The Covenant Orientation Weekend Manual_v2011

Stage 1 Formation

Covenant Orientation Weekend v.2011 Page 1

CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Stage 1 Formation

Covenant Orientation

Weekend Manual v.2011

Stage 1 Formation


The Covenant Orientation Weekend

Manual Version 2011

About the Weekend

The Covenant Orientation Weekend is the first weekend retreat that SFCs will undergo after

graduating from the Christian Life Program. It is to be conducted at least 3 months after the

participants finish the CLP.

This weekend has the following goals:

1. Familiarize SFCs with their covenant as Singles for Christ and lead them to commit to

fulfilling this in their day-to-day lives

2. Lead SFCs to desire a deeper relationship with God through a committed prayer life,

Scripture reading, and receiving of the Sacraments

3. Inspire participants to live out their calling as SFCs in their family, workplace, and in

community despite challenges and difficulties

4. Introduce participants to the culture of Singles for Christ and inspire them to make this a

way of life

5. Empower SFCs to begin to live out the SFC vision and mission.

The Sessions

The CO Weekend consists of 7 sessions:

Session 1: Our Covenant and the Mission and Vision of SFC. This session introduces them to

what the covenant of SFC requires of them and how this will help them have a deeper

relationship with God and work towards fulfilling the SFC vision and mission. This session hopes

to inspire the participants to have a sense of ownership of the SFC vision and mission that they

may be led to desire to make it happen in their own lives and in the lives of others.

Session 2: Prayer, Scripture and Sacraments. Life in SFC is first and foremost a loving

relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. This talk emphasizes the importance of prayer,

Scripture reading, and the sacraments in nurturing and deepening this relationship.

Session 3: Strengthening Family Life. Before we are members of SFC we are members of our

families: sons and daughters to our parents, brothers and sisters to our siblings. This session

stresses on the value of being an instrument of love, unity, and harmony in the family for the

home is our first area of evangelization.

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Session 4: The Culture of Singles for Christ. Being in Singles for Christ entails a certain way of

life, centered on the Lord, in relationship with brothers and sisters with whom we journey

together towards holiness. This session familiarizes the participants to the SFC lifestyle and the

values we uphold.

Session 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace. The workplace is oftentimes the most difficult

place to evangelize or witness to others, but as Singles for Christ we strive for unity of life. This

session shows it is possible to live out our Christian values and still be excellent workers and

leaders in our chosen fields.

Session 6: Financial Stewardship. Our being in community makes us stewards of both our

material resources and of God’s work of evangelization and mission, to which our ministry is

called. This session explains the importance of tithing and empowers SFCs on how they can be

good stewards of the resources given to them by God in very practical and relevant terms.

Session 7: Loving and Serving the Poor. Our life in Singles for Christ will not be complete if we

are not able to embrace our mission of Building the Church of the Poor. This session helps the

participants realize why loving and serving the poor is not only a duty but a privilege and a

source of blessing.

The Team

The team comprises of a Team Leader, Servants, Facilitators, Music Ministry, and Logistics.

Although they may be familiar with the contents of the talks, the service team members,

especially the Team Leader, should go over the outlines, know them by heart, and be ready to

answer questions from the participants if necessary.

Discernment of speakers, although speaker profiles are provided in each session’s outline,

should be done prayerfully. Speakers should be given enough time to prepare for the talks.

Facilitators moderate the group activities and group sharing. They also make themselves

available to the participants in case they have questions or concerns.

The Dynamics

Although some activities are suggested in this manual, the team may modify these based on the

needs of their participants and in consultation with their SFC elders in their area. Sufficient

time should be allotted for personal reflection and group discussion.

Although the retreat is intended for a 2- or 3-day weekend, the schedule may also be modified

to suit the specific situations of the area (e.g., conducted as 2 whole days on separate

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weekends). The leaders must make sure though, that the participants are able to attend all 7

talks.

The Schedule

Recommended Three-Day Retreat Schedule

(May also be modified to fit a two-day schedule beginning early Saturday morning and ending Sunday

lunch time. Saturday will cover Sessions 1 to 5; Sunday will be for Sessions 6 and 7. Sharing portion

after praisefest on Sunday may be omitted for the two-day schedule.)

