Using the Observation Guide (see Appendix), this researcher (Dr. Rey V. Entila, Ph.D) went to
both the Sabbatarian and Sunday-keeping churches to silently observe their
worship practices in relation to Sabbath or Lord’s Day.
A. UNITED CHURCH
OF GOD
On January 17, 2009, this
researcher ventured with his friend to go to Benjamin Hall in Lacson St., Bacolod
City, to see if there still exists a Sabbatarian church, as he has been told.
There was a great surprise when he met his former outstanding student whom he
knew was a Sabbatarian. Without much ado, that former student introduced him
and his companion to Pastor Florante Siopan, head pastor of the United Church
of God. This researcher exchanged greetings with the pastor and revealed to him
the reason of the visit to their church – to conduct an interview on Sabbath.
The kind and elderly pastor positively responded and gladly invited this
interviewer and companion to attend worship service that would start in a minute
since it was already about 10:30 in the morning. There was no way to refuse
such a sincere offer.
1. Do the
people behave properly inside the church during time of worship?
Since the whole
congregation may be only numbering 50 or 60, it was easy to notice the silence
and reverence of everyone while inside the church. They were all present and ready before the
worship began. They were all well-behaved as a close-knit church composed of
several families.
2. Are the
songs chosen to fit the theme of that particular Sabbath or Sunday?
The songs were all taken from the song book
which everybody holds. The songs fit the short and the long sermons delivered respectively
by the Junior Pastor Julag-ay and the Senior Pastor Siopan. There was no need
for a pianist or guitarist because the operator
quickly clicked the number of the song in the computer and the solemn
piano accompaniment reverberated through the amplifier.
3. Is the
church liturgical service alive and participative? Does the congregation
participate in singing, respond to prayers and readings?
The worship service was
lively as everybody participated. The prayers were short and to the point as
the two pastors preached one after the other while chosen religious hymns
interspersed between each sermon.
4. Is the
preacher well-prepared in delivering the sermon or homily? Is the message
relevant and applicable in one’s Christian life?
The two preachers were
intelligent persons who have the fluency of the English language as evident in
their preaching. Their sermons were written ahead of their sermon time,
prepared well, and delivered to inspire their hearers. The researcher felt,
however, that the 50-minute sermon of the Pastor Siopan, though highly pastoral
and biblically supported, seemed to have been protracted.
5. Are people
in the church warm and welcoming to new faces and caring towards persons near them?
It was conspicuous to
this researcher that the small community of the United Church of God was warm
with one another as members of their church, and very accommodating to their
visitors. After the worship service, hot coffee and bread were served to the
visitors and to everybody. This researcher chatted with his brilliant former college
professors who married each other and who now belong to that church together
with their only teenage boy. This warm camaraderie is the advantage of a small
community church, which is actually the ideal for each Christian church.
6. Are church
building, facilities, environment and
chairs conducive for the churchgoers to sing, pray and worship God?
The United Church of God
occupied one of the rooms in Benjamin Hall. The room was air-conditioned and
conducive for fellowship with one another and worship of God. The sound system
was loud and clear as the atmosphere was excellent for learning the Word of God
as well as for family fellowship.
B. SEVENTH-DAY
ADVENTIST CHURCH
This researcher went one
Saturday (Sabbath) morning to Bacolod Adventist Center
at Taculing, Bacolod
City to attend their
Sabbath services. He was invited by his Adventist friend Pastor Anacleto since
there was a big church event during that
time and many visitors were invited.
It was the first time that this researcher
entered that main Adventist church here in Bacolod City.
It was big and elevated from the ground as one takes several steps on the stair
to enter into its portals. The chairs were quite special since they were made
with foam, comfortable to sit on, but without kneelers which are commonly found
in Catholic churches. The church had an
elevated stage for pastors and guests to be very visible in delivering their
message to the people. The church may hold, in this researcher’s, estimation,
up to 400-500 hundred people at a time.
1. Do the
people behave properly inside the church during time of worship?
The people were
well-behaved inside the church as the Sabbath observance began at about 9
o’clock in the morning. Pastors and guests positioned themselves in the center
stage while the people sat in their respective places, eager to participate in
all the activities of the church. The
preacher delivered the Sabbath school lessons while church goers listened
attentively and opened their Bibles. At about 10:30 am, the congregation began
the more solemn session of Divine Service. The choir sang beautifully, the
prayer leader led the congregation, and the preacher delivered his relevant
sermon.
