Suggested Mass Line-up for December 25, 2011 (Mass during the Day)

Suggested Song Line-up (by JR Medina)

Sunday, December 25, 2011 Solemnity of the Lord's Birth (Mass during the day)
Liturgical Color: White
Note: This is the same as last year's.


Pasensya na po at hindi ako nakagawa ng Cebuano Guide for the Mass. Siguro from the songs suggested by Kuya JR Medina of Tagalog and English Mass ay makakakuha kayo ng idea kung ano 'yung mga pwede nating kantahin for Cebuano Mass... Merry Christmas po :)

                                                                                                         Brian Gangca

Readings:

1R: Isaiah 52:7-10 says: Let Zion rejoice for the Lord shall restore it. The Lord bared His arm in the sight of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God.

RP: Ps 98: All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

2R: From Hebrews 1:1-6: Previously God spoke to mankind through the prophets, but now, it is through His Son, Who is as the Father is, superior to all.

G: 

1. John the Evangelist’s exalted “In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
2. John the Baptist is not the light, but will testify to the true Light Who is about to come.

Important Ideas: God the Father and God the Son; the Word of God and the Son of God is/are one and the same

Filipino: 

E:
1. Purihi’t Pasalamatan (Simplicio Esteban & Eddie Hontiveros SJ). Sing only Stanzas 1 & 2.
2. Bayan, Magsiawit Na! (Aquino) Prioritize Stanza 2.
3. Dinggin Mo “Bigyan Mo kami ng liwanag, tibay at pananalig” is reminiscent of G No. 2
4. Halina at Lumapit (Ruben Habito)
5. Magpuri sa Panginoon (Hontiveros)
6. Pagmamahal sa Panginoon (also Honti)
7. Pasko ng Paglaya (Arboleda-Francisco). Stanza 1's "Bayan magalak sa Mabuting Balita" is a short introduction to G No. 1.

Alleluia. This is an excellent Sunday to sing the Alleluia that goes: “Salamat sa Diyos (2x), Sa Wika Mong banal, salamat po. Salamat sa Diyos (2x), Sa Bugtong Mong Anak, salamat po. Aleluya! (7x)

PERSONAL REFLECTION OF BRIAN GANGCA:

Santa's most popular reindeer by far is Rudolf, Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. Here is his story as told in music by Johnny Marks: Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw him, you would even say it glows. All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolf play in any reindeer games. Then one foggy Christmas eve Santa came to say: "Rudolf with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" Then all the reindeer loved him as they shouted out with glee: "Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in history!" The story of Rudolf, is the story of salvation. It is our story both as individuals and as the human family. In our own case it is not Santa who saves us but the Child Jesus.

To begin with, Rudolf was a misfit. Compared to the image of the ideal reindeer we can say that something was definitely wrong with him. What is more, he was not in any position to help himself. So are we all, misfits, as the Bible tells us. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). "All we like sheep have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6). Like lost sheep we are not in a position to help ourselves. Rudolf could not help himself. All that his fellow reindeer did was to makes things worse for him. Only one person could help him, Santa, the messenger from heaven.

Today we celebrate the birth of the Messenger from heaven. As we read in today's gospel, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14). He comes to liberate us from the human predicament, our sinfulness. For it is sin that mars and disfigures the beautiful image of God that we all are. Sin turns us into a despicable Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer. But the heavenly Messenger comes, not to take away the red nose but to declare to us the Good News that we are acceptable to God even with the red nose. Rudolf's red nose was a defect. But Santa chose him precisely on account of that. The heavenly Messenger has the ability to turn the defects and red noses of our tainted humanity into assets for the service of God. Jesus is this heavenly messenger.

What makes the reindeer gospel so poignant is that Santa does not use his magic wand to heal Rudolf of his red nose defect. He let him go on with the red nose even as his chosen reindeer. Certainly Rudolf would have wanted nothing so much as to be a normal reindeer like all the rest. Similarly Jesus does not simply make us good men and women, rather he makes us into people who can use all their strengths and defects to the service and the glory of God. This is the proof to us that it is not by our own will power that we are able to become children of God. It is by God's grace, by God's unmerited and unconditional love of us. As God tells St Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

How does the grace of God achieve this transformation in us? God's grace works two things in us: enlightenment and empowerment. "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). God's truth enlightens us and God grace empowers us. God's truth enlightens us to see ourselves and our world in a new light. It is a word that brings reassurance, affirmation and hope. You can imagine how Rudolf felt when he heard the words of Santa, "Rudolf with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?" That is why we call it the Good News. It is news that is liberating and empowering. It empowers us by changing our former disposition of insecurity, despair and hopelessness into that of blessed assurance, new hope and enthusiasm in the Lord's service.

Like Rudolf before Santa, let us today listen to the Message that the Child Jesus brings us, let us commit ourselves into his service without looking back, even when we do not know where the journey will lead us, knowing one thing for sure: that the grace of God will supply the strength we need for the long journey of faith ahead. "For to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God" (John 1:12).

