Marvin’s Place

Liberty Presbyterian Church will be conducting its first Sunday School Teacher’s Training this coming 2 Saturdays, April 12 and 19, 2008. It’ll be a 4 hour each day Training/Lecture/Discussion on topics/subjects needed by our Sunday School Department. The topics and lecturers are:

Day1

• Basic Doctrines, Refresher course. - Ptr. Ronnie
• Attitudes of a Sunday School Teacher. - Teacher Bernadette

Day 2

• God’s View of the Children. - Teacher April
• Heart to Teach. - Bro. Marvin
• Teaching Strategies/Practices. - Teacher Mercy

All session shall include interactive discussions, activities, and snacks.

Please pray for this activity.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Our church made an abrupt change last Sunday. It was so abrupt that almost half of the members weren’t able to attend the Sunday Service. It is about the schedule of the Service.

When I came in to that Church, Service starts at 10 in the morning. After few months, we have decided to move it at an earlier time (8 in the morning) so we could conduct Sunday school for adults after the service. Sad to say, members doesn’t want to go to church that early, so they came to church around 9 a.m., and later on 10 am. So, our pastor announced that the adult Sunday school shall be 9:30 and Service begins at 10.

Last Easter Sunday, we had our “Sunrise Service” at 5 in the morning. Almost everyone is in the church by 5:20. During the service, our pastor mentioned that he thinks it would be nice if we move our schedule in an earlier time. After the service, some members talked about moving the schedule at an earlier time because of the following reason:

• It feels more relaxed if we go to church at an earlier time
• It is summer (Philippines, tropical country) and it is hot (I mean HOT) at noon time, so if we could go home at an earlier time, we the sun isn’t that “high” yet.
• You can do your “things” that you want to do (cook, go to mall, chat with peers, etc) longer after the service.

Even I, myself, agreed with these. As you can see, the reasons are materialistic and for personal gain.

(more…)

This is a nice article, a reminder to all worship leader (including me)..

Arson or Spontaneous Combustion.

I was having conversation (through email) with a friend the other day. And I was reminded but what she said.

We went into the topic of being busy in the ministry but still is detached to the Lord. It was a reminder for her part, and I was reminded of what happened to me before.

I used to be very busy in the church, in the ministry. I even went to the seminary to study Theology. But would you believe that those were the times when my spiritual life is very low. And those were the time where I felt I’m “burn-out”.

Disconnected….. from the source of real strength……….

Ministry or being busy doesn’t make you connected to God….

But being connected to God can make you do things without the feeling of being “burn-out”…..

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” - Phil 4:13