SPMCI WORSHIP RESOURCES FOR THE PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION

SPMCI WORSHIP RESOURCES FOR THE PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATION[1]

MAIKLING PALIWANAG

Ang Linggo ng Palaspas (Palm Sunday) ay sinasabing engrandeng pagbubukas ng Semana Santa. Ito ay paggunita sa makasasayan at matagumpay ng pagpasok ng makasaysayang Jesus sa Jerusalem, ang lungsod ng Kanyang kamatayan at muling pagkabuhay, kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan mula sa mahabang paglalakbay para sa pagbabago.  Ang kasaysayan ay nagsasabi na ang iglesya ay isang bayang naglalakbay patungo sa kaliwanagang walang hanggan. Si Cristo Jesus ang sinusundan at sinasamahan patungo sa makalangit ng Jerusalem (Hebreo 12:22; Pa 3:12; 21:2).

Noong ikaapat na dantaon pa lamang ay naging ugali na ng mga Kristiyano ang magtipon sa Bundok Olibo sa hapon ng Linggo na nagbubukas sa Semana Santa. Pakikinggan nila roon ang pagsasalaysay ng mga nangyari ayon sa Banal na Kasulatan at saka sila lalakad patungo sa lungsod ng Jerusalem na tinatawag na Simbahan ng Muling Pagkabuhay. Ang mga tao at maraming bata ay may hawak na mga palaspas at sanga ng punong olibo at isinisigaw, “Purihin siyang dumarating sa ngalan ng Panginoon!”  Lumaganap ang liturhiyang ito mula sa Jerusalem hanggang sa lahat ng dakong may komunidad ng mga Kristiyano. Ang prusisyon sa Linggo ng Palaspas ay ay kapahayagan ng pagkilala kay Jesus na Mesiyas at Hari.

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng Linggo ng Palaspas, maliban sa pagwawagayway at prusisyon ng palaspas ay isinasagawa din natin ang pagtatalaga at pababasbas nito. Sa ating pagbabasbas at pagtatalaga ay ipinapahayag sa atin na ang mga dahong ito ay hindi lamang simpleng palamuti. Ito ay napapaalala na ang kalikasan man din ay nagpupuri sa Diyos at kay Cristo Jesus. Nagpapaalala sa kay Jesus na habang pumapasok sa sentro ng Jerusalem ay kinikilalang Mesiyas at Hari. Habang nasa atin itong pag-iingat sa buong taon ay dadalhin tayo sa kasigasigan at matibay na pagtanggap kay Jesus bilang Cristo at Hari. Ang Linggo ng Palaspas ay ipinagdiriwang natin sa ika-6 na Linggo ng Kuwaresma.

MGA AKTO NG PAGSAMBA SA KAPANAHUNAN NG KUWARESMA

+TAWAG SA PAGSAMBA (LINGGO NG PALASPAS)

Pastor: Sa ngalan ng Diyos na ating Magulang, ng Anak niyang si Cristo-Jesus na nagdadala sa atin sa isang malalim na pagbubulay, at ng Banal na Espiritung patnubay.

Lahat: Amen.

Pastor: Ang Linggo ng Palaspas ay isang engrandeng pagbubukas ng Semana Santa. Ito ay paggunita sa makasaysayan at matagumpay ng pagpasok ng makasaysayang Jesus sa Jerusalem. Ang lungsod ng kanyang kamatayan at muling pagkabuhay, kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan mula sa mahabang paglalakbay para sa pagbabago.  Ang kasaysayan ay nagsasabi na ang iglesya ay isang bayang naglalakbay patungo sa kaliwanagang walang hanggan. Si Cristo Jesus ang sinusundan at sinasamahan patungo sa makalangit na Jerusalem (Hebreo 12:22; Pa 3:12; 21:2).

Noong ikaapat na dantaon pa lamang ay naging ugali na ng mga Kristiyano ang magtipon sa Bundok Olibo sa hapon ng Linggo na nagbubukas sa Semana Santa. Pakikinggan nila roon ang pagsasalaysay ng mga nangyari ayon sa Banal na Kasulatan at saka sila lalakad patungo sa lungsod ng Jerusalem na tinatawag na Simbahan ng Muling Pagkabuhay. Ang mga tao at maraming bata ay may hawak na mga palaspas at sanga ng punong olibo habang sumisigaw, “Purihin siyang dumarating sa ngalan ng Panginoon!”  Lumaganap ang liturhiyang ito mula sa Jerusalem hanggang sa lahat ng dakong may komunidad ng mga Kristiyano. Ang ating prusisyon sa Linggo ng Palaspas ay sumasagisag ng ating pagsama kay Jesus sa lungsod ng Jerusalem, sa pook ng kanyang kamatayan at muling pagkabuhay. Ito ay kapahayagan ng pagkilala kay Jesus na Mesiyas at Hari.

