Transfiguration Sunday

Mark 9:2-9

The Rev. Leonard Oakes

After many years of being absent in Church services, a former member of the Altar Guild decided to visit her Parish for a Sunday Eucharist. Just before the service started, she entered the Church to her surprise how dry and less decorative the altar is. She started to express self pity that the church has not been decorated the way it was when she was the flower chair for the altar guild. She started singing this song, “Where have all the flowers gone, long time blooming, where have all the flowers gone, long time ago.” Upon hearing the song, the priest came out of his office and responded to the woman’s song by singing, “Gone to garden everyone…” Perplexed, the woman responded, “Oh when will they ever learn, oh when will they ever learn?” To which the priest calmly reminded the woman, “We are now in the season of Lent my sister.”

Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany. In our liturgical calendar, we are now moving to the season of Lent which begins on the day of Ash Wednesday.  Lent is also the season which I call, “Flower break” for the Altar guild. They have been meticulous in their arrangement with the altar decors. Now we are moving to a simple and penitent mode where we begin to feel the sufferings, passion, and death story of our Lord Jesus Christ. It may seem odd that we are already hearing the passion of Christ when the feeling of Epiphany is just behind us. We’ve just learned the short story of how the season of Epiphany reminded us that Jesus crossed the border between heaven and earth for the sake of all families, languages, peoples, and nations. It reminded us that the Gospel work is about restoring relationships, with God and neighbor. It reminded us of Jesus giving us example after example of breaking down the walls of our differences. He eats with all sorts of officially unclean people, he talks to women, he touches dirty people, he meets with his enemies, and he invites everybody to the banquet. Now, He invites us to a deeper discernment on the meaning of these experiences in our lives by opening another door to more specific calls on listening, witnessing, and discerning in the revelation of his own mountain top experience.  

A voice from the clouds says, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” These are God’s words at Jesus’ baptism, but the transfiguration story seems to suggest that there’s been an attention deficit in the meantime, as if that simple recommendation was not enough. There on the mountain, the voice adds a simple command….”Listen to him.”

Perhaps the story of the transfiguration is about witnessing. Witnessing that takes at least two forms: The obvious and more common one is telling the story of our experience as a people of God, enacting our story, making it as attractive as we possibly can; The perhaps less obvious way of witnessing is to listen to the other’s story, the neighbor’s story, the world story of today, listening for God’s presence, for Christ in the other. Listening, giving audience, paying attention, may be, after all, a most profoundly magnetic and winsome way of witnessing, listening for the “sound of gentle stillness.”

At our Friday 7 PM healing service here at church, we spent our time listening from the voice of God and each other. We sang songs inviting God’s presence in our midst and in our lives. After the anointing and prayer healing, we had our own mountain top experience with God.

“This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; Listen to him.”

It is when we fail to listen to the voice of God that we fall to the pit of profound loneliness. There’s a saying around alcoholic anonymous circles that “boredom is a personal insult.” Whereas, to give ourselves unrestricted, unconditional audience, defines the difference between loneliness and truly creative isolation.    As well with our neighbors must be our gift of audience, of truly listening without condition, without planning our next speech, opening from hostility to a true and welcome hospitality. We must offer such audience to God without condition, by opening up from mere illusions about God to attentive prayer, prayer as searching, inquiring of God to discern how God understands us and the ways in which he has imagined us to become.

Famous duo singers Simon and Garfunkel sang their poetic song, “Sound of Silence”. I used to sing this a lot in high school. Let me sing it to you. “And in the naked light I saw ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,  people hearing without listening, people writing songs that voices never share and no one dared, disturb the sound of silence.”

Deafness comes in many forms: arrogance, pride, compulsive talking, indifferences, aloofness, and so much more through an obsession with always having to be right. The church is called to be a listening community, a community where the deaf can be healed. There is much in our corporate worship to hear great stories of our long family history and thoughtful prayers better than average hymns and of course, each other with mutual and peaceful greetings, exchanges, and catching up.