2. Are the
songs chosen to fit the theme of that particular Sabbath or Sunday?
The songs were taken from
the Adventist hymnal and everyone participated in the singing of songs which
seemed familiar to everybody. The songs were chosen as appropriate to the
occasion.
3. Is the
church liturgical service alive and participative? Does the congregation
participate in singing, respond to prayers and readings?
The church was alive with
singing, choral presentation, reading of the Biblical passages, prayers and
responses. Churchgoers had their own Bibles to follow through the readings as
bases for the sermon that particular Sabbath day.
4. Is the
preacher well-prepared in delivering the sermon or homily? Is the message
relevant and applicable in one’s Christian life?
The preacher was
well-prepared in his duty to deliver God’s message to the whole congregation.
The Bible passage was explained in detail and in relation to the practical life
of believers. The people seemed very eager to hear what the pastor said and were
attentive to his words concerning the Good News of the Lord.
5. Are people
in the church warm and welcoming to new faces and caring towards persons near them?
Since there were many
visitors during that time, the church members were much preoccupied in
entertaining guests and visitors. At first, this researcher seemed to have been
lost in the crowd, but accommodating church members brought him to a place
where he sat comfortably, listened to the preaching and testimonies, prayed and
sang with the rest of the assembly.
It was remarkable that after
the divine worship, this researcher was invited to a sumptuous lunch outside
the Church building where people joyfully sat, conversed, and shared food as
well as their thoughts and ideas. One might think that it happened only during
that time because there was special occasion, but friends there told this researcher that it
usually happened at other times also when families and friends take lunch
together as part of their Sabbath celebration.
6. Are church
building, facilities, environment and chairs
conducive for the churchgoers to sing, pray and worship God?
The church building was
favorable for worshippers and churchgoers. The church was elevated and well-ventilated so that it was comfortable to
sit, relax, and participate in the worship of the whole assembly.
C. REFORMED CHURCH
This researcher was
invited by Ms. Tacang, one of his intelligent students to attend a church
anniversary at Sum-ag, Bacolod
City. It was a Reformed
(Calvinist) church whose pastor was once a resource speaker in this
researcher’s Religious Studies class. Asking permission if he could bring four Catholic companions, the young student
whose father was the deacon of that church replied that it would be more
pleasing to them.
1. Do the
people behave properly inside the church during time of worship?
The small Reformed church
in Sum-ag, which can be reached by a tricycle or a car, was quite a distant from
the main road. It was composed of several family members. Inside that small
lowly church were religious men, women and children who were eager to hear the
teachings of the Lord expounded by their beloved Pastor, and were longing to
worship God together every Lord’s Day. They were well-mannered, punctual, accommodating
and joyful to welcome visitors who were willing to celebrate the Lord’s Day
with them especially in their church anniversary.
2. Are the
songs chosen to fit the theme of that particular Sabbath or Sunday?
The songs that were
sung were well-chosen to thank and
worship the Lord for all His goodness and kindness. This researcher and his companions
were given both the Bible and the songbooks to better participate in that
Sunday worship. The songs were common Christian songs which were heard also in
many Christian churches. It was easy and natural for this researcher to join in
the singing and in the whole worship celebration, as he encouraged his four youth companions to
exude that ecumenical spirit for all non-Catholic Christians.
3. Is the
church liturgical service alive and participative? Does the congregation
participate in singing, respond to prayers and readings?
The church’s liturgical
service was very much alive. Both the young and adult raised their voices in
praising God for His loving-kindness. The response of people was one of
jubilation just as their prayers were that of sincere thanksgiving.
4. Is the
preacher well-prepared in delivering the sermon or homily? Is the message
relevant and applicable in one’s Christian life?
The kind Pastor read from
the letter of St. Paul
and delivered an inspiring expository sermon. He was well-prepared in
delivering his message. He told this researcher later during the fellowship
meal that expository sermon was quite easy because one will expound text by
text the readings from the inspired and inerrant Word of God. Its relevance
transcended time because it is an eternal good news for all people of all
times. He was right.
5. Are people
in the church warm and welcoming to new faces and caring towards persons near them?
The members of the Reformed church in
Sum-ag were warm-bloodied people who were brotherly and sisterly in their
relations towards one another. After the worship service, a sumptuous lunch was
served to all, while this researcher and his companions ate at the center table
with Pastors and church leaders who conversed joyfully with them.
6. Are church
building, facilities, environment and
chairs conducive for the churchgoers to sing, pray and worship God?