Tagpanguna: Mga kapatid, sumama tayo kay Jesu-Cristo sa Jerusalem! Ang paanyayang ito ay naglalahad sa adhikain ng Semana Santa na saksi sa kamatayan at tagumpay ng ating Panginoon. Sapagkat si Jesus ay naging masunurin hanggang sa kamatayan sa krus, siya ay iniluklok na Panginoon (Filipos 2:6-11). Nagpakababa kaya dinakila, nahatulan kaya pinagtagumpay, namatay kaya nagtamo ng kaluwalhatian.  Ang landasing ito ng Panginoon ang landasing naghihintay sa atin. Ang landasing ito at ang pagtahak natin dito ang ipinapahayag ng ating prusisyon sa Linggo ng Pagpapakasakit ni Jesu-Cristo o ng Linggo ng Palaspas.

Komunidad: Sundan natin si Jesus sa Jerusalem!

Pastor: Ito ay paggunita sa dakilang kapahayagan ng katotohanan, ng pagliligtas at ng pag-ibig ng Diyos sa sangkatauhan. Isa rin itong hamon, at isang sigaw ng pananampalataya at tagumpay. 

Lahat: Hosanna sa kaitaasan!

+PAMBUNGAD NA PANALANGIN (LINGGO NG PALASPAS)

Tagapanguna: Tayo ay manalangin.

Lahat: O Diyos na aming Magulang na kumakalinga, nagtuturo ng tunay na karunungan upang kami ay mamuhay sa pag-ibig at katuwiran. Dumadalangin kami na iyong kalingain sa gitna ng aming pagkakasadlak sa kahirapan. Sa pagdiriwang namin ngayon sa matagumpay na pagpasok ni Jesus sa Jerusalem, naniniwala kami na yaon ay kapahayagan ng isang matatag at matapat na paninindigan. Ang katotohanan ay hindi kailanman mapipigilan ng kahit anong banta ng kasamaan at kasinungalingan. Gawaran niyo po kami ng sapat na katatagan at katilinuhan upang hindi kami madaya ng kabuktutan. Hayaan niyo pong mamuhay kami sa iyong kapayapaan, sa kay Cristo Jesus na nagdadala sa amin sa isang malalim na pagbubuhay. Amen.

ANG PAGBABASBAS SA MGA PALASPAS

Pastor: Tayo ay manalangin. O Diyos na aming magulang, basbasan mo ang mga dahong ito na nagpapaalala sa amin na ang kalikasan man ay nagpupuri rin sa Iyo, at sa anak mong si Jesus na aming Panginoon. Itinatalaga namin ang mga dahong ito na nagpapaalala kay Jesus habang pumapasok sa sentro ng Jerusalem na kinikilalang Mesiyas at Hari. Sa aming paggunita ay hinahayaan ka naming pumasok sa aming buhay bilang Mesiyas, at maghari sa bawat aspeto ng aming buhay at pagpupunyagi. At habang nasa amin itong pag-iingat sa buong taon ay dadalhin kami sa kasigasigan at matibay na pagtanggap kay Jesus , ang Cristo ng aming pag-iral. Pagpalain mo rin ang bawat isa sa amin na sa tuwing nakikita ang mga dahong ito ay patuloy kaming lumago sa pananalig at paglilingkod. Sa pangalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Santo Espiritu. Amen  

---

[1] Prepared by Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc., Mt. Apo Village, Kidapawan City, Philippines.

SPMCI WORSHIP RESOURCES FOR THE 2017 NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION

SPMCI WORSHIP RESOURCES FOR THE 2017 NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION[1]

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God of all beginnings, you created humankind in your own image, male and female.

People: O, God our Parent, help us to be redeemed in that image. Make us a vivid sign of the fullness of life.

Leader: God of all beginnings, you created humankind “very good” enjoying the gift of sensory perceptions, physicality, emotions, intellect, and most of all, human sexuality.

People: O, God our Parent, help us to be redeemed in that image. Make us a perpetual sign of your love to all your creations.

Leader: God of all beginnings, you created male and female with equality and equal dignity. You blessed both male and female, to be fruitful and to multiply, to fill the earth and to subdue it, and to become stewards over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth (Genesis 2:28).

People: Help us, O God our Parent, to sustain our relationship as men and women reflecting the image of God.

All: Amen.

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado

Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc., Kidapawan City, Philippines

WOMAN AND MAN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

We believe…

in the oneness of woman and man; that unity is based on the sharing of diverse characteristics in building a Christian family.

We believe…

in the sharing and enjoyment of life with man and woman as life itself; that life is sustained through their shared responsibilities in the toil and struggle for the fullness of life.

We believe…

in the essential unity f man and woman in marriage as the fundamental basis of their relationship.

We believe…

in the essence of love as giving oneself to the general welfare of each other; that loving is enhancing and respecting each other as persons.