P of the G: Narito Ako (Rene San Andres) “Sa kasulatan ‘Yong turo” is a quick reminder of the Word of God.

C:
1. Ama Kong Mahal (Aquino)
2. Pag-ibig Mo Ama (Ando Macalinao SJ & Honti)
3. Pagsibol (Aquino)
4. Isang Sanggol (Ramirez)
5. Bituin (Aquino) JC is “giliw ng Diyos” in Koro 1.

R: Pasko’y Sumapit Na (Isidro & Que) Stanza 1's "Ay si Hesus ang Diyos nating tunay" is sobrang swak sa G.


English:

E: 
1. A Christmas Praise (Aquino & Agatep)
2. Hark! The herald angels Sing. Prioritize Stanzas 2 & 3. "Hail the Incarnate Deity" brings G to mind. 
3. All the ends of the earth (kay Tito Bob toh) an echo of 1R.

P of the G: We Remember (Marty Haugen). First make sure this isn’t one of your service songs. The Refrain would be like:
We remember how You loved us: through His birth
And now we celebrate for He is with us here.
And we believe that we will see Him when He comes
In His glory. 
Lord, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.

Prioritize Stanza Nos. 2 & 3

C: 
1. God with us (Dan Schutte) Consider making this as the 2nd Communion song. 
2. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming. Stanza 3's "True man, yet very God" is the very message of G No. 1.

R: 
1. The Work of Christmas (Arboleda)
2. Carol of the Bells

Suggested Mass Line-up for December 24, 2011 (Midnight Mass)

SUGGESTED SONG LINE-UP (by: JR Medina)

Actually this is basically the same as that in 2010, because the readings are the same po.

Saturday, Dec 24, 2011: Solemnity of the Lord's Birth (Midnight Mass) 
Liturgical Color: White


Pasensya na po at hindi ako nakagawa ng Cebuano Guide for the Mass. Siguro from the songs suggested by Kuya JR Medina of Tagalog and English Mass ay makakakuha kayo ng idea kung ano 'yung mga pwede nating kantahin for Cebuano Mass... Merry Christmas po :)

                                                                                                         Brian Gangca

Readings:

1R: Isaiah 9:1-6 Israel will again be great.
1. The people who walk in darkness shall see a great light: a light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death.
2. For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. 

RP: 96

Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

2R: Timothy 2:11-14

The free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone. When the glory of Jesus Christ is seen, God wants us to turn away from God-less living.

G: From Luke 2:1-14

The birth of Jesus

1. Bethlehem: For today in the city of David a Savior has been born.
2. She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger.
3. Shepherds keeping the night watch
4. Angels praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those whom His favor rests.”


Tagalog:

E: Friendly Options

1. Gumising (Onofre Pagsanghan & Manuel Francisco SJ) 
2. Himig ng Hangin (Jandi Arboleda & Norman Agatep). I chose these 2 especially for the words “Gumising” : pang-prep up ba sa congregation.
3. Pasko ng Paglaya (Jandi Arboleda & Manoling Francisco SJ) I chose this dahil sa solo part “Panginoon, hanggang kalian kami magdurusa?” and sa stanza 1 na “Narito na ang Pasko ng Paglaya.” Very good way to bridge Advent and Christmas, as this Mass ends the former and begins the latter.
4. Oyayi (Arnel Aguino SJ). Sing this song as your entrance song only kapag (1) ang gusto ng parish priest is just before the Gospel merong childless couple na magpuprusisyon at iaalay ang Niño sa Belen. Basta kapag gusto ni Father na ang precise moment of JC’s birth is just before the Gospel and not at Entrance pa lang. Sa Parish namin po, ang nag-aalay ng Banal na Sanggol ay ang mag-asawang nagdarasal na magkaanak. And (2) Use this song as processional song kapag may procession ng childless couple who will offer the statue of the Holy Infant and place it at the creche.


PERSONAL REFLECTION of BRIAN GANGCA:

Christmas is finally here. All four weeks of Advent we have been waiting and praying for the coming blessings of Christmas. And now Christmas is here. Today the angels are bringing us the good news of great joy for all the people, for to us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. This good news of great joy is for all the people of God. As people of God we have a claim to the joy and the peace that the birth of Christ brings to the world. But how do I personally enter into this "great joy" of Christmas? Christmas rings out "joy to the world," yes, but how do I make this joy my own? This is an important question, for, even though God has declared joy to the whole world, there are still many among us who do not flow in this joy, many among us who do not know how to claim this joy and make it their own personally.

A certain missionary was working in a rural African village that had no easy access to good drinking water. People walked for miles to the nearest river to get water. With his encouragement the people undertook a self-help project to sink a borehole. The local government supplemented the people's efforts and a borehole was sunk in the village. In the meantime the missionary had left the village. Soon the village was enjoying fresh and clean drinking water from the borehole. So they wrote the missionary to come and see them and the great difference the borehole had made in the village. He went back to the village and rejoiced with them for the borehole that now gave fresh, clean water on demand. Then he decided to go round and visit some of his old friends. He entered the house of an old woman and asked her to give me a cup of the borehole water to drink. To his surprise she said that there was no drinking water in the house. "But the village now has water," he said. "Yes," she replied, "but the trouble is with my grandson who lives with me. I tell him to go and get water from the borehole and he wouldn't listen to me. All he does is run about and play."