But our good liturgy also offers us moments in certain of its parts when we can simply be silent, listening, reflecting on what or who we have just heard or seen, surely awed by the majesty of the possibilities of access to God’s grace. We all come to church to listen to God’s words, to bring before him our uncertainties and heavy loads. When we enter to this sacred place, we do the sign of the cross in reverence to God’s presence.     We kneel in silence, putting away all that disturbs us from focusing our attention to the voice of God. It is our mountain top experience when we withdraw ourselves from all the busy-ness in life and come to rest our peace before God. Then we hear music, a very soothing melody that regulates the beat of the heart and stills the wandering of the mind. Then we begin to smile and the feeling of being uplifted is revitalizing our souls, reviving our whole being. We begin to share the God given Spirit during peace, where we share our inward smile to each other. We share our common meal in the Eucharist and are charged to go out to the world to love and serve Christ among others. That is our mountain top experience. But of course we cannot deny the facts that the reality of this world is still out there, for Jesus, James, John and Peter came down from the mountain to face the reality of life where God wants them to be, where God wills Himself to be found. The prophet Isaiah once admonished us in one of his more provocative ways to “Seek the Lord while he wills to be found.” Thankfully, God was more gently gracious to those who waited for Jesus on the mount of transfiguration and for those who wait for him here when he said, “This is my son, the Beloved; Listen to him.”

 Down below our mountain top experience is our challenge to seek out the transfigured Christ in the world. We are called to listen and to respond with a servant’s heart and in humility. We are called to listen when our brothers and sisters are suffering, when they are in need, when they are disenfranchised and subject to injustices, when life’s challenges seem to them too much to carry and there’s no one else seem to listen. Down below our mountain top experience is a world where lives are victimized by evil forces. It’s a world where humanity is denied. It is all because humanity failed to listen to the voice of God. Humanity wants to take over the place of God that brought chaos in this world. It is with this very reason that God Himself had to send his beloved son to feel our human experience and to reconcile us to our God. By His death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. By His resurrection, we are restored and now have a room in that heavenly kingdom where there’s no sorrow nor pain but life everlasting.

I therefore call upon you all my dear friends, to take a moment to slow down in the coming season of Lent and spend time with God, your family and yourself. Spend time to take a deep breath and relax your whole body and soul and enter into the mystery of God’s love in Jesus Christ, so that when Easter comes, we shall all rejoice for we were all redeemed by the love of God through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

LOCKS of LOVE Leighland

The Rev. Leonard Oakes

February 12, 2012

I see beautiful and handsome faces today. Look at those red dressess, they look gorgeous.

Those make ups and hair styles, they’re youthful!

Science and technology have changed the face of humanity today. What have been regarded as untreatable skin diseases can now make anyone back to their youthful look.

 A story is told about a 50 year old woman who had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked “Is my time up?”
God said, “No, you have another 40 years to live.”
Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, breast implants and a tummy tuck. She even had someone come in and …change her hair color and brighten her teeth! Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it.  After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, she was hit by an ambulance and proclaimed dead on the spot.

Arriving in front of God, she demanded, “I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn’t you pull me from out of the path of the ambulance?”  God replied, “I didn’t recognize you”.

 You see what I mean? Even God can’t recognize the handiwork of mankind caused by the advanced science.

 It is very interesting to know that the disease leprosy has affected humanity for over 4, 000 years. Science and technology have changed a lot since the time of Elisha. Today, anyone who has skin disease and has the money may have an instant solution by visiting their dermatologist or plastic surgeon.  

You see, during the time of Elisha, one of the remedies to cure leprosy is by going to the river Jordan, washed seven times and be cleansed. One could just imagine how the river would turn into after thousands of people washed themselves at the same time. I imagine that most of these people are travelers, who would venture to take weeks crossing a desert or mountain without water to clean their bodies, thus resulting to a skin disease. Try not taking a bath or shower for a week and you begin to feel itchy . (Amuyin mo nga yang katabi mo kung naligo?) Ask your neighbors if they took a shower this week? (Baka pabango lang yan) (Perfume). Today being Valentine’s Day, I’m sure all of you had your cleansing ritual.

