St. Michael’s is located in a quiet residential neighbourhood in West Newton, a district of the City of Surrey. On Sunday, September 18th, the streets, sidewalks and driveways near the church were dotted with puddles and streams of water, testimonies to the heavy early fall rains that fell through the night and early morning. The rain decreased and then abated around 8:30am, early enough to allow for the planned Feast of the Holy Cross (transferred to Sunday the 18th from September 14th) procession to take place at St. Michael’s at 10am.
The Reverend Luisito Engnan, Honorary Assistant Priest welcomed the congregation to worship and introduced the Guest Celebrant for that morning's Eucharist, the Reverend Douglas Fenton, Director of Mission and Minsitry for the Diocese of New Westminster. He then went on to provide a brief explanation of how the procession and the liturgy would unfold.
Each person would be given at least one flower and then, holding the Cross, Rev. “Lui” with the acolytes would lead the procession, followed by the choir and congregation out and around the church property singing Lift High the Cross. Returning to the sanctuary, the Cross would be placed in the narthex and decorated with all the flowers that the congregation had been given, then the Cross would process to the chancel where it would remain.
The procession and decorating went extremely well and served to bring the community together in a common undertaking prior to gathering for prayer, the Eucharist and a community meal.
Lui began the worship by engaging the children in a reflection. He said “many times the Cross reminds us of the suffering of Jesus Christ, but more importantly the death of Jesus gives us life. The Cross is the most enduring symbol of love and life. The Cross is the symbol of redemption. And we acknowledge this here today by placing flowers on this symbol, the Cross.”
This service had been advertised to the greater community as a multi-cultural worship experience and the St. Michael’s congregation was greatly enhanced by the participation of a number of individuals and families from the Filipino community. Many in the congregation had known Lui when he was in ministry in the Philippines.
After opening with an amusing story about “nails,” Reverend Lui began his sermon by saying, “our baptism directs us to discipleship.”
He then went on to illustrate that the church is composed of many parts or members like the members of the human body. We know that in our faith journey toward discipleship there are endless opportunities for ministry in the parish context. We must wrestle with and come to terms with the cost of being a disciple. How do we accomplish this in a busy secular world?
To help answer these questions Lui proposed the 3 “p’s” of Discipleship:
Passion, Purpose and Planning.
He then proceeded to give helpful descriptions of passion, purpose and planning and how these three concepts can bring us all closer to a life lived in Christ.
He finished his homily with these words, “If your involvement is based in a desire for salvation, don’t worry, you were given that 2,000 years ago, but, if you want to have an exciting life in Christ and grow in your discipleship follow-through with the 3 “p’s”
People’s Warden, Dr. Emmanuel (“Manny”) Oyesiku spoke to the congregation at the conclusion of worship and warmly thanked those in attendance who do not worship regularly at St. Michael’s, particularly the members of the Filipino community. He sincerely encouraged their continued attendance.
All who attend worship for the first time at St. Michael’s are a given a “goodie bag,” a brown paper sac with two snacked-sized chocolate bars, an inspirational bookmark and a printed note, thanking the recipient for attending worship and inviting them to return in the near future.
Following worship there was a delicious potluck lunch in the Parish Hall.
The first annual Multi-Cultural Celebration of the Feast of the Holy Cross Family Service at St. Michael’s was a success and the entire community is looking forward to doing it again in 2012.
The Reverend Luisito Engnan, Honorary Assistant Priest welcomed the congregation to worship and introduced the Guest Celebrant for that morning's Eucharist, the Reverend Douglas Fenton, Director of Mission and Minsitry for the Diocese of New Westminster. He then went on to provide a brief explanation of how the procession and the liturgy would unfold.
Each person would be given at least one flower and then, holding the Cross, Rev. “Lui” with the acolytes would lead the procession, followed by the choir and congregation out and around the church property singing Lift High the Cross. Returning to the sanctuary, the Cross would be placed in the narthex and decorated with all the flowers that the congregation had been given, then the Cross would process to the chancel where it would remain.
The procession and decorating went extremely well and served to bring the community together in a common undertaking prior to gathering for prayer, the Eucharist and a community meal.
Lui began the worship by engaging the children in a reflection. He said “many times the Cross reminds us of the suffering of Jesus Christ, but more importantly the death of Jesus gives us life. The Cross is the most enduring symbol of love and life. The Cross is the symbol of redemption. And we acknowledge this here today by placing flowers on this symbol, the Cross.”
This service had been advertised to the greater community as a multi-cultural worship experience and the St. Michael’s congregation was greatly enhanced by the participation of a number of individuals and families from the Filipino community. Many in the congregation had known Lui when he was in ministry in the Philippines.
After opening with an amusing story about “nails,” Reverend Lui began his sermon by saying, “our baptism directs us to discipleship.”
He then went on to illustrate that the church is composed of many parts or members like the members of the human body. We know that in our faith journey toward discipleship there are endless opportunities for ministry in the parish context. We must wrestle with and come to terms with the cost of being a disciple. How do we accomplish this in a busy secular world?
To help answer these questions Lui proposed the 3 “p’s” of Discipleship:
Passion, Purpose and Planning.
He then proceeded to give helpful descriptions of passion, purpose and planning and how these three concepts can bring us all closer to a life lived in Christ.
He finished his homily with these words, “If your involvement is based in a desire for salvation, don’t worry, you were given that 2,000 years ago, but, if you want to have an exciting life in Christ and grow in your discipleship follow-through with the 3 “p’s”
People’s Warden, Dr. Emmanuel (“Manny”) Oyesiku spoke to the congregation at the conclusion of worship and warmly thanked those in attendance who do not worship regularly at St. Michael’s, particularly the members of the Filipino community. He sincerely encouraged their continued attendance.
All who attend worship for the first time at St. Michael’s are a given a “goodie bag,” a brown paper sac with two snacked-sized chocolate bars, an inspirational bookmark and a printed note, thanking the recipient for attending worship and inviting them to return in the near future.
Following worship there was a delicious potluck lunch in the Parish Hall.
The first annual Multi-Cultural Celebration of the Feast of the Holy Cross Family Service at St. Michael’s was a success and the entire community is looking forward to doing it again in 2012.
Images: Top left, decorating the Cross after the procession. Middle, the procession returns to the sanctuary. Lower right, The Reverend's Douglas Fenton (Presided at the Eucharist), the Reverend Luisito Engnan. Below: Lunch is served.