UTS Alumni Newsletter: Volume 2, No.7, December 2004

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MYANMAR AMBASSADOR AT U.T.S.

..... His Highness U Tin Tun, Ambassador of Myanmar to the Philippines, was at the Union Theological Seminary grounds on Christmas Day on the occasion of the Philippine Myanmar Community Christmas Celebration and Thanksiving held at the U.T.S. Grace Open Chapel. It was a a day of singing and folk-cultural presentations aside from the messages shared on that day. It was at the instance of Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Dennis Shu Maung and family that the Myanmar community in the Philippines will celebrate Christmas together.

..... Ambassador U Tin Tun gave his Christmas greetings before Rev. C. K. Hrang Tiam delivered the Christmas message based on Philippians 2:1-11. Those who participated were Revs. Clifford Van Thang, Khup Thang Chongloi, Hrang Kil, Lal Nei Kam, Gin Khan Tuang, L. B. Siama. The UTS [Myanmar] Choir rendered a song. A group called "PCCF" sang a song in one of the 135 dialects [languages] in Myanmar. Service was conducted in a Burmese language, except for the hymns "Joy to the World" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" which were printed in English.
The pastors-in-charge of the University Church (Pastors Ronnie Inis & Allen Munda), some seminary students, staff and two faculty members with their spouses (Dr. & Mrs. David Pascua and Rev. & Mrs. Anacleto G. Guerrero) were in attendance as per invitation of the Maungs. A Korean couple (Dr. & Mrs. Jong Doo Hai) were also around. A sumptuous "Burmese dinner" was served after the thanksgiving service and celebration. We gathered that it was the first of its kind held at the seminary grounds.

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CHRISTMAS 2004

..... There were groups of people who have paid a visit to the seminary and stayed until dark during the Christmas season. They should have enjoyed the season’s glittering bulbs on the sides of the oval and the lighted "Christmas tree" planted in the middle of one side of the ground, and the lighted "Belen" set on the other side facing the university church. The lighted Salakot Chapel’s cross on top of the worship center dwarfs the unlighted portion where the Guansings are honorably placed in silence, but not without people enjoying their "ministry" without time limit.

..... At the UTS compound Christmas celebration is expressed in so many ways: organizations have their own sharing. There was one campus beat, a night of fellowship and food, when everybody is invited and families are expected to be around---students, staff and faculty. Of course, some community members’ commitments were taken as priority which means not being around during the Christmas program: leaving to be in home churches or weekend appointments, leaving for abroad to join families, joining friends in the province for the season, or fulfilling a commitment previously accepted. But the "show" must go on.

..... Many a family stayed on campus for their Christmas break. Children played and some enjoyed going around caroling, just like some of their dads and moms. The officers and members of the Ministers’ Spouses Association did their best to bring cheers to their kids and to their mentors and friends. For those who are spending their last Christmas on campus the affair was one for the books, especially on the kids’ "scrapbooks." One thing is sure, they are keeping their Christmas intact.

..... Certainly, there were those who were more fortunate, the "regular employees" with their whole month’s salary, a 13th month pay, a bonus, a sack of rice and some goodies or so which made the season a degree happier, but for those who give their best but get only their day’s labor’s worth can start wishing and dreaming for a happier celebration next Christmas---survival, huh?

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Straight from the Heart . . .
By: Rev. Anacleto G. Guerrero
Editor/Coordinator:UTS Alumni Affairs

..... Someone said, "What people believe greatly colors what they see." It’s a simple "opposite" to what Thomas had stated after the resurrection, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25b GNB). Clearly, that was an unbelieving reaction, not directed to Jesus but to his fellow disciples. When he saw and heard Jesus, the effect was an affirmation of faith: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28 GNB). Jesus Christ in Revelation 1:8 said, "I am the first and the last, the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was, and who is to come."

..... Christmas. What a day! So many people look at it differently. Many people say it is a pagan practice and maintain it as is. That the season many professing Christians celebrate is nothing but a "revised version" of a culture unbelieving people had lived. Just like the question of Jesus about himself, one may ask, "What do people think about Christmas?" Or, going a little bit farther, "What do you think of Jesus Christ as the center of Christmas celebration?"

..... Come doctrines and affirmations of faith. A "religious" group says, "Jesus is only a man!" Adherents of this statement of faith say that Jesus is not God incarnate in flesh.So, they do not have any Christmas celebration. Another religious camp says, "Jesus is not the Almighty God." There are tens of thousands who abide by these declarations. Therefore, there is no point of celebrating the Advent Season.

..... Come to think of it. When Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the propphets." He asked, "But what about you? Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (cf: Matthew 16:13-16 NIV).

..... One of the gospel writers, John, declared this: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:1, 14 NIV). Ask what Jesus said about himself, he said, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30 NIV). Paul had another way of putting it when he said, "He [meaning "Jesus"-emphasis mine--ed.) is the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15a NIV).

..... There are those who deliberately deny the coming of God in flesh. They are clearly identified in the records of the scriptures: "Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John v.7 NIV).

..... This Christmas time, let us have faith in Jesus, "the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16), the Word who "became flesh" (John 1:14), "the Alpha and the Omega" (Revelation 1:8), the One who "will save his people from their sins" (Mat. 1:21), the One who was born a "son, and they will call him Immanuel---which means, God with us" (Matthew 1:23), and the child who was born believed to be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). Unless we see Jesus this way we will have a different story, we will have a different celebration, and we will have a different view of what we are doing. At Christmas time, let there be love, peace, forgiveness, sharing of blessings, making known God’s grace and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us through the coming year. Is this paganism?

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"SIMBANG GABI"

..... This time, it was simbang gabi, literally, at the University Church, PCU-UTS campus, from December 16 to the 24th, except Sunday, 19th, with a regular worship servive at 9:30 a.m. Last year it was celebrated early in the morning, at five o’clock. A church Christmas program was conducted. The pastors in charge are Ronnie P. Inis (UMC) and Allen R. Munda (UCCP), Master of Divinity middlers.

..... The following preached on one common text: Luke 2:1-20: Pastor Ronnie P. Inis (Dec. 16--"The Census and the Christmas Story"), Pastor Eva Prado (Dec. 17--"The Manger and the Christmas Story"), Pastor Jasper del Rosario (Dec. 18--"There was no Room: The Generous Innkeeper and the Christmas Story"), Pastor Allen R. Munda (Dec. 19, Regular Service), Pastor Bernard Laconsay (Dec. 21--"The Shepherds and the Christmas Story"), Pastor Jerry Ganal (Dec. 22--"The Angels and the Christmas Story"), Pastor Allen R. Munda (Dec. 24, Christmas Eve--"Let us go to Bethlehem"). December 20 was a night of hymns, readings and prayers. December 23 was a prayer night.

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CHRISTMAS BREAK

..... This school year, UTS Christmas break is Deember 11, 2004 to January 2, 2005, a good (twenty-two) 22 days, or three weeks and one day. Too long for a regular school break schedule, and too short to attend to church activities and family reunions. But not for the staff who stayed a week longer after the 11th. Examinations and some academic requirements were common demands. The library is open up to five o’clock in the afternoon, four hours short of the regular school days.

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MILLION THANKS

..... The U.T.S. Academic Comunity would like to express sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the bishops of Baguio Episcopal Area (The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Benjamin Justo) and Manila Episcopal Area (The Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Solito K. Toquero) for sharing the Advent Season blessings. Maraming salamat po sa inyo.

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Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year

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