace and God’s liberating acts.

As pointed out by Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote[1] about John Wesley’s assessments, that the Church is in the PITS (P.I.T.S) or in the depths of despair. So, the Church needs to be renewed in the Spirit of God, thus, needs TIPS (T.I.P.S) or reminders, guidance or instructions for renewal living in the power of God’s love for a transformed and transforming spirituality. And in the emergence and the development of the Methodist Societies, the TIPS made Methodism a phenomenal faith community throughout the world, that claimed by John Wesley as his parish.

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[1] Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote is the Director of the United Methodist Studies and Professor of the Asbury Theological Seminary, USA.

Blessing of the Street Lights

The Blessing of the SPMCI Patti Agustin – Paul Smith Street Light (PAPSS)

By Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, July 28, 2018

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: We gather together along the newly installed Patti Agustin – Paul Smith Street Light or PAPSS. We are thankful to Rev. Patria Agustin – Smith and Mr. Paul Smith for their generosity that made the Enhancement of Campus Lighting in SPMCI realized. The fourteen lamp posts that light the road from the gate to the dormitories for the gents and ladies symbolizes the completeness and the pure intention of SPMCI to have a brighter campus during night time for better protections of the student-residents. 

Then the pastor will raise hands and then palms down for the Final Blessing.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on this newly installed Patti Agustin – Paul Smith Street Light or PAPS. Let your light shines upon us through the PAPSS and that we may be reminded of the generosity of our sponsors, supporters, and partners whom by their simple and humble living they are be able to extend help for the programs and ministry of the SPMCI. They are ordinary people from abroad and from around the SPMCI who did extraordinary things because of their love to you, O God our Parent, expressed in loving their neighbour. Amen.

The Blessing of the SPMCI Spirituality Garden

The Blessing of the SPMCI Spirituality Garden

Prepared by Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, July 26, 2018

The presiding pastor will stand at the centre of the Spirituality Garden. The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice.

Introductory Words

Pastor: The peace of God be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: As we gather together on this particular place of the SPMCI, we are thankful for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Voice 1: The Word of Wisdom that helps us recognized the significance of each other and the importance of the centrality of God in our life.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Wisdom will be lit.

Voice 2: The Word of Knowledge - the ability to think about and to explore God’s revelation, and recognizes the mysteries of faith beyond our senses.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Knowledge will be lit.

 Voice 3: The Gift of Faith, seeking understanding and continue to grow to higher level as we continue to draw near to God. The faith manifests in our daily actions and in the service of the people of God.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Faith will be lit.

Voice 4: The Gift of Healing underlies the great mystery of God’s love offering balance, harmony, and wholeness of the body, mind, spirit, and relationship. The gift that leads us all reconciled with God.

            The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Healing will be lit.

Voice 5: The Workings of Miracles, reminds us of the extraordinary nature of the ordinary world. The ordinary human being created in the image of God has an extraordinary capacity to love and establish empowering relationship. Thus, we are called for the transformation of the world – called as miraculous stewards of God’s creation.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Miracles will be lit.

Voice 6: The Gift of Prophecy, the gift of speaking God’s Word clearly and passionately, and bold speak what needs to be said. The Gift of Prophecy is the ability to proclaim God’s future by revealing God’s perspective on our current reality.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Prophecy will be lit.

Voice 7: The Gift of Discernment, the ability to see the best way to follow, critically analyses the situation when choices came confusing. The gift of allowing us to focus on what is the priority and most important to consider, and guides us whom to listen and whom to avoid.   

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Discernment will be lit.

Voice 8: The Gift of Exhortation or speak in tongues which is the ability to speak freely the tongues of the earth that enlightened and empowers the people.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Speaking in Tongues will be lit.

Voice 9: The Gift to Interpret Tongues is the ability to interpret God’s word in a multi-cultural context and reality.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle for the Gift to Interpret Tongues will be lit.

All: O God, we are thankful for the Gifts of the Holy Spirits who empowers us.

Pastor: Indeed, we are thankful for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to make the gifts in us, with us, and through us bear fruits that builds, empowers and flourishes life to its fullness.

Voice 10: We light the Candle of Love which expresses our commitment to manifest the wisdom of God. It expresses our commitment to manifests through our life time the love of God to all people, regardless of colours, generations, sexual orientation and convictions. Thus, we can therefore build a community not linked by blood ties but by bonds of commitment to Christ and to his community.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Love will be lit.

