Sunday, September 23, 2007

Looking Back at "Walong Pares sa Ika-Walong Beses"

September 21, 2007 was a really wonderful night for Sienna group... a night to remember.

Thanks to our special guests: Pastor Brent and lovely Kim; Pastors Jun and Ginger (with cute little kiddos Betong and Kulas- pasok ang names sa theme!); Pastor Matty and friend, Ate Alice and Pastor BJay (acted as the official video/camera guy--thanks!). Our honor and privilege to have you with us on this special night.

Food was great! All Filipino, walang itulak-kabigin. Thanks Ate Lani, for the wonderful food mix and match suggestions. Kuya Ogot, your special ampalaya was a blockbuster.

The ambiance...thanks to Ate Cristy and Kuya Ogot's generosity of providing for the venue. Special thanks to Kuya Ogot for his industry and patience for creating a festive atmosphere. I'm sure it wasn't that easy to prepare the "banderitas," having to staple each of the hundreds of colorful flags. Well, it was worth it.. because it created a happy, happy ambiance. Kim loved it very much. Of course each of us did! It is well appreciated.

Our emcees, Jun and Joy, good job, no practice but managed to let the program flow smoothly. Adlibs were appropriate and fun! Pero kung binasaya sana, perfect na intawon!!!

The presentations:
Women... good job, good job! You have just been booked for a repeat performance of that wonderful "Paru-parong Bukid" dance. Thanks to Beth, our choreographer, for the beautiful steps. The women had fun during the rehearsals and even in the actual performance. It showed in their smiling faces and in fact the guests loved it!

Men... that was a great wacky performance! Great singers and actors! Thanks to Cris for the compositions! "Talentado ka talaga!" Guys you looked funny yet so handsome, your wives are just so proud of you!

Re the booking, we have just been invited to dance in the January welcome party of the Burdicks for some special relatives who are about to arrive early next year. The men are of course enjoined to dance with the women this time. We'll see if we can have Pastor Brent and Kim dance with us, too. They're willing to try, so they say! So, ihanda ang stock na Flanax, para di manakit ang mga buto!


Other highlights...

Pastor Matty's surprise Birthday greetings and cake: Teary-eyed she was, but managed to thank the group for the support, and loyalty to one another. Challenge is for the cell to grow and reach out to others.

Pastor Brent expressed his admiration to each of the members for being faithful to each other, and made special mention of the handsome pairs of red pants the men were wearing. Please take note of it... now we don't have to think of what to give him on Christmas!

Kim managed to give a Filipino message in the beginning (tongue-twisted though), and having the permission to continue in English, expressed how she appreciates our special bonding towards one another and gave the challenge to inspire and influence other cell groups to have the same joyful spirit in them so as to stay stronger together in God's glory. So, let's not keep the joy to ourselves...spread it. Let's create an outbreak!

Our beloved love team, Pastors Jun and Ginger thanked everyone for the support they have been receiving from the beginning. Our response to you, our dear pastors, "Please remember you are part of the group, and it's always a joy to serve and be by your side. You have been a wonderful blessing to Sienna."

Our cell leader, Elmer, closed with a commitment (take note!) that each of the 16 members, especially the men, are now spiritually mature and ready to serve in whatever ministry the Lord has in store for the group. "Be ready guys, surely the Lord has great plans for us. We are actually long overdue! Let's start working!"

For our vision and mission... just keep tuned! Talk about it on the next blog. But first, thanks to Ate Chic and Kuya Romy for sharing their insights...