We believe…

in the inherent nature of the woman; that she is not weak; that she is weakened by the man-dominated society; that men should liberate themselves from their biases to liberate women.

IRC Staff Family Enrichment Seminar, April 1993.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Presider: The Lord be with you.

People: And with thy spirit.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts. The pastor may lift up hands and keep them raised.

People: We lift them up unto the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Pastor: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, God Almighty. From the rising of the sun to its setting your name is praised among all peoples. Therefore, we praise you, joining our voices with your people on earth and all the company of heaven who forever sing this hymn to the glory of your name:

The pastor may lower hands. The people sing:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD, GOD OF POWER AND MIGHT, HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE FULL OF YOUR GLORY. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST.

The pastor may raise hands.

Pastor: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. Your Spirit anointed him 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. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and ate with sinners. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread of teach the bread, or lift the bread.

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

The pastor may lift or touch the chalice.

When the supper was over, he took the cup, gave thanks to you, 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.”

The pastor may raise hands.

We remember the women who were partners in Jesus’ ministry: Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala, Martha, the woman at the well, the woman who was anointed, the women at the cross, and the women at the tomb. We also remember the women who came before us, their memory is as sweet as honey. We think of our own mothers and give thanks for all those who birthed and nourished us.

And so, in remembrance of them, and the mighty acts of God through Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: CHRIST HAS DIED; CHRIST IS RISEN; CHRIST WILL COME AGAIN.

The pastor may hold hands, palms down, over the bread and cup.

Pour out you Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. May we and all who share in this bread and wine may receive the seed of life and embrace the coming of peace. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other regardless of our races, sexuality, culture and gender until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, and all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever.

All: Amen.

References:

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

2.       www.gcsr.org

3.       http://pcw.gov.ph

---

[1] Prepared by Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc., Mt. Apo Village, Kidapawan City

“YOU ARE DUST, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

“YOU ARE DUST, AND TO DUST YOU SHALL RETURN”

A Biblico-Theological Reflection for Ash Wednesday (Joel 2:12-18; 2 Cor.5:20-6:2; Matt.6 :1-6,16-18)

 Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc., Kidapawan City, Philippines

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. The ashes used is a symbol of our humanity and our humility, our sorrow and repentance (Genesis 18:27). The celebration of the Service of the Ash Wednesday could be traced back its development in Leviticus 16, when Moses commanded by the Lord to establish an annual day of repentance for the Israelites. In Leviticus 16:34 it stressed the instruction for the people of God that, “this is to be a lasting ordinance for you (the people of God)….. to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites (of the people).”

As we begin our journey in this season of lent, first, we must bear in mind that our existence as created in the image of God thus, affirm the sacramental character of the natural world. Covering the water, air, soil, minerals, energy resources, plants, animal life, and space as described in the UMC Social Principles (paragraph 160). In Genesis 2:7 it says that God took some soil from the ground and form a human being out of it. God breathed life-giving breath into the human’s nostrils and the human being began to live fully immersed in God’s presence manifested through the earth or the natural world.  The sacramental character of the earth reminds us to our existence in harmony to God who manifest through the natural world surrounding us. Thus, the sacramental character of the earth is to be the visible expression of the immeasurable grace, power, and love of God to us and through us.

Second, our celebration affirms our sacramental characteristic as created in the image of God gifted with the capacity of building relationship with one another, and to project God’s love, mercy, and justice. For the Hebrew people (the indigenous people of the Old Testament), it is inherent for the human being which project the image of God here on earth to be actively engaged in a collective life with the rest of the people of society. This is the essence of the statement, “You are dust”, that reminds us to our connection with the earth. This simply says “You are the earth”, possessing the sacramental essence of the earth, like a womb of our mother, an inhabited place and state that nurtures, protects and gives life.

Third, our celebrations affirmed our nature as created in the image of God existing with a community living a collective life. The statement “to the dust you shall return” is an affirmation of our nature to be in the community where God is actively manifest. Thus, we will be continue nurtured and empowered to the core of our existence and a life in its fullness will manifest in us and through us. In the imposition of ashes on our forehead the pastor will also say “Turn away from sin”. The sin in the context of Jesus signifies the oppressive system perpetuated by the Greco-Roman Empire who collaborated with the temple authority. Moral deterioration and widespread slavery was one of the cruel features of the Greco-Roman world, aside from the violent and brutal means in dealing with various forms of misconduct and rebellions.

Turn away from sins is turning away also from the corrupt teachings that made us numbed and passive of what is happening in our society and made us selfish that destroy our identity as created in the image of God. Turning away from sin is a challenge for a radical transformation of thought, attitude, outlook and way of life. Turning away from sins is an invitation to manifest our womblike spirituality that takes care for others, give comfort and sanctuary for our neighbors that leads them to be nurtured and become productive. Amen.

---

[1] Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, Ash Wednesday Service, March 1, 2017.