Voice 11: We light the Candle of Joy which expresses our commitment to the knowledge we have received from God who journeyed with the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited and deprived but rejoicing because of the amazing thing that God has done to them. A joy that overtakes our sorrows and washes away pains and paves the way to the fullness of life.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Joy will be lit.

Voice 12: We light the Candle of Peace which expresses our faith to peace-building. This candle reminds us to Christ’s peace that we received by faith, a pure gift to those who accept it and committed to peace building initiatives.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Peace will be lit.

Voice 13: We light the Candle of Patience which expresses our commitment to possess the virtue of consistency and endurance in journeying towards life in its fullness. This also reminds us that the God we believe is the God who offered us healing and salvation.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Patience will be lit.

Voice 14: We light the Candle of Kindness which expresses our commitment to make our life a manifestation of God’s miracles leading us to repentance and being redeemed to the purpose of our existence (Romans 2:4). Kindness is Caring, Helping, Redeeming, Inspiring, Serving, and Trusting someone that he/she can do what is good for them, for their love ones, and for the world with passion and compassion.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Kindness will be lit.

Voice 15: We light the Candle of Goodness which expresses our commitment to proclaim the Gospel in word and in deed. Living a life with Compassion, doing Holy and Redeeming things, fully Immersed to the purpose of our existence as created in the image of God, Sharing life with one another that Transforms life towards its fullness.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Goodness will be lit.

Voice 16: We light the Candle of Faithfulness which expresses our commitment to discernment and live faithfully a life that is Christic (Liberating), Healed, Redeemed, Inter-cultural competent for Social Transformation. A life that sees the realities of life through the eyes of Christ, speaks with the voice of Christ, heals with the hands of Christ, and breathed with the Spirit of Christ.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Faithfulness will be lit.

Voice 17: We light the Candle of Gentleness, which expresses our commitment to live a life that Cares, like a mother caring her little children (1 Thess 2:7) prompted by love; a way of life that gives Hope; a life that Redeems and Inspires people; a life that passionately Sharing wisdom with one another; a life that that corrects and Teaches others. In a gentle heart born a life that is CHRIST (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 2:25; 1 Peter 3:15).

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Gentleness will be lit.

Voice 18: We light the Candle of Self-Control which expresses our commitment to a life with discipline; developing the capacity to subdue our impulses and desires, and our own will to let the will of God reign in our heart. Let our life a Gospel in a multi-cultural context and realities.

The Tibetan bowl will be beaten thrice. The Candle of Self-Control will be lit.

All: O God, we are thankful for the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit who empowers us.

Pastor: Indeed, we are thankful for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to make the gifts in us, with us, and through us bear fruits that builds, empowers and flourishes life to its fullness. We believe that the Holy Spirit is our companion and our guide.

The blessing for the Spirituality Garden will be offered by the Pastor.

O God, our Parent, pour out your blessing upon this Spirituality Garden recognizing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit that you have entrusted to the SPMCI and looking for the fruits of these Gifts of the Holy Spirit manifest in us, with us, and through us as member of the SPMCI Community. Amen.

A hymn will be sung. 

References

2.       https://www.bible-knowledge.com/the-interpretation-of-tongues/ (Accessed, July 23, 2018)

3.       https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/healing-services-and-prayers (Accessed, July 23, 2018)

4.  https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/scripture-and-tradition/catholic-basics/catholic-beliefs-and-practices/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit (Accessed, July 23, 2018)

5.       Heavne, Betsey, (2012) Job Description and Leadership Training in the United Methodist Church, 2013-2016. USA: Discipleship Resources – Philippines.

7.       Martensen, Jean (ed). (1998). SING OUT NEW VISIONS: Prayers, Poems and Reflections by Women. USA: Augsburg Fortress.

8.       (2002) THE UNITED METHODIST BOOK OF WORSHIP. USA: The United Methodist Publishing House.

9.       (2000)THE UNITED METHODIST BOOK OF DISCIPLINE. USA: The United Methodist Publishing House.

CALL TO WORSHIP IN CELEBRATING THE WORLD TEACHER'S DAY, October 2018

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado

Leader: In the name of God our Parent, Jesus our Christ and Redeemer, and of the Holy Spirit our comforter.