 During the time of Jesus, The leper who came to Jesus did something quite remarkable. He approached Jesus confidently and humbly, expecting that Jesus could and would heal him and make him whole again. Normally a leper would be stoned or at least warded off if he tried to come near a rabbi. Jesus not only grants the man his request, but he demonstrates the personal love, compassion, and tenderness of God in his physical touch. The medical knowledge of his day would have regarded such contact as grave risk for incurring infection. Jesus met the man’s misery with compassion and tender kindness. He communicated the love and mercy of God in a sign that spoke more expressively than words. He touched the man and made him clean – not only physically but spiritually as well. A process of transformation took place when Jesus said, “Be clean!”

 It is in this context that we need to look at today’s Gospel reading and to take note of some of the details of what is said and done – both by the leper – and by Jesus.

 First of all, we see the leper coming up to Jesus and falling on his knees before him.  Lepers were not supposed to come that close to anyone during Jesus time.  Then we hear the leper beg Jesus for something that at first hearing sounds like a plea for a physical healing – but is in fact much more than that. He says to Jesus, “If you choose, you can make me clean” In other words, “Jesus can restore him to normal human life if Jesus chooses” Jesus can bring him back into community, back into a normal relationship with other people; and be made acceptable to God.

“You can, if you want, restore my life and make me once again able to go anywhere I choose and not have everyone stare at me, everyone avoids me, everyone fears me, everyone talks about how unfortunate I am, if it is your will, it will be done.” As we see, Jesus breaks every rule about how one should protect oneself from someone with skin disease and reaches out his hand and touches the person and perhaps this is the first time that poor man has been touched in years.”  And Jesus said “I am willing, be clean!”  ”immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured”

 How about us here today? Are you willing? Are you willing to do what you can do. Are you willing to treat those whom others reject – those whom others fear- those whom others avoid – because of how they look or where they come from, or what disease they have as human beings who are worthy of being treated like all other human beings?

 Are you willing to forgo judgments based on appearances, judgments about those who have AIDS, judgments about those who  live in rags and sleep on the streets of our cities. Judgments about those who come from other nations, about those who are different in appearance and in background from us and see them as human, as people who are loved by God as much as you are loved by God, as people who need your touch and your word of love as much as you need the touch and the love of those who are near to you? Are you willing to be transformed?

Monica Pahulu had her experience of transformation when she allowed herself to join me in feeding the true homeless in San Francisco. Her eyes and conscience were awakened by the reality she witnessed and realized how blessed she is seeing there are those who have nothing, a hood, a shelter, food and water to clean themselves while she has everything.

Have you your own transformation? When you turn on the shower, the faucets, do you think about those who are deprived of it? When you serve the food in your plate and can’t finish them, do you think about those who are hungry?  When you see a man in a dirty clothes and don’t have their looks your eyes are used to see, do you turn away without a smile and a word of greetings?

We can bring ourselves – and others – before Christ and pray for healing and pray for cleansing. We can treat one another as we would desire to be treated. We can love one another as God loves us. We can love one another as we love ourselves.  We can love one another without fear. God was with Christ and gave him power over the most dreaded disease of his day. And God is with Christ still – to cleanse us and our world – and to make us part of one family,- to restore us fully to one another and to himself  in life, in death, and in life beyond death.

In a moment from now, we will be witnessing an act of love to be offered to cancer patients who are deprived of hair due to chemotherapy and cancer cells. In your leaflets, you will find miraculous story of a Leighland Pailano who survived life at birth and now will offer back love to those who need them, those who lost their sense of security, self esteem, and compassion, by creating wigs from real human hair that is donated by caring individuals.

You may visit our website and click on the link to view Leighland’s profile link at LOCKS of LOVE Leighland

Let us love one another and be thankful to one another. Let that be our legacy to pass on to generations to come, for love extends beyond the boundless realm of eternity where the supreme architect of the universe forever presides.

So while you enjoy your chocolates and flowers, please remember the needs and wants of others.

Amen.

The Rev. Leonard Oakes

(Mark 1:21-28)

What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are, you are the holy one of God” These are the words of the man in the Synagogue possessed of an unclean spirit.

“Be silent and come out of him!” Are the words of Jesus Christ who confronted the spirit that possessed the man.

It is very interesting to note that a man possessed by evil spirit is inside the synagogue or a Church. Synagogue is a place where people receive instructions and interpretations of the law and the prophets. It is a powerful institution, extremely influential, holding sway over the lives of people. It was the seat of scribes, bishops, priests, deacons, politicians, those learned people entrusted with the Torah, the law of God.

