* First Reformed Church of Bulacan

Recently we started visiting the First Reformed Church of Bulacan two Sundays a month, instead of one.  This congregation is interested in joining with the Berean Protestant Reformed Church.  In light of their desire and this goal, we are going there more often (at their request) for more regular preaching and teaching, which includes a study of the Church Order of Dordt.

We leave home at about 7:00 AM in order to arrive in time for the 9:00 worship service.  The group was recently given Psalters and so are learning some more tunes.  (They also use a book that has thirty or so Psalter numbers in their own language.)

Learning a new tune before church.

(These men go over the tune first a few times and then one of them leads the congregation in practicing it before church starts.  We also sing the song in the worship service that day.)

On the first Sunday of the month we have two sermons; one on a passage of Scripture (Rev. Kleyn is doing a series on worship), and one on the Heidelberg Catechism.  After a break for lunch and fellowship, Rev. Kleyn teaches the class on the Church Order, and then also leads the young people in their meeting.  The third Sunday follows a similar schedule, except there is only one sermon (on the Heidelberg Catechism).  On this Sunday, the congregation holds their second service at their normal 5:00 PM time after we are gone.

The Church Order class. 

(Nice that some of the young men attend too.)

Church Order class on a different Sunday. 

We either have lunch in the church with all the ladies contributing food,  or we are asked to one of the homes of the members.  We have enjoyed their hospitality immensely. 

Entering Deacon Lito's home.

(August 23)

Eating lunch served by Sister Beth.

Lunch at Deacon Reden's place.

(September 19)

Visiting with the ladies.

Walking back to church with Pastor Flores' wife, Roseanne, after lunch.

Young People's meeting.

(There are some girls too.  They must not have arrived yet.)

We usually arrive back home again on these Sundays at about 5:30 PM.

  

* Sunday Surprise

Sharon received a nice surprise toward the end of our Sunday in the First Reformed Church of Bulacan yesterday.  The video below is self explanatory.  (Perhaps she'd rather I didn't post this! :-)).

 

* Gabaldon Trip - part 2

Today you get to fellowship and worship with us in the All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon.


We haven't been to Gabaldon for three months (Sem. Vernon Ibe went 3 times during his time here) so it is good to see the people again.  The children are starting to warm up to us.  Little Jose and Diana were standing next to me before church.  Diana would reach out to me with one finger and touch my arm.  I wonder if she was trying to figure out my lighter skin?  They also told Daniel about the difference between his nose and theirs - his is so big!  ;^)

Diana (4) and Jose (5)

"What are you doing?  May we see?"

Catechism with the children starts at 8:30 AM.  We get to sit and listen while Daniel teaches them about Lot pitching his tent toward Sodom.  You might have a hard time with some of the Tagalog words he uses!

After catechism the adults and children settle into the church service.  We sing in English, but the reading of the law and the prayer are in Tagalog.  The sermon this morning is on "The Nearness of the End" from I Peter 4:7.  Good thing we all have copies of the English and Tagalog.  The people then can understand when he reads the Tagalog (pronunciation isn't perfect....yet!) and we can read the English.  The doxology is on the bulletin.  We sing the English first and then the Tagalog.  Now your mind is probably whirling with all the foreign sounds and words.  But even if we didn't fully understand, it was a thrill to sing and hear God's truth in another language.  A real "see with your own eyes, hear with your own ears" evidence of God's church gathered from every tongue and nation under heaven!

Some of the catechism children

The group gathered for worship

After church is over, we have a short break.  Then we have a class on the Heidelberg Catechism.  Today is Lord's Day 7 on true faith.  You will understand everything said by Rev. Kleyn here, as it's all in English.  (Whew!)  A few of the people know English quite well, some understand it but don't speak it very easily, some never had the opportunity to learn it.  After the class there is time for fellowship and lunch.  Enjoy!

A good Filipino meal - Fish, beans (with a fish paste), chop suey, and rice

The dogs are hungry too!

Princess enjoying one of the oranges we brought.