The Games!
Not to forget...games were great... thanks Ate Aida for providing the fun games, the mechanics, the props and the prizes! Bless you... bless you!!!
Fun fun fun!
Maria and Mario went to market! Ang gagandang bakla!!!
Patayan ng kandila: naglabasan ang madadaya! hehehe!
The modified charades! I can still remember how we almost ran out of breath during Kuya Romy's enactment of "Baog na Lamok!" and Ate Aida's "bubuli... what was that again?" Grabe, nakakangawit ng panga! Naglabasan ang mga genio sa hulaan at pahulaan... Kuya Monty, for the talakitok, Elmer- hirap magpahula, Joel ang bilis manghula ng kung anu-ano, Kuya Ogot ang anay na bakla!!! Cris for the quick guesses with matching hampas ng tsinelas, Kuya Jun sa effort for starting this game!!!
Girls... not much of an actor, but great thinkers aren't we? Right, Dahl? heheh!

So to all of us, CHEERS!!! Congratulations for that wonderful celebration of our 8th anniversary.

To God be the glory for He is great and awesome and most worthy of our praises!

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Walong Pares sa Ika-Walong Beses

Ika-walong anibersaryo na ng Sienna ngayong Setyembre, 2007 at maligayang ipinagdiriwang ng buong grupo ang masaya at matibay na pagsasamahan ng walong pares na kinabibilangan ng mag-aasawang sina: Monty at Lani Sarabia, Elmer at Joy Rombaoa, Chris at Beth Santos,Joel at Dahlia Alcaraz, Jun at Aida Solano, Romy at Chic Rosalinas, Danny at Mila Tai, Ogot at Cristy Jacobo.

Isang pagsasalu-salo ang gaganapin sa gabi ng ika-21 ng Setyembre, kasama ang mga pastor ng FECP-Aurora. Ihahain ang masasarap na lutuing Pilipino, at idaraos ang kasiyahan na may temang tunay na Pilipino: mga awit, sayaw, harana at iba pa.

Sa ating Panginoong Dakila at Tapat ang aming taos-pusong pasasalamat para sa mga biyaya ng matibay at maligayang samahan.

MALIGAYANG BATI SA ATING IKA-WALONG ANIBERSARYO at NAWA'Y LALO PANG MAG-IBAYO ANG BUHAY NI KRISTO SA ATING GRUPO!!!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Principles for Asking, BS August 31, 2007

"I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14

  • Ask in the Spirit. Every request proceeds from the mind of the spirit, not from selfish motives or self-serving ends. Praying in the Spirit is directly related to praying according to His will. (Eph 6:18)
  • Ask according to His will. Our weakness in prayer is that we don't know what we ought to pray for. The Spirit himself intercedes for us in accordance to God's will (Rom 8:26-27). When you do not know what to pray, keep praying and seeking God's direction for your prayer. (1John 5:14-15)
  • Ask with the mind. Your mind helps you form your requests and make them precise and specific. This is one reason to list prayer requests in a notebook. A prayer list keeps your mind from wandering as you pray and enables you to pray specifically and persistently until the answer comes. (1Cor 14:15)
  • Ask in Jesus' name. When you use Jesus' name, you claim to represent Him and act like Him--to have His desires, qualities, gratitude, and outlook. When you prepare to make a request, first ask yourself, "what would Jesus want in this situation?" (John 14:14)
  • Ask while abiding in Christ. Prayer is both a means and a result of abiding in Christ. Continue in constant fellowhip with Him, pray without ceasing, and you obediently accept His will and Word for you. (John 15:7)
  • Ask in faith. Ask without doubt in your heart. Have confidence in God's care and purposes for your life. (Mark 11:22,24)
  • Ask in humility. Recognize your need of God. Submit to God. Understand who God is. Come to God recognizing His greatness and your need. (2 Chron 7:14)
  • Ask in sincerity. Let faith lead you to pray genuine, heartfelt prayers. Let your prayer be earnest and fervent, not fake or artificial. (Jas 5:16)
  • Ask with perseverance. Don't give up! God expects you to persevere in prayer to make sure of what He wants and of what you want. (Eph 6:18)

BS study led by Monty, Aug 31, 2007. Attendance - 8

KEEP GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE!

KEEP GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE!
(1.) God First! (2.) Marriage, (3.) Family (4.) Ministry/workplace (5.) etc.