“What is the man with evil spirit doing in the synagogue or Church? Where did he come from? How did he get there?

In the mind of Mark who wrote the Gospel, evil come from within and is provoked and exposed by the presence of Jesus. The evil spirit does not come in from outside, but emerges from inside. He is, if you like, the spirit of the synagogue, a spirit that manifests itself through this poor man the minute Jesus appears and opens his mouth and teaches. Jesus here is provoking and exposing the spirit that is at work in the Synagogue, and he is overcoming it. But Jesus came in to show these powerful people the authority God has given him. He showed his authority to expel demons.

Every time Jesus met someone demon-possessed He casts the demons out! This case is unusual because of where it took place – in the very house of God!

Why in the world would a man possessed by demons even be interested in going to the house of God? Why would the devil want to go to church? Because the devil has always been religious. The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still. We believe there is one God. Good! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THAT.

He knows there’s only one God. Problem is, he doesn’t worship God. When he shows up at church it isn’t for true worship but rather for false worship.

He loves to see folks like you and me go to church to talk about other worshippers. He loves to see us go to uplift our own goodness. He loves it when we are preoccupied with other things – like who hurt our feelings recently, and what others think about us. He loves to hear our critical comments about the Sunday worship and the priest’s preaching. The devil loves it when we don’t put our hearts into praising God. He likes seeing us just going through the motions. He can stand anything but worship of God in spirit and in truth.

The devil goes to church because he’s looking for victim. Satan’s ultimate goal is to have control. He can possess those who don’t have the Holy Spirit within. He can’t possess true Christ followers, but he does want to manipulate us and hinder our work for God and the growth of our faith.

The story is told about three clergy who passed away and went to heaven. Now Peter was on vacation so Jesus had to do the interview. A red and a green push buttons are in place where if the cleric gives a wrong answer, Jesus would push the red button and the cleric will fall to hell. The green button would open the pearly gates to heaven.

To the Catholic priest, Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” The Catholic priest answered, “According to the Pope….” Without even going further, Jesus pushed the red button and down the cleric goes. To the Baptist Pastor, Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” The pastor answered, “According to the Bible….” Immediately, Jesus pushed the red button. To the Episcopal priest, Jesus asked the same question, “Who do you think that I am?” The Episcopal priest answered, “You are the Son of the living God.” Jesus was impressed so he pushed the green button. The pearly gates opened and the choirs of angels sung their favorite song. But just as the Episcopal priest enters the pearly gates, he turned around and said, “On another thought…” Jesus immediately pushed the red button and down under the priest goes.

The demoniac cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

When we are confronted with issues and personal differences, we become self protective and pride overcomes us. We easily forget love and compassion until we find ourselves possessed with the evil intention and say, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?”

What does Jesus have to do with these unclean spirits that live in each one of us? The answer we find in the Gospel is equally true today: Jesus came to drive out the unclean spirits living inside of us.

Jesus did not use his authority and divine power to rule and control people. He came to set people free. Hence, let us approach Jesus with trusting faith so that he may free us from the evil spirits that keep us from praying and prevent us from loving and sharing our blessings with others.

When we fall into the pit of depression, stress and pressure related matters, we become vulnerable to the temptation of the devil within us.

We forget our prayer life and our commitment together as a community of God. We must be able to know how to get up from that temptation and turn around and say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” We have to keep our prayer lives together. The Rev. Dr. Fred Vergara emphasized this at the Filipino-American Symposium held yesterday here at HCSM. Prayers keep us equipped with the tools we need as a community of God. Prayer is what keeps the faith of the Church alive.

There are people out there who are experiencing “spiritual emptiness” inside and need prayers and being reached out.  Look for variations on the word, “empty,”  “something is missing in my life,” “there is a hole in my heart.” All of these language patterns reveal a need for God, for Christ, for the spirituality of God living inside of a person. In a materialistic, fast paced society, it doesn’t take long before someone realizes that something basic is missing. Be ready for these conversations. It was Jesus who said, “The sick are the ones who know their need for a physician. Those who think they are well do not go to a doctor, likewise with God. Those who are not well in the spirit and know their need of God for themselves, their family, their children, they are the ones who look for Christ and are receptive to the Great Physician.” 

