Chapel Notes | January 2010
Chaplain’s Message
The feast of the Epiphany, popularly known as the feast of the Three Kings that takes place on the 6th of January is a wonderful commemoration at the beginning of the year. The three wise men were led by a star to Jerusalem from the east (Matthew 2:1-12). They must have been very good at reading the sky as it was only through a star that they found what they were looking for — Jesus.
What did the shepherds, the three wise men and a few others have that allowed them to see the star that Herod and company could not?
Everyone looks for that star which will guide them to their goals. Our desire and passion to do good and to be the best that we can be is the key to fulfilling our dreams. It is only with the heart – a courageous and kind heart – that one can see the star that will lead to true peace and happiness.
It is my prayer and wish that every child and person will see and be guided by that star through life’s journey.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.
Fr. Benjamin A. Jance III
Chaplain / Registrar
Prayer for Healing
We are praying for healing and recovery of the sick:
Ms. Elizabeth Gallin (open heart surgery), cousin of US Math teacher Ms. Hilary Allan.
Mr. Hak Jin Kim, father of Gr. 11-J student Ji Woo “John” Kim.
Mrs. Marjory Alcantara, ESL Department Head.
Katie Victoria Malca, 2009 graduate. Katie is the sister of Erica Gr. 8-E and Miriam Malca Gr. 11-M.
John Lawrence Gabagat (profound hearing loss), 3 years old son of Brent School bus driver Mr. Ric Gabagat.
John Paul Jose (congenital heart disease), 13 years old son of school gardener Mr. Ronaldo Jose.
Jadin Caballero (castlemans), 8 years old grandson of MS English & Social Science teacher Dr. Judy Sands-Caballero.
Jumillaene Great Gepayo (profound hearing loss), 9 years old daughter of Seminary Intern Gonny Gepayo.
Mrs. Susana Mapili Caabay (diabetes), mother of Transportation Coordinator Mrs. Zosima “Sue” Bico.
Mr. Jay Yan, husband of IB and Academic Affairs Secretary Mrs. Elaine Yan.
Mrs. Geny Cabezas, grandmother of Gr. 6-N student Melissa Hevener.
Mr. Florencio “Lolo Ponsing” Cruz (diabetes), grandfather of the bus mother and Activities office staff Ms. Glenda Cruz.
Mrs. Florence Bruskiewicz, mother of Gr. 11-K student Kenneth Bruskiewicz.
Mr. Socrates Varanal (glaucoma), father of Upper School Student Services Assistant Ms. Pauline Grace Varanal.
Mr. Froilan Bagalawis, brother of Assistant Director for Student Activities Mrs. Lulu Floresca.
Ms. Carolyn Tully (cancer), aunt of Gr. 1-E Homeroom teacher Ms. Christy Speicher.
Mr. Richard Kendall, husband of ELC Librarian Mrs. Maureen Kendall.
Ms. Nora Casas (cancer), cousin of US teacher & MS Student Services Coordinator Mr. Ericson Perez.
Mrs. Natividad Reyes Cruz, mother of MS teacher Mrs. Dalisay Dofitas.
Mrs. Gretchen White (cancer), grandmother of 2008 graduate Blake McClenny.
Mr. Joselito P. Laxa, brother-in-law of MS ESL teacher Ms. Eloisa Munden.
Mr. Eduardo Rocha, 1992 graduate.
Mr. Ronaldo Santi Godito, husband of ELC teacher aide Mrs. Judith Godito.
Mrs. Christina Rebudal (cancer), wife of Mr. Raffy Rebudal former Brent US Faculty.
Seth Maikiel Varanal, nephew of US Special Need teacher aide Ms. Pauline Varanal.
Mr. Gerson Markowitt, former Brent development officer.
Mrs. Edith Pelaez and Patricia Pelaez, grandmother and sister of MS Computer teacher Ms. Maita Francisco.
Ms. Catherine Marcelo-Buenviaje, cousin of MS Student Services teacher Ms. Marika Soriano.
Your love and prayers are deeply appreciated.
Thank you.
Poems and Prayers
“Jesus Loves the Little Children”
Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and yellow, black and white,
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
“Be Thou My Guardian”
Be Thou my guardian and my guide,
And hear me when I call;
Let not my slippery footsteps slide,
And hold me lest I fall.
Source: “Jesus Loves the Little Children: Treasury of Poems, Prayers, and Promises”
Saint of the Month
The Epiphany
6 January – Principal Feast – Gold or White
The subtitle in the Book of Common Prayer of this, one of the principal feasts of the Church, is 'The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles'. This emphasises that, from the moment of the Incarnation, the good news of Jesus Christ is for all: Jew and Gentile, the wise and the simple, male and female. Nothing in the Greek text of the gospels indicates that the Magi were all male and even the number three and making them Kings is a much later, non-scriptural tradition. The date chosen to celebrate this feast goes back to the placing of the feast of the Nativity of Christ in the winter solstice: the north European pre-Christian tradition of celebrating the birth of Sun on 25 December differed from the Mediterranean and eastern tradition of having 6 January as the Solstice. As often happens, the two dates merged into a beginning and an end of the same celebration. The western church adopted 'the twelve days of Christmas' climaxing on the eve of Epiphany, or 'Twelfth Night'. The implication by the fifth century was that this was the night on which the Magi arrived. The complications of dating became even more confused with the changing in the West from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar, the eastern church refusing to play any part in such a radical change. So this day remains the chief day of celebrating the Incarnation in Orthodox Churches.
Taken from: http://www.excitingholiness.org/first-edition/index.cgi?m01/d06.html