Day 1: Friday Evening

Time Activity

6:00 - 7:00 P.M. Arrival and Registration

7:00 - 8:00 Dinner and Recreation

8:00 - 8:30 Worship

8:30 - 9:00 Orientation

9:00 - 9:45 Session 1: Our Covenant and the Mission and Vision of SFC

9:45 - 10:15 Personal Reflection

10:15 Lights Out!

Day 2: Saturday

6:00 - 7:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time

7:00 - 8:00 Breakfast

8:00 - 8:30 Singing Practice

8:30 - 9:00 Worship

9:00 - 9:45 Session 2: Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments

9:45 - 10:15 Personal Reflection

10:15 - 10:45 Break

10:45 - 11:30 Session 3: Strengthening Family Life

11:30 – 12:00 Group Activity: Family Dynamics

12:00- 1:30 P.M Lunch and Rest

1:30 - 2:00 Singing Practice and Afternoon Praise

2:00 - 2:45 Session 4: Our Christian Culture in Singles for Christ

2:45 - 3:30 Group Activity: Cultural Fashion Show

3:30- 4:00 Break

4:00 - 4:45 Session 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace

4:45 - 5:15 Activity: Small Group Sharing

5:15 - 6:00 Lord’s Day Preparations

6:00 - 7:30 Lord’s Day and Supper

7:30 - 8:00 Gathering/Teaching of Songs

8:00 - 8:45 Session 6: Financial Stewardship

8:45- 9:15 Activity: Pie Chart

9:15- Lights Out! Good Night.

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Day 3: Sunday Morning

6:00 - 7:00 A.M. Wash-up and Personal Prayer Time

7:00 - 7:30 Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 Preparation for Holy Eucharist

8:00 - 9:00 Holy Eucharist

9:00 - 9:15 Gathering/Teaching of Songs

9:15 - 9:30 Worship

9:30 - 10:15 Session 7: Loving and Serving the Poor

10:15 - 10:45 Praisefest

10:45 – 11:15 Sharing

11:15 Lunch, Pack-up and Go!

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CFC Singles for Christ

Covenant Orientation Weekend v.2011

TALK No. 1: Our Covenant and the Vision & Mission of SFC

Objectives:

• Develop an understanding of what the SFC covenant is, why it is important and how this

applies to their personal life

• Strengthen the SFC members’ desire to deepen their relationship with God through the

Singles For Christ Covenant

• Lead the members to have a sense of ownership of the SFC Vision and Mission and desire to

make it a reality

Speaker’s Profile:

An SFC leader who lives out the SFC covenant in the different aspects of his/her life; someone

passionate about fulfilling the SFC vision and mission

Speaker’s Outline

I. INTRODUCTION

A. As members of SFC we enter into a covenant.

• After the CLP, we were invited to enter into the "Covenant of the CFC Singles for

Christ".

B. We need to understand more about this covenant with the Lord because:

1. Through it we respond to God’s invitation.

2. Our covenant helps us to live out our calling as members of SFC.

3. Living out our covenant with the Lord will allow us to grow more in our

relationship with Him and with one another.

4. It is between us and our God and therefore it is of utmost importance.

C. We need to appreciate how the SFC covenant helps us to live out our faith in

concrete situations in our day-to-day life.

II. THE COVENANT AND THE SFC

A. What is a covenant?

1. A covenant is a solemn agreement between parties through which they commit

themselves to certain relationships, tasks, obligations or ways of living.

2. In the time of the Old Testament, a covenant was a treaty not between equals,

but between a greater or more powerful person (or group of people, tribe) and a

lesser, less powerful person (or group). It was usually the more powerful person

who initiated the covenant.

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3. The covenant was a lifetime or long-term agreement.

B. The Old Covenant and the New Covenant

1. In the Old Testament, God initiates a loving relationship with the Israelites when

He frees them from slavery in the hands of the Egyptians. The Israelites,

recognizing God’s goodness and love in this act of salvation, respond to His love

with gratitude by obeying the 10 commandments, a way of living that expresses

their love for God in this relationship.

2. Unfortunately, the essence of this covenant, which is the mutual exchange of

love between God and His people, was distorted when the Jews began to think

that they had to earn God’s love by observing His laws.

a. More and more rules were added; rules became more and more strict.

b. Thus, the covenant became reduced to a set of rules that had to be

followed in order to please God, no longer as a way of responding

to God’s invitation of love.

