Why I Like Vesper

Sunday mornings would find me worshipping at my home church, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

But Sunday evenings, I'd be at Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF) in Ortigas Center where they have some terrific preachermen; pastors like Enrique Sarthou, Lorenzo Nolan, and JP Masakayan.

Vesper services in CCF are being handled by Ptr. Danny Perez, who's also one of my favorite pulpit speakers, along with overall head pastor Rev. Peter Tan-Chi and American import James Whelchel.

Unlike a lot of CCF'ers who would make it a habit to attend the morning services, I choose the CCF vesper because it promises pulpit regulars such as Ptrs. Sarthou, Nolan, and Masakayan.

These three are tops in my list. They have different styles: Ricky Sarthou talks smoothly and superbly about the grace of God as he walks onstage with the fluid grace of a male model (by the way, he's part-French). Lorenzo Nolan can speak fire-and-brimstone yet with such slapstick timing. JP Masakayan drives home the week's message with much clarity, coolness and candidness.

Never a dull moment with these guys. They know their gospel. They feel their audience. Most of all, they have that extra Anointing, which guides them in their words and empowers them to make a GREAT difference.

I just love CCF vesper...

GOODNESS!

Has it been a month since the last time I logged in?...

A big HELLO to all of Christiandom. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Advance Happy Chinese New Year (Kung Hei Fat Choi). Hope life is good and godly for all our Young Stag Mag readers. It's been toxic lately. Handling a new job. And a promotion. On top of that, coordinating with two pastor friends for, LORD willing, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) production of 'ZWINGLI, A MUSICAL.' Yes, the musical play is about the life and times of the famous and infamous Swiss Reformer, with a delightful cameo by Mr. Martin Luther! The Protestant production will, quite ironically, be using old Catholic songs by some of the most celebrated religious composers (i.e. Sebastian Temple, Ray Repp). Special thanks to Father Richie Santos and the Salesiana Publishers for letting us use their hymnal's songs for the play. And my gratitude also goes to Rev. Isagani Deslate, beloved pastor of National City United Church, for being our project consultant. Proceeds from the first performance nights of 'Zwingli, A Musical' will go to relief work and rehabilitation of Quezon Province's calamity victims.

If you wish to know more about pre-prod developments and try-outs for 'Zwingli, A Musical,' pls. log on to the United Church of Christ in the Philippines website (Latest News section) this February.

GODSPEED AHEAD.