There you are! You see, it is possible for someone to die of thirst in a village that has abundant drinking water. Why? Because there is no way the water out there in the borehole can become your own personally until you lift your foot to go there and draw the water that already belongs to you. The water in the borehole is yours by right. You are entitled to it. But you need to do something to claim this right before it can become your own personally, before it can actually quench your thirst. So is the good news of great joy that God showers on the world at Christmas. We still need to do something, make a little effort, before we can personally experience this joy in our lives, in our families, and in our world.

How do we do that? Well, that is rather easy to explain but pretty hard to practice, so I'll explain. Look at the word JOY. You see that it is made up of three letters: first J, then O, and lastly Y. J stands for Jesus, O for Others, and Y for You. Joy therefore is: Jesus, Others, before You. To know joy in our lives we need to place Jesus first in everything. Secondly, we need to try to please others before trying to please yourself. That is the recipe for joy. That is how we can convert the Christmas "joy to the world" into a personal "joy in my life" now and always.

As we listen to the Christmas story we would do well to pay attention to the various people and groups of people that are mentioned and see whether they try to please Jesus and others before themselves, or whether they seek their own interests first. You will discover that those who practice J-O-Y are the ones who enjoy peace and joy, and that those who practice "self first" are always the unhappy and miserable ones. Here are a few examples.

On the negative side we have the innkeeper who turned Joseph and Mary out in the cold night while he enjoyed the warmth of the inn. There's also Herod who wanted above all his job security as king to the point that he was prepared to kill Jesus and others. These people never get to experience the joy of the good news. On the positive side, consider the shepherds who leave everything they own, their flock, in the bush and go to adore Jesus first. Or the magi, the wise men from the East who leave the security of their homeland and make a long and dangerous journey to Bethlehem just to worship the new-born Jesus and give him gifts. These are the one's who receive God's favour, the ones who experience in their hearts the true peace and joy of Christmas. Let us today resolve to follow their good example by always placing Jesus and others before self and then the joy of Christmas will always be ours.

P of the G: Friendly Options

1. Kapuri-puri Ka (Nemy Que). Put a Christmas touch to this. Sing “Kapuri-puri Ka, Diyos Anak na sinilang ngayon” rather than “Diyos Amang lumikha ng lahat.”
2. Unang Alay (Rey Magnaye) Baka mas maganda toh: “Mga biyayang nagmula sa pagkasilang Mo” rather than “pagpapala Mo”

C: Friendly Options na swak sa G

1. Ang Diyos na Sanggol (Hontiveros)
2. Bituin (Aquino)
3. Isang Sanggol (Fruto Ramirez SJ)
4. Villancico 
5. Villancico Flamenco (See, Hontiveros, Mehlemans)
6. Noong Paskong Una (Pagsanghan-Francisco) 2nd Communion song
7. Paglamig ng Hangin (Francisco) 2nd Communion song

R: Friendly Options

1. Pasko’y Sumapit Na (Danny Isidro SJ & Nemy Que SJ)
2. Pasko Na! (Pagsanhan, Agatep, Arboleda & Francisco)

English:

E: Friendly Options
1. A Christmas Praise (Aquino & Agatep)
2. Adeste Fidelis
3. City of God “The people in darkness have seen a great light” is a quick introduction to 1R No. 1. 

P of the G: Friendly Options
1. Earthen Vessels (John Foley) “Light has shown in our darkness” is reminiscent of 1R No. 1
2. How Shall I Sing to God. Prioritize Stanza 3.
3. We Remember (Marty Haugen). First, make sure this is not one of your service songs. If it is not one of your service songs, consider singing this revised version: 

We remember how You love us: through His Birth.
And now we celebrate for He is with us here.
And we believe that we will see Him when He comes in His glory.
Lord, we remember, we celebrate, we believe.

Then go straight to Stanza 2.

C: Friendly Options. Malamang puno ang simbahan, so malamang madami magkoCommunion. Please prepare a 2nd Communion Song.
1. O Holy Night
2. O Little Town of Bethlehem
3. Silent Night
4. The First Noel. Do not sing Stanza 3, as this is about the three wise men. Wala pa naman sa Gospel for this Sunday sila. Reserve it for the Sunday of the Epiphany of the Lord.
5. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
6. God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen (2nd Communion Song)
7. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (2nd Communion Song)
8. Panis Angelicus (2nd Communion Song). I know this is a song associated with Corpus Christi. Ask your PP or Music Ministry. They'll probably see the associations. 

R: Angels we have heard on high. Many other grand Gloria in excelsis Deo versions would also do.