3. In the New Testament, Jesus restores the covenant to its original meaning of

being a relationship based on love and forgiveness between God and His people,

rather than merely following countless rules and rituals. He summarizes the 10

commandments into the 2 greatest commandments, love of God and love of

neighbor. These commandments allow us to respond to God in love.

C. Our Covenant Commitment in SFC

1. In SFC, we enter into a covenant with God. Our commitment is to the Lord as His

people, to live as a people of God.

2. Our covenant is not a set of rules that we should follow in order to remain active

members of SFC, or in order to earn God’s love and forgiveness. Rather, as God

intended in His covenant with His people, they are our way of responding to

God’s love for us by striving to grow in our relationship with Him and with one

another, and make Him known by all.

3. Elements of this commitment

a. We are to live our lives in righteousness and holiness.

“Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your

former ignorance but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in

every aspect of your conduct, for it is written, "Be holy because I (am)

holy." 1 Peter 1:14-16

b. We are to live our lives in loving service to God and to one another.

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4. Our covenant includes specific commitments to help us grow in our relationship

with God, made explicit in the SFC Covenant card.

a. Deepening our relationship with God is our first priority as an SFC.

b. From this will naturally follow:

• The deepening of our relationship with others

• Our desire to make ourselves available for the Lord’s service

5. Our covenant is an ideal.

a. Not necessarily already in place. This is precisely why we need mutual

ongoing support.

b. What is important is that we understand the covenant, agree with it, and

try to live it out.

D. Why is our covenant important to us as members of SFC and as Christians in

general?

1. After completing the CLP and becoming members of SFC we need a constant

reminder of the new life the Lord is giving to us.

2. A covenant allows us to live a common life as a community.

3. Sincerely living out our covenant with the Lord has a major impact in our

personal growth as a person and in our faith journey as a Christian.

4. Living out our covenant helps to bring us closer to the vision of our ministry

(which will be discussed later).

III. EMBRACING OUR COVENANT

A. If we look closely at the SFC covenant, we will see that it was designed by the Lord to

help us grow in the different aspects of our lives.

1. Our personal relationship with GOD

2. Our family and work life

3. Our life as a member of the SFC community

4. Our service

5. Our growth as a Christian person

B. What does the SFC covenant ask of me? How have I begun or am I beginning to live

out this covenant since the time I graduated from the CLP? (Refer to the SFC

Covenant at the end of this outline.)

1. In my personal relationship with God – the SFC covenant includes devoting time

for communicating with God through a deeper prayer, scripture, and

sacramental life. It goes to follow that this must reflect in my private and family

life, as I stive to live in righteousness, not living a double life but one consistent

with what the Lord teaches us.

a. Have I scheduled a daily prayer and scripture reading time?

b. Do I pray regularly as scheduled?

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c. Do I read scriptures regularly as scheduled?

d. Do I regularly go to Church?

2. My family and work life – the SFC covenant asks me to bring the Lord and His

message of love wherever I am (family, work, society) and that I use my

resources responsibly and for God’s glory.

a. How have I begun to witness in my family and my workplace?

b. Do I contribute to the unity in our family?

c. Do I do my best in my work?

d. Do I use the resources (financial an otherwise) given to me responsibly?

3. My life as a member of the SFC Community – the covenant unites me with the

rest of the members of SFC in that it allows me to be a faithful and caring

member and at the same time a brother/sister to others.

a. Do I attend the weekly household meetings, monthly chapter prayer

assemblies and other SFC gatherings? This is an important element of my

life in SFC which I must begin to give priority to.

b. Am I punctual in all meetings?

c. Do I intercede for my brothers and sisters in the community?

d. Am I critical about the life and order of the body?

4. My service – the SFC covenant asks that I allow myself to be used by the Lord for

His mission, in whatever way I may be called to serve. This makes me a part in

allowing God to do His work through SFC.

a. Have I invited anyone or told anyone about SFC?

b. Have I been asked to serve, even through simple tasks, in any SFC

activity? Do I accept these assignments with a joyful heart?

c. Am I open to supporting the work of CFC-SFC with my finances? (More on

this in the succeeding talks.)

d. Am I aware of the work of Couples for Christ and its other ministries? Am

I open to supporting them?