There are people out there who have lost their sense of direction and are being drowned with fear, fear of security, loss of job, shelter, medical needs. They needed to be reconnected with a group of people of faith to regain hope and peace and love. There are people who just arrived from another country and are looking for family to hold on and receive assurance that things will be alright. There are people who come in our midst merely searching for spiritual renewal and prayers. Let us not fail to see them even when our eye glasses are on. Open your hearts and reach out to these people new to us and offer your hospitality and care. There are people out there who have lost their trust in the leadership of those who are supposed to be spreading the message of Christ, the message of Love, compassion, respect and recognition. We cannot be sitting comfortably in our comfort zones knowing that there are people out there needing our Love and our care. We are Holy Child and St. Martin and it is in our values to uphold the love of God to everyone. We’ve got to go deeper into our relationship with our God by listening to the call of Christ to all. We don’t have to look farther. They are sitting next to you, front of you, back of you. You’re sleeping with them, eating with them. You meet them at work, at the market place, at the shopping mall, at the bus. They live next door, they heard your knocks but they want you to knock again. They are in the hospitals, at home and a senior center, in the streets. They are waiting for you and me, they long for a compassionate heart who would be so willing to extend their loving arms. Let us hold hands together to bring them closer to Christ. When people follow Jesus, life goes much better for them, for us. When we follow Jesus, things go better in our marriages, in our families, with our kids, at work, with the neighbors. Most of us know that things go much better in life when we follow the ways of Jesus, the love of Jesus, the forgiveness of Jesus. The primary mission of the church has always been to encourage others to follow Jesus. That is our mission and we can only reach such goal when we are willing to follow Jesus and let down our nets of Love. Amen.

(Mark 1:14-20)

The Rev. Leonard Oakes

In the name of God, the God of the 49ers and the God of New York Giants. Amen.

I thank you all for coming to Chuch today not only to pray for your favorite football team but to thank God that you are still given the chance to watch such a game. There’s a feeling of excitement in each and everyone of us.

The spy fiction thriller Bourne Legacy that stars Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton and directed by Tony Gilroy, is currently in the making in the fish port of Navotas in Central Philippines. In some of the clips showed on live TV, the one that caught my attention is the setting of the movie. The port of Navotas is not strange to my formation as a seminarian and indeed to what I am now as a priest.

Part of our seminary formation at St. Andrew’s Theological Seminary in Quezon City Philippines, is to leave our books and seminary walls and be immersed into the real life of the people outside seminary boundaries. I was assigned to live in a fisherman’s house near Novotas Fish port through the National Council of Churches in the Philippines. Some of these houses around the port of Navotas that time were built on bamboo stem about 10 feet above the black and filthy salty water of the bay. These houses were linked together with 3 feet alley of bamboo shoots just enough for two people to pass through. Animals also live in these houses and you can just imagine how it is under the open floor, yet I witnessed kids being allowed to swim in that bay. I was assigned to a fisherman with a wife and 3 little kids. We shared dinner with rice, a fish and mussels. This was the time when the red tide phenomenon was prevalent in Asia. But this family knows how to survive. It is cold at night as the cold bay wind blows through the space on the walls. At 11 o’clock before midnight, manong Rod, as he wanted to be called, would hop in to his boat and we headed to the heart of manila bay where fishing nets were set and regularly checked for catch at night time. Danger is very imminent in the lives of fishermen whenever they set in the middle of unpredictable weather as fishing is one of the world most perilous jobs. Luckily, we came home safe with our catch and some harvest of mussels. That experience converted my whole being and in how I perceived life of those in the margin.

During my review for the NCLEX board Examination in 2003, I found Pacifica bay to be the best place to read and internalize what I am reviewing. The presence of fishers passing by with a couple of 30 inches Stripe Bass enticed me to buy my fishing license, a rod and a line. I thought it was a good idea that while I am reading my reviewer book, I would plant my rod in the sand and wait for the line to move. Now, as the water comes and goes, you can never predict when it rises to a level. I saw the line moving and the rod moving as well, moving towards the water, it must be a big catch. As I dropped my book to run for my rod, a big wave was waiting and ready to tackle me like the 49’ers football defensive line. The next thing I saw was my rod being dragged into the deep. I have chosen to live than to save my rod.

