Period of Epiphany

[GUMC Guam United Methodist Church]

Dear Friends and Family:

 

Past Christmastide is the period of Epiphany.  This season is both a joy and a challenge.  The recipients of the good news about the coming of the Savior experience joy.  The shepherds going back to the countryside have songs of joy in their hearts.  The guilty and the sinful individual, those alone and isolated, feel there is a cause to celebrate when the redeemer/friend has come to see them and pronounce redemption and lift.

 

The coming of the Messiah is also a challenge to the community of the redeemed because they have a responsibility to share to others not only about his coming, but for what purpose he has come. The word Epifanios means to make this Messiah manifest to the  Gentile world. This is mission season, spreading the good news to others that Christ is born.  One hymn line says, "We've a story to tell to the nations."  And what a story to tell to the nations (ethnos)!

 

It is true that like the shepherds we have to go back to our duties and responsibilities. We tasks to take care of the Christmas decorations (some are still up in Manila), pay the bills for extra expenses we incurred, return Christmas greetings to family and friends; new things to work on what this new year gives us.  But there is more.  We need to work on and for this epiphany---that of sharing this good news. This is the greening of the gentile world!  This is an opportunity to open our church doors and welcome others we have never seen inside our sanctuary, or friends and neighbors waiting to be approached for some spiritual experience we kept postponing.  This is the time.  This is Epiphany!

 

Evangelism Resources.  I attended The World Congress of Evangelism and brought with me resources we could use for small group setting be it Sunday School, Friday Fellowship, or for a new group you want to start.  They are in DVD format so it is easy to set up (make sure both monitor/screen and DVD player are working).  We have Bishop Rueben Job's Three Simple Ways, Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit, and many more we could use both to inspire us and equip us in the task of mission, evangelism, and church growth.  

And some in book form. See me if you want to use them personally or to use them to benefit a group.

 

How Charitable Is Guam UMC?  Records show we are a very charitable church. Of course, we wish we could give more and taking seriously our task of loving our neighbors through our giving both regular and special.  Check this out for the year 2009.

          1. Taiwan flood victims --- $401.00

          2. Church burned down (Navotas City, Greater Manila) --- $690.00

          3. Dr. Romy Del Rosario (Cambodia) ---  $600.00

               (church planting in places known as "killing fields")

          4. Wilkos Family (Bible translation, Africa) ---  $500.00

          5. Monthly Apportionment --- $1,411.00 

                  (supports a lot of causes such as Africa University, scholarship

                    to those in seminary training, subsidizing churches who can't

                    afford to support the ministry on their own, administrative function,

                    and a lot more)

           6. UMCOR ---  $246.00

               (United Methodist Committee On Relief)

           7. Christmas Institute  ---  $5,658.45

                (money came from car wash, caroling, rummage sale, food sale,

                 and offerings given by some church members)

           8. Debbie Umipig-Juilian  ---  $600.00

                  (her ministry is with migrant women in Japan)

            

            A few more should be added such as special offerings for Human Relations

            Sunday, UMC Student Sunday, AIDS Sunday.  On top of this, we have 

            church members who assist community-wide projects such as Erika House,

            Habitat for Humanity, Prison Ministry and others.    

 

Becky North.  She left early this week to join her family in Illinois.  I don't have the latest information relative to the illness of her father who served as a UMC minister for many years.

Let us lift up the family in our prayers. May God's abiding presence, Jesus' peace that passes all  understanding, and the comforting arm of the Holy Spirit surround them all.

 

Condolence.  Digna's brother in-law passed away last week.  Both Gani and Digna are with her grieving sister in California and will be back next week.

Where are they?  Romy & Lydia Villena are now residing in southern California to seek better medical arrangement for Romy.  Dr. Glorito Sagisi is now at Skilled Nursing Unit in Guam.

 

Baptism Coming Up.  Two infants will be baptized in our church.  One is from the Obias family and the other one from the Gooding family. 

 

Let us celebrate life in its multiple expressions, and thank God its author.

 

In Christ!

 

Pastor Fred

--
Guam United Methodist Church