Activities from February 3 to 10, 2016

February 3, we again went to Palca to have a funeral service at the wake of sister Hazel. I am accompanied by brother Efren Respicio, brother Jerome Forelo and brother Jay. I first spoke in front to give some comforting words to the bereaved family including the visitors and gave some biblical verses to support what I am saying. Brother Jay led all the singing, then brother Jerome led as in prayer. Brother Efren Respicio preached on the topic “Blessed Hope”. We are only few when we started the service, but as time goes on, visitors keep coming in. When brother Efren was near the conclusion of his sermon, brother Lino, the father of sister Hazel called me in the back and asked if we could have another lesson to preach because the officemates of brother Juriel, the brother of sister Hazel are on coming. I asked then brother Jerome to preach another lesson regarding “Things we learn from the house of mourning”. I end the service by leading the closing prayer.

 

I start the service to give comforting words to those in attendance and the bereaved family

Our number when we started

brother Efren preaching

brother Jerome preaching and the increase of number of visitors

In the evening, in our midweek service here at Metro Tuguegarao, I stand to teach on “Romans 4” regarding the preaching of apostle Paul of “Justification by faith” that he gave as an example the faith of Abraham.

February 4, we went again to Palca to preach in the last night of the wake of sister Hazel. When we arrived at around 7:30 in the evening, the whole chapel was full and there are even people sitting outside the building just to hear the preaching. I opened the service by giving again comforting words to everyone. Brother Denis Yuson led us in singing and brother Jerome led the prayer. Brother Jun Gumpad was the one who preached and he talked about “The Value of the soul”. After the lesson, I stand again to give a small summary on the lesson and also invited everyone to join us in our worships every Sunday. This is a good opportunity to share about the church Jesus’ built and the salvation He is offering, only if you obey His commandments. Brother Robert Pader led us in closing song and brother Jerome again led us in the closing prayer.

February 5, the service for the funeral of sister Hazel before bringing him to the cemetery. I started the service by thanking everyone in behalf of the family and again, giving comforting words to everyone. Brother Efren Respicio led the singing, while brother Florendo Respicio led the prayer. Brother Denis Yuson was the one who preached, and the lesson is about “What will others say about us over our grave?” I feel that the visitors from the start of the services from February 2 until the end of the funeral that they were all comforted and at the same time, thinking of what their future might be. Everyone is reacting when the preacher ask questions about their souls, if they want to go to heaven and when it comes to being obedient to Christ.

After the sermon, brother Juriel stand in front to thank everyone, while the sister-in-law of sister Hazel also share her moments with their sister. Finally, brother Lino stand in front and I was very well encourage with what he said. He said that “We might be poor, no riches in our hands but we are rich in the love of God, we are rich in the words that He spokes to us. That is the real treasure that we have.” This is what I am very thankful of from the brethren at Palca, I am not just standing to preach to them but I am also being strengthened by the kind of faith there are showing.

After the closing prayer that brother Florendo led, we brought the wake of sister Hazel to the cemetery and their again, we had the last prayer that brother Jimmy Domingo led.

 (sorry the pictures are not arranged from the way we held the service. I do not know how to fix it)

I stand to share comforting words of God

brother Denis preaching

brother Lino Quines thanking everyone

sister in Law of sister Hazel,she is a Muslim

At the cemetery

everyone giving their last goodbye to sister Hazel

brother Efren leading songs

February 6, we were invited by brother Joeben Jacobo to preach and encourage the brethren at Pussian, Alcala. It was very cold at that time with little rain showers. The road was slippery with the muds and some roads are narrow. I just learned when we arrive that they just started to build their chapel this week and just finished the half of it. They are very excited to use the chapel and so they agreed to have the bible study. Brother Fernando Duque was also the preacher in this congregation together with brother Joeben. I help in leading a song with brother Jay Gumpad and brother Jimy Duque. The first to speak was brother Jerome and he preached about “Does the Lord know you?” and followed by brother Edgar Licodini who preached “God is in control”. After the lesson, I was asked to lead the invitation song. If you will notice in the pictures, the first time I led the singing, I am wearing my polo, but during the invitation song, I am already wearing another shirt because it was really cold. Even all the members and visitors are wearing their jackets. No one responded the invitation but they said that they are very much encourage. After the bible study, we talk to the brethren and continuously give them encouragement to grow in the faith. I also told them that in the near village, I have cousins there and when they will have time, I will join them in going there to invite in the church.

The road going to Pussian

muddy and slippery road

chapel on top of a small hill

together with brother Jerome

brother Daniel Pasaraba leading a song

brother Jay leading a song

I led a song

brother Joeben Jacobo with the opening remarks

brother Jimmy Duque leading a song

brother Fernando Duque

brother Jerome preaching

brother Edgar preaching

I am leading the invitation song

February 7, in our Sunday worship here at Metro Tuguegarao, brother Jun taught in our bible study about “Confronting Sin” and in the sermon, brother Jerome preached “Three loves of a disciple”. After the service, a family (Hispano Family) came to us and telling us that they wanted to be baptized. They are from Iguig where brother Ronald Valdez is preaching. We baptized them in the baptistery here.

In the afternoon, at Palca, I preached to them about “Crippled by a fall”. A lesson that have the similarity of what David did to Mephiboseth to what God did to us. We have been crippled like Mephiboseth with our sins but God rescued us and wanting us to seat at His table, in the church and someday, in heaven.

February 10, in our midweek service here at Tuguegarao, I continued to teach in the book of Romans and we are already in the 5^th chapter. It talks about the “Blessings and Justification, and the comparison of Adam and Christ”.