All: Amen.

Leader: We gather together today to give thanks and praise to God, who called the teachers and instructors of the world to nurture and nourish us with God’s wisdom and knowledge.

People: We gather together to acknowledge our teachers that leads us to new understanding about the creation, ourselves and our vocation.

Leader: We gather together to recognized the significant contribution of our teachers who inspires us to give ourselves for others may experience Compassion, Healing, Redemption, Inspiration, Solidarity, and Transformation. Our neighbour through us, in us, and with us may experience CHRIST.

People: We gather together to give praise and thanks our God, who sends teachers for us to grow, glow and go making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Leader: Let us praise the Lord our God, giver of knowledge and freedom, gifts and potency to build the world where peace, justice, love, and hope reign in wisdom and in truth.

All: Hallelujah!   

HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SUNDAY CELEBRATION

HOLY COMMUNION FOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SUNDAY CELEBRATION

CONFESSION AND PARDON

+ GLORIA

DIOS, TINUBDAN PAGDAYGON, CRISTO JESUS, SANTO ESPIRITU. GIKAN PA SA SINUGDANAN, KARON, SA KAHANGTURAN, BALAANG DIOS. AMEN, AMEN.

OFFERTORY INVITATION

Leader: In covenant with God and with each other, let us share our God-given gifts, experiences, and resources for the transformation of the world. As we offer these to the Lord, we commit ourselves to uphold equity and accountability in our relationships, structures, and responsibilities for our faith or particular community. (Adapted from the 2012 UMC Book of Discipline, par. 125)

+DOXOLOGY

+OFFERTORY PRAYER                    

Pastor: Let us pray. As we offer ourselves and our gifts, O God our Parent, remind us to give our best gifts for the transformation of the World and where everyone live a life to its fullness with dignity and worth.  Amen.

EUCHARISTIC HYMN          

“ISANG PAGKAIN, ISANG KATAWAN, ISANG BAYAN”

Words and Music by Lucio D. San Pedro

KATULAD NG MGA BUTIL NA TINITIPON
UPANG MAGING TINAPAY NA NAGBIBIGAY BUHAY
KAMI NAWA’Y MATIPON DIN
AT MAGING BAYAN MONG GILIW

KORO:
IISANG PANGINOON, IISANG KATAWAN
ISANG BAYAN, ISANG LAHI
SAYO’Y NAGPUPUGAY

KATULAD DIN NG MGA UBAS
NA PINIGA AT NAGING ALAK
SINO MANG UMINOM NITO
MAY BUHAY NA WALANG HANGGAN
KAMI NAWA’Y MAGING SANGKAP
SA PAGBUO NITONG BAYANG LIYAG
(Koro)

TAKING THE SWEET POTATO AND THE CUPS OF NATIVE COFFEE

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Pastor: The Lord be with you!
People:       And also with you!
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord
Pastor:        Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People:       It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Pastor: It right, and good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, O God our Parent, creator and heaven and earth with all its diversity, with different peoples, cultures and ideologies, and enabling us to live together in one community and humanity created in your own image. We are thankful to you, O God our Parent, because when we turned away and our love failed, you seek us through the prophetic voices calling us for change in our lives, enabling us to realize our true selves and together to form a new free community. We are thank to you, O God our Parent, that through the mission and message of Jesus Christ, you showed us the pattern for our living. Living a  life that Love one another (Romans 13: 8), Obeying the law (Romans 13:8) or the commandments of God, or the ethical instructions of the Lord (Romans 13: 9), being Vocal in loving our neighbour as we love ourselves (Romans 13: 10), and Enlightened, as we live in the Light (Romans 13:13). We are thankful to you, O God our Parent, for seeking us through you Spirit who gives life and a way of life connected in the land, our home blessed with biodiversity and having the gift of sustainability.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise you, O God our Parent and join together singing the unending hymn of glorification.

KABANALBANALANG DIOS NG LAKAS AT TATAG.

LANGIT LUPA’Y PINAGPAPALA, PAPURI AY SA LANGIT.

MAPALAD S’YANG PARATING SA NGALAN NG DIOS.

PAPURI AY SA LANGIT.

Holy are you O God our Parent, who was really present to the Indigenous People communities even before the missionaries came. They were never without the presence of God, as the lord and giver of life.

