Christian Life Program

Are you a weekend Catholic, meaning your idea of being a Catholic is to attend Mass on Sundays?  Do you have everything but feel empty inside?  Do you want to have a more personal and intimate relationship with the Lord, your spouse and your children?  If you answered Yes to any of the questions, you are an ideal candidate to attend the Christian Life Program.

The Christian Life Program (CLP) is the entry point to the Couples of Christ.  It is open to couples from all walks of life who want to have a deeper relationship with God and a more meaningful existence as a Christian.  While the organization is for spiritual renewal, it is not boring or dogmatic as religious organizations are perceived to be.  Being a member of Couples for Christ opened me to a lot of friends, better understanding of what a wife, a mother or a Christian should be.  I have been a member since 1998 and I won't stay this long if I found it boring.

Come August 13, 2011 at 8 PM, the chapter where my husband and I belong to will be conducting an Orientation on the CLP.  I hope you say yes to my invitation.  By the way, did I say that it is FREE?  It is free.  Just come with your spouse, have an open mind and be ready to make new friends.

WHAT:  Christian Life Program

WHEN:  August 13, 2011 to November 5, 2011

8:00 in the evening

WHERE:  Sanctuario de San Vicente de Paul

Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City

CONTACT PERSONS:  Bro. Deng Yango (0916-4625254)

Sis.  Reiah Yango (0922-7245192 or 288-0402)

Sis. Marla Rances (788-2025 or 215-1305)

Sis. Vicky Francisco (0929-1540737)

Have Fun With Us, Attend the CLP

In Couples for Christ we believe on the saying "The more, the merrier."  We look forward to holding a Christian Life Program or CLP as this will give us new members.  New members mean new friends.  In our twelve years with Couples for Christ, Jun & I started with a handful of friends then as the years passed, we knew almost everybody in the cluster where we belong.  It is totally inevitable because of the never-ending reorganizations caused by changes in service or grouping.

To be one of us is very easy.  All one has to do is to attend a Christian Life Program.  What is the CLP?  The CLP is the entry point of all members to Couples for Christ. It runs for 13 separate weekly sessions that lead the participants into a "renewed understanding of God's call as Christian couples".  It consists of a teaching, a group discussion and fellowship with each session lasting two and half hours.  It aims to eventually bring couples closer to God. The best part of the CLP is that it is free. 

After finishing the CLP, the couples are put into a household, a cell group of four to five couples under a head couple called the Household Leaders.  It is in the household that lasting friendships are formed and the journey to spiritual renewal starts.

Be one of us and have a fun-filled life.  Join the Christian Life Program.  Email me at cfc.westc@gmail.com for more details.

http://www.couplesforchristglobal.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=14

Called To Serve

A year after graduating from the CLP, the leaders of the chapter where Jun & I belong to then, tapped us to be one of the facilitators of the CLP that they were about to open.  We both feel elated for the privilege and likewise concerned about a lot of things.  First and foremost is we didn't know anything about facilitating. Though Jun had exposure in speaking to big crowds and presiding meetings, I had no such experience.  My only claim to participation in a discussion was barking orders to the maids and to the sewers of our garments factory.  My lack of interaction with people of the same background as mine left me insecure in carrying out a sensible exchange of ideas with strangers.  I couldn't stop from asking myself if I did the right thing in giving up a very promising corporate career in favor of motherhood. 

Twenty couples came for the Orientation Night.  After the first talk, the participants were grouped into 5.  We got the first group.  This group was unique as it was composed of professionals except for 1 couple.  The big challenge was how to make this couple jell with the others who are all professionals.  Group discussion came and I led the opening prayer rather mechanically.  The important thing for me then was to be able to lead the prayer without making mistakes.  I prayed with my brain not with my heart.

As we moved from one module to the other, our group became closer and the group discussions became more animated.  Alas, we just had found ourselves a "barkada".  Meeting for the group presentation for the Dedication Night did not pose any problems in scheduling as everyone was eager to be with one another.  Everybody contributed to be able to come out with a very good presentation.

Come Dedication Night, we were appointed to be the household leaders of Group 1.  It was a very memorable night for all of us.  Years later, we took different paths.  Only one couple remained active in the community while the others opted to lie low for one reason or the other.  Jun and I surely miss them.

My First Household Meeting

After finishing the Christian Life Program (CLP), the participants of the CLP are invited to join Couples for Christ (CFC).  They are put into a cell group of between five to seven couples called a household.  The household meets weekly in the houses of the members on a rotation basis.  At the household meeting, the members pray, share experiences on the night's or day's relevant topic and have fellowship after.  It usually takes two and a half hours.  The household is headed by the Household Head.

Our first household meeting was held a week or two after the CLP at the house of our household leaders, Jun and Rose Ricamonte.  Ours was a small household as there were only four couples in our group and that includes our household leaders.  The first meeting was spent mostly on "getting to know you".  Bro. Jun and Sis. Rose were complete strangers to us as they were not our facilitators in the CLP.  The meeting went on smoothly except for one thing, there was no guitar accompaniment.  Our worship sounded empty.  Nobody in the group could play a guitar except for my husband, Jun.  At that time, Jun hasn't played the guitar for fifteen years and had actually given away his guitar.  After that acapella worship, Jun toyed on the idea of relearning how to play the guitar but wait, where's the guitar?

He Called Us and We Said Yes

Jun and I's journey in the ride called Couples for Christ started in January 1998 when a co-parent, Lina Eguico, from my children's pre-school invited us to an Orientation for the Christian Life Program (CLP) of Couples for Christ (CFC) on the coming Saturday.  Since Jun was on a business trip to Naga City and was due to arrive that same Saturday, I had a ready excuse not to attend without hurting her feelings.  But the Lord has His ways.  Jun arrived on Friday morning as his meetings in Naga finished earlier than schedule.  When I told him of Lina's invitation, I was surprised he said Yes.

Saturday arrived and Lina came exactly on the appointed time to fetch us (to make sure that we will attend the Orientation).  We passed by the house of another couple nearby, Artz and Tess Bermejo.  Another recruit.  We drove to the Barangay Hall beside the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Proj. 6, Quezon City.  I was disappointed to see the venue.  I was expecting an air-conditioned function room.  What I saw was a small rickety hall with electric fans.  Yes, no aircons. 

 The recruits, Jun and I and Artz and Tess, were immediately introduced to everyone in the service team.  I smiled without remembering the face that goes with the name except for one.  I couldn't forget Tessa Flojo.  She and her husband, Noel, were the assistant team heads for the CLP.  Of all the members of the service team, hers was the smile that said "Welcome to my house."  I felt comfortable.

Does it ever occur to you that God paves the way for us to get nearer to Him?  In our case, He sent us angels in the guise of Jun and Lina Eguico and Tessa Flojo to be able  to help us endure the arduous task that is the CLP.  What about you?  What was your Orientation Night like?