In some other times, Jesus called his disciples to come out of their comfort zones and told them to pull away from the shore where they feel safe and to go out to the deep. To the deep where the waves might swamp the boat, to the deep, not to take a nap in the sunlight, but to let down their nets yet again.

In today’s Gospel however, Jesus changed his approach to his disciples. After learning how to catch real fish and became comfortable with that life, he drew them out of the water to find another way of fishing, this time for people. These fishermen were about to be converted into a higher level of fishing, a life away from their comfort zone yet once again. There is urgency in the calling of Jesus of his disciples as if to say, “Come, right now and leave your nets, your family and your homes. Let us not waste our time for the kingdom of God is imminent.”

The Gospel of Mark, distinct in many ways from the other synoptic gospels, has the message of urgency by using the words, “Immediately and at once” many times. The main focus of the gospel of Mark in Verse 15 is on the ministry of Jesus. For Mark, Jesus is the Gospel. First, Jesus calls the brothers Simon and Andrew; and soon thereafter, he called James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Ordinarily one would not expect commercial fishermen to leave their boats and their livelihood. Nor would the sons of Zebedee leave their father in the care of hired servants unless they were convinced that the person who called them had valid claim on their total lives. Jesus’ call to Andrew and Simon was, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people”. They were to turn their attention from fish to people- to round up a human catch in a metaphorical net. They were being asked to risk, dramatically and suddenly, everything, and turn their efforts to a completely new profession. Their call was to be fishers of souls- to pluck others out of their familiar lives and challenge them to the same life of faith and service they themselves led.

It was very interesting how Jesus would call disciples to follow him. It never says in the Gospels that Jesus’ disciples were chosen because of a special talent or insight, for any charismatic gift, for high moral fiber, or for exceptional I.Q. From the world’s point of view, according to the principles of astute planning, they have no administrative prowess to lend themselves to turning the world upside down. In fact, the Twelve are never portrayed as directors of communities, and the language of declining to wait on tables indicates a refusal to be involved in the local administration of a Christian group. Neither as a group, nor as individuals, are these Twelve portrayed as “running” a local church. What they all seem to share, however, is a willingness to rise to their feet when Jesus says, “Follow me.” At least when it comes to Simon and Andrew, James and John- Mark says that they abandon their nets and follow Jesus on the way. They apparently know nothing about Jesus. They have no idea where they will be going-or when, if ever, they will return. They just do it. They take on the disciplines of Jesus’ way and seem not to look back. But hard work and an ever-deepening understanding must lie behind their day to day dedication. The disciples’ willingness is only the first step. No one ever said that dedicated Christian ministry was easy, only essential. The call of the twelve by Jesus is not a generalized request for recruits to be answered like a “help wanted” ad from the classifieds. It is a particular summons that Jesus issues to specific individuals. They are asked to share intimately in his life, to carry on his work, and to represent the twelve tribes of the renewed Israel.

It is in this same pattern that we elect our members of our Bishop committees and the appointment of the different committees. It evolved through our willingness to rise on our feet when Jesus says, “Follow me”. There are greater tasks waiting ahead of us in spreading the Gospel of Christ. There is the feeling of excitement in the urgency of the call. One must be willing enough to sacrifice their time and talents without reservations or doubts of the calling we are asked to do. Each one of us must have our own conversion experience from what we normally do to a especial ministry our Lord Jesus Christ is calling us to do. The old ways has to be transformed into a new life in Christ. We all come from a different aspects of life, each of us has our own simple ways to serve God. Let us all gather them up together and we will be surprised how great it would be to serve God when all are put together as one.

It is our common goal that the year 2012 is Holy Child and St. Martin’s year of Service and spiritual conversion. Our health and wellness ministry is our calling to “Come and follow Jesus” by sharing the gifts of compassion and love to those who need us, the poor, the uninsured, the less fortunate and the unloved. Let us be followers of Christ first before we tell others to follow.

In our excitement to watch the 49ers championship game, may we always bear in heart and mind the more exciting call we have in Jesus.

