Balanced thought and spirit in SERVICE

1. Lumen Serbum The official Publication of the SERVI DEI Marriage Encounter Community January – March 2011 Balanced thought and spirit in SERVICE Dear God.. Letter of Sis. Weng (Bong’s widow) Magandanggabipo! Hindi koalam kung papaanokosisimulan at sasabihinangpasasalamatkosainyonglahat, Una, saPoongMaykapalnaSiyamismoanggumawangparaan kung bakitkamingmag-asawa ay naakaydito at sumalisaServi Dei Marriage Encounter Community. At higitsalahatsataonggumabaysaamingmag-asawa, nasilarinmismoangdahilan kung bakitkamingmag-asawa ay napadpaddito. “Ma’am Beth at Sir Lito, Maraming, maramingsalamatposainyonasauna at hulingsandalingbuhayni Bong ay di kayo bumitiwsapagtulongsaamingmag-asawa, na kung hindidahilsainyo, bakadinasiyaumabotsabuwan at petsangpagkawalaniyasaamin.” Alamkona kung madugtungan pa angbuhayni Bong, siyamismoangnasaharapninyongayon at naririnigninyoangmgapagsambitniyangpasasalamat. Alamkonabaonni Bong sakabilangbuhayangArcadio Corporation na kung saannandoonangmgataongpangalawasabuhayniya, mgaanakngDiyosnanagturingsakanyanghindiiba, at tinuringsiyangtao, sakabilanghirapnanaranasanniyasabuhay. Hindi niyainindaangpagodparasaaminnapamilyaniya. Kung hindisiyanagkasakitdikomalalamannamaramingnagmamahalsakanya at mahalsiyangDiyos. Sa Marriage Encounter, nagpapasalamatakonglubos at kahitsahulingsandalingbuhayngakingasawanasi Bong, ay naipahayagniya kung sinosiya at kung anoangtunaynanilalamanngloobniyanaparang yon narinpalaanghulinghabilinniya, dahiltugmalahatngtanongsanangyarisakanya. Sa maiklingpanahonngpagsalinaminsaServi Dei MEC alamkonakapos man saoras at panahonperohigit pa ditoangnatutunannaminsabuhaymag-asawa. Sa mga ka brother at ka sister komaramingsalamatposalahatngtulongninyo at samgadasalparasaasawako. Alamkonadalaniyasakanyangkaisipananglahatngmgamagagandangnangyarisahuling sandal ngkanyanghiningaang M.E. Sa sariliko, kasamakosi Bong habangginagawakoangpasasalamatnaito, kahitnasakabilangbuhaynasiya, gabay at lakasko pa rinangmgaalaalaniyasaamin at walangsawangbabasahinpaulit-ulitangmgainiwanniyangsalitasaamin. Weng Current Issue... 2011 Planning Conference The annual planning conference was held last January 2011 at Ka Bency and DoringRaymundo’s residence, attended by the respective ministry heads as well as its chaircouple and co-chaircouple. As a result of the Team Building held last Novermber 2010 in Dinalupihan, Bataan and during the discussion in the said conference, this years theme was formulated as “Balanced thought and spirit in SERVICE”. Likewise, the SDMEC Vision, Mission, Goals & Objectives were stated as : VISION Deeper faith of individual, couple and family relationship that leads to reconciliation and unity founded in Gospel values. MISSION A parish-rooted community committed to pursue the Core Values set by the Marriage Encounter Foundation of the Philippines (MEFP) (CONTINUED ON PAGE 2) Reflections… NEVER GIVE UP Marlon-Teena Casidsid One day I decided to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me... "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said. "In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would not quit." He said, "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." He asked me, "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots". "I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.“ "Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful." "Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high" "How high should I rise?" I asked. "How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned. "Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can." I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up. For the Christian Prayer is not an option but an opportunity. Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is, tell the problem how Great the Lord is! Rom 12:2 Don't change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but let God change you inside with a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to understand and accept what God wants for you. You will be able to know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect. Page 1

2. Balanced thought and spirit in SERVICE… MLM ME WEEKEND Team Couple: Beth/Lito Jamiro Jules/Pennie Borja Class 37 : Marlon/Juliet Gammad, Mhan/Nelly Bautista, Willy/Rose Adision, Eugene/Mila Taneca, Joey/Belen Noynay, Ron/Len Jose, Ben/Letty Roldan, JR/Josie Estinozo SLM The Ash Wed Mass was presided over by Fr. Eric Santos with a Huge Cross in each and every forehead of the member , perhaps to remind us the true essence of LENT : “REPENT and be FAITHFUL to the GOSPEL” Valentine Offering An exchange of messages by couples thru the courtesy of SLM Current Issue...from page 1 • GOAL • To actively implement with all humility, the programs and activities anchored on the Vision and Mission statements of the SERVI DEI Marriage Encounter Community (SDMEC) • Also, the following CORE VALUES to be observed by the community were set by the group: • MAKA-DIYOS • MAKA-PAMILYA • MAKATAO • MAKABAYAN • MAKA-KALIKASAN • MABABANG-LOOB • The conference was adjourned with the joy in the hearts of the servants and hope that this year’s plans and programs will be implemented successfully. GOD bless everyone… SPECIAL GREETINGS TO ALL WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATORS FOR THE MONTHs OF January, February & March Page 2