The church-building was
made of concrete materials as well as of wood, well-ventilated for members to
breathe the farm air, and feel comfortable in the duration of the Sunday morning
worship service. The chairs were made of wood so that many persons can sit in a
row. Some extra chairs were made of plastic for individual use. The church,
though humble in appearance, was conducive for religious activities and
worship.
D. ROMAN
CATHOLIC CHURCH
Since this researcher is a
cradle Roman Catholic, there was great
difficulty when asked to describe the many Catholic churches he has attended. Although
the Catholic Church has the same discipline and solemnity of ritual worship
throughout the world, for the sake of being specific, this researcher used the parish church where he belongs at
present, St. Jude Parish at Alijis, Bacolod
City.
1. Do the
people behave properly inside the church during time of worship?
Out the outset, this
researcher found no other Church in the Philippines as well as in the whole
world, as solemn as the Catholic Church. Everywhere he went, there was an air
of solemnity and discipline as entered the Catholic Church. It was the place
where people enter and bless themselves with the sign of the cross and with
holy water. They hushed their voices if ever they speak to anyone. They did not
just sit as in non-Catholic Christian churches, but they knelt in solemn
adoration of God who was there present in the tabernacle near the altar of
sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus. In the whole of the liturgical service, the
faithful were expected to be attentive, participative and punctual. This was the general case. If ever there were late
members and misbehaving, it was
permitted but not approved.
2. Are the
songs chosen to fit the theme of that particular Sabbath or Sunday?
Not only were the songs
well-suited to the Sunday readings, they were also chosen to fit the liturgical
season, viz. Advent, Christmas, Ordinary, Lent, Easter. The songs were not sung
for entertainment, but for glorifying God. Songs were even further divided into
four major ones such as the entrance, offertory, communion and recessional
songs. Popular love songs heard over radio and television were not approved as
liturgical songs and were not sung inside the Mass, to preserve the purity of
worshipping the one true God.
3. Is the
church liturgical service alive and participative? Does the congregation
participate in singing, respond to prayers and readings?
The liturgy was
well-calculated that there was full participation of the faithful in the whole
duration of the Eucharistic celebration. The whole assembly stood up, sat down,
knelt, offered sign of peace, etc., so that the whole body and not just mind
and spirit, worshipped God. This was worshipping God in spirit and in truth
with the whole of one’s mind, heart, soul and strength. The priest presided but
the whole congregation responded to him as well as to God in their prayers and
responses.
4. Is the
preacher well-prepared in delivering the sermon or homily? Is the message
relevant and applicable in one’s Christian life?
At this point, this
researcher needed to be specific to address to specific question above. Yes,
Fr. Mitchell Guadalupe, the parish priest of St. Jude parish was very much
well-prepared in his Sunday homilies and
even in his weekday homilies. He expounded from the readings, explained the
historical background of the passage especially of the Gospels, relates
humorous stories that touch life’s realities. He also related to his
parishioners his personal experiences, successes and failures, inspiring
everyone and encouraging those who have fallen.
5. Are people
in the church warm and welcoming to new faces and caring towards persons near them?
Unlike barrio or
baranggay churches or unlike many small Protestant churches whose members are
few and know one another, the Catholic church is a colossal one, a universal
one whose members come from different places and backgrounds. As one attended
the Holy Mass in the Cathedral or in St. Jude parish, everybody seemed to be
unknown. Yet there was that feeling of being one as Catholics, believing in the
same Apostles’ Creed, experiencing the Sacraments, and obeying the Commandments
of God and of the Church. In the church, nobody could say that the brother or
sister who was near was uncaring or not warm just because the other is unknown.
In the sign of peace there was that overwhelming and inexplicable sense of
peace and unity brought about by Christ.
There were times,
however, that when one had a group such as for instance, the Divine Mercy
group, or Barangay sg Virgen, or any renewal group within the church, and a
Mass was celebrated within that particular group, one felt the warmth and care
of the fellow members.
6. Are church
building, facilities, environment and
chairs conducive for the churchgoers to sing, pray and worship God?
It is an undeniable fact
that Catholic churches are big and humid, due perhaps to old architectural
style of old buildings which seem to be concerned more on sound acoustic than
on air ventilation. Yet there was always a remedy for those humid churches,
using modern technologies such as wall, ceiling and stand fans, or, if the
church affords it, as in St. John’s,
air-conditioning units. There were also air-conditioned prayer houses which a
person who would like to spend hours on prayers and reflections.