Let me end by singing you John Denver’s “Follow me”

Follow me where I go, what I do and who I know. Make it part you to be a part of me. Follow me up and down, all the way, all around. Take my hand and say you follow me.”

DALY CITY, Calif. -

“Like Milkfish in Brackish Water ” is the book and the motto of the Filipino American Christianity symposium to be led by Rev. Dr. Winfred Vergara, Missioner for Asiamerica Ministry with The Episcopal Church.

Clergy and lay leaders any religious affiliation serving or interested to learn about Filipino community building are welcome to participate in the event from 12 noon to 12 noon January 27-28 at Holy Child & St. Martin’s Episcopal Church here. The event will feature a presentation and open prayer rally. It will raise discussion about Vergara’s book and how it may help understand the Filipino American ministry. Dinner will be provided. The book’s introduction attempts to explain why the Filipino American Ministry deserve attention:

 “Filipinos are some of the earliest, largest, most educated and upwardly mobile immigrant groups to settle in America. There is a special relationship between the Philippines and the United States that dates back at the turn of the 20th century when America, still emerging as the world’s superpower, took Philippines under the shadow of its wings. Filipino American culture is unique in the sense of its interconnectedness. Philippine geography is in the Asia but its base culture and traditions are markedly multicultural, with dominant Spanish and North American influences,” said the introduction.

 The ministry is compared to “bangus” or the milkfish, which “survive in fresh water and in salty water but thrives best in brackish water.” “As servant of Christianity, Filam Ministry must learn from the ways of the milkfish. It must learn to take this ministry of “both and,” the gift of prophetic accommodation. Filam clergy and faithful must become a ministers of reconciliation, a ministry bestowed by the Master-Fisherman who wishes all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth.”

“Rev. Vergara’s book talks about re-thinking and re-visioning of Filipino ministry in the context of multiethnic, multicultural American Church and Society,” said Rev. Leonard Oakes, pastor of Holy Child & St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. “Participants coming from distant places may be eligible for free hotel accommodations. Meals are free.”

 Holy Child & St. Martin’s Episcopal Church is on 777 Southgate Ave, Daly City, CA 94015. For more information,

contact: (650) 991-1560 or email revleonardoakes@gmail.com.

 This is an excerpt from Philippines News editorial Cherie M. Querol Moreno

The Episcopal AsiaMerica Ministries

in Partnership with the Episcopal Asian Ministry Council

and the Filipino Convocation

and in collaboration with Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church

welcome you to

A BOOK FORUM & SYMPOSIUM ON FILIPINO AMERICAN MINISTRY

By the Rev. Dr. Winfred B. Vergara

Missioner for Asiamerica Ministry

January 27-28, 2012

Holy Child and St. Martin Episcopal Church

777 Southgate Avenue, Daly City, CA 94015

Contact Persons:

The Rev. Bayani Rico, President of EAM Council :                                                                            Email : rector_ascension@sbcglobal.net

The Rev. Leonard Oakes (650) 534-5831/email: RevLeonardOakes@gmail.com

SCHEDULE:

JANUARY 27:

NOON:     Check in

Lunch at 12:00 (for those arriving early at Holy Child and St. Martin Daly City)

1:45 P.M. – Session 1: Vision and Purpose of the Book

and Demographics of Filipino Americans (Introductory chapters)

2:45 P.M. – Break

3:00 P.M. – Session II: Philippine Religious History

4:00 P.M. – Break

4:15 P.M. – Session III: Filipino Culture and American Assimilation Process

5:15 P.M. – Open Forum; Announcement on Worship

5:45 P.M. – Break to prepare for Liturgical Service (Choir rehearsal)

6:15 P.M  – Word from Bishop Marc Andrus

6:30 P.M. – Filipino American Eucharist

7:30 P.M. – Dinner & Entertainment

JANUARY 28:

8:00 A.M. – Breakfast

8:45 A.M. – Session IV: How to do a Filipino American Ministry Probe

( ASilicon ValleyExample)

9:45 A.M. – Break

10:00 A.M. – Session V: “Seven Sneezes to Filipino American Revival”

11:00 A.M. – Break

11:15 A.M. – Quo Vadis: Where Do we Go from Here?

12:15 – Lunch and Safe Travel Back Home