Your Son Jesus Christ, anointed by your spirit to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people. Jesus taught us to come together affirming with our indigenous sisters and brothers that land is precious and sacred, and that indigenous cultures and spirituality are of immeasurable value.

On the night in which Jesus Christ, gave himself up for us, he took break, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your might acts Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving, as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

(aawitin) NAMATAY, AT NABUHAY, BABALIK MULI.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

DIOS GINIKANAN, BALAANG NGALAN, GRASYA UG GUGMA PAGA-AMBITAN. KABUBUT-ON MO, PAGATUMANON, DINHI SA YUTA UG SA LANGIT.

IHATAG NAMO, O DIOS TINUBDAN, INADLAW-ADLAW’NG PANGINAHANGLAN.

SA KAHUYANGAN KAMI GIYAHAN, ANG MUPASAYLO MAKAT-UNAN.

UG SA PANULAY KAMI ILIKAY, KALUWASAN, DIOS, IPATAGAMTAM.

IMONG PRESENSYA, GAHUM UG GUGMA, HIMAYAON KA, DIOS SA TANAN. Amen.

THE BLESSING OF THE SWEET POTATO AND CUPS OF COFFEE

Pastor: As we gather at this table, we remember these words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever.” (John 6:51).

Community: We come to this table hungry and thirsty. Satisfy us, O God.

Pastor:  We will enjoy the meal with you, O Lord, and with one another.

The pastor will continue to say:

The sweet potato and the cups of native coffee that we are about to partake will nourish our hearts to be in L.O.V.E. A life that Love one another (Romans 13: 8), Obeying the law (Romans 13:8) or the commandments of God, or the ethical instructions of the Lord (Romans 13: 9), being Vocal in loving our neighbor as we love ourselves (Romans 13: 10), and Enlightened, as we live in the Light (Romans 13:13).

Then the pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the sweet potato and cups of coffee:

Pour your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these boiled sweet potato and cups of native coffee that through these you may give us new life, boost our energy and our hope to live a life that is CHRISTIC, a life to its fullness.

The pastor may raise hands.

By your Spirit make us one with the Christ of many colors, enjoying the gift of diversity with one another, and one in ministry to all the world, now and forever. Amen.

SHARING OF THE BOILED SWEET POTATOES AND CUPS OF NATIVE COFFEE

The pastor will lead the sharing of the sweet potato and cups of coffee.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

CALL TO WORSHIP, November 7, 2018

+CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: In the name of God our Parent, Jesus our Christ and Redeemer, and of the Holy Spirit our comforter.

All: Amen.

Leader: We gather together today to give thanks and praise to God! Because God gave us a parents who nurtured us, laughed with us, and cried with us; taught us and corrected.

People: They love us, whether or not birthed us.

Leader: We gather together today to give thanks and praise to God! Because God gave us families who supported us, walked with us, sung for us, listened to us, eaten and drunk with us, prayed for us, strengthen us.

People: They love us, whether or not we share blood.

Leader: Let us praise the Lord our God.

All: Hallelujah!  

(Inspired from Psalm 127:3 and by the story of Naomi in the Book of Ruth)

CALL TO WORSHIP FOR THE LAITY SUNDAY

Leader: In the name of God our Parent, Jesus our Christ and Redeemer, and of the Holy Spirit our comforter.

All: Amen.

Leader: We gather together today to give thanks and praise to God, who entered into covenant with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Deborah, Ruth, and Jeremiah.

People: Let us give thanks and praise the Lord! Because through baptism, Jesus Christ calls us into the covenant and makes us ministers of Christ’s righteousness.

Leader: We gather together today to give thanks and praise to God! Because through Jesus Christ, demonstrates us a common life of gratitude and devotion, witness and service, celebration and discipleship.

People: We gather together to give praise and thanks our God our Parent, who called us to Christ’s servanthood in the world, to the glory of God and for human fulfillment.

Leader: As we gather together today, we are reminded that as a community bounded with God’s love, it is our life to participate in the ministry of grace stretches to the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited, and deprived.

People: It is our ultimate concern that all may be renewed in the image of God our Creator, and that all Christians are called to minister in deed and words that heal and liberate.

Leader: Let us praise the Lord our God.

All: Hallelujah!   

(Adapted from the UMC Book of Discipline 2012, par 127)