5. My growth as a Christian person – the SFC covenant asks that I take seriously my

formation as a Christian through the various avenues for formation that SFC

provides. In this way I will grow in my love for God and for others.

a. Have I attended any teachings, retreats, and conferences of SFC since I

became a member? Am I willing to invest my time and resources on

these formation activities?

b. Do I practice what I learn in all the teachings, retreats, and conferences?

c. Do I seek to be formed? Am I willing to be formed in this ministry?

d. Do I seek to be holy? Do I desire to be holy?

6. In the succeeding talks in this Covenant Orientation weekend, we will come to

know better how we can live out our covenant in the different aspects of our

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life: in our spiritual life, our family, our workplace, in the SFC community, even

in the way we handle our finances and serve the poor.

C. As members of SFC, we are encouraged to accept the NEW life the Lord is offering us

and to use the SFC Covenant as a tool that will help us take care of this NEW life.

D. The Lord is asking us to decide to make the SFC Covenant our “personal” covenant

agreement with HIM.

E. The SFC Covenant reminds and guides us in our journey towards the fulfillment of

the SFC Vision and Mission. At the end of the day, we are to live our lives with the

pursuit of the SFC Vision as the ultimate goal and with the SFC Mission as our

means.

IV. THE SFC VISION AND MISSION

A. The SFC Vision

“Every Single Man and Woman all over the World Experiencing Christ”

The SFC vision was re-stated and unveiled to the general membership in the 16th

SFC International Conference in 2008 in Cebu City, Philippines. It is important

that as SFCs we understand this vision and that we desire to make it happen in

our personal lives and in the lives of others. The following describes the

meaning of each word and phrase in the re-stated SFC vision.

1. EVERY

a. The call to Christ is not exclusive only to certain groups (e.g. not only to

Christians, Catholics, or members of renewal groups).

b. It is for everyone without exception. As Christ did not choose to exclude

those whom He would touch, we should also work to make others

experience Him regardless of who they are.

i. It is for believers and non-believers

ii. It is for both the “good” and the “bad”

c. The desire to include all people must be rooted in a genuine desire for

everyone to experience Christ and in the belief that everyone deserves to

experience Christ.

i. We have to believe that Christ can transform anyone and

everyone (e.g., Saul converted to become St. Paul the Evangelist)

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ii. We have to believe that it is not too late for anyone to come to

Christ (e.g. the thief in Calvary)

d. We believe that the world can be united in Christ. We are united under

one God.

i. Before we think about the world, we know that Christ can bring

reconciliation and unite our families, other communities, broken

friendships and relationships.

ii. We must adopt the spirit of humility that Christ loves all people

equally and that no one is favored more than another or is

unworthy of being included in God’s Kingdom. If this is the spirit,

we can sincerely picture being united under Christ.

2. SINGLE.

a. Our ministry’s primary focus in on the single person by helping him/her

experience Christ, but we believe that everyone around us should be

experiencing Christ through us.

b. Single: the Life Stage

i. We envision a world wherein the single person fully experiences

Christ.

ii. We work to help create that world by doing our part in renewing

the world of the single person.

c. Single: Each and every person we interact with, touch, and can influence

i. Our experience of Christ leads us to be Christ experiences to

everyone we are around (i.e,,it is wrong for us to claim to be

experiencing Christ when others around us do not experience

Christ through us)

3. MAN and WOMAN.

a. We uphold God’s unique design for Man and Woman.

b. We respect, honor, and uphold God’s design and unique roles for both

Man and Woman most especially how this design leads to life.

i. We will work to help Men and Women understand and live out

their real and original role as designed by God.

c. We build and defend the fruits of the union between Man and Woman:

We are and will continue to be Pro-Family and Pro-Life.

i. This supports the values of CFC and the Catholic Church

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4. ALL OVER THE WORLD.

a. We are a missionary and evangelistic community as a response to the

Great Commission.

b. We are guided by the Great Commission (Mt. 28: 19-20)

c. We do not only create a presence (e.g. merely setting up in another area

or country) but rather we work to build strong and dynamic Christian

communities everywhere

5. EXPERIENCING CHRIST.

a. We are part of an active and ongoing experience of Christ that leads to

transformation, service, and the pursuit of holiness.

b. Experience vs. Experiencing: God wants us to be experiencing Him

through Jesus Christ

i. “Experience” is a one-time occurrence.

ii. “Experiencing” is a continuous experience.

iii. This is what God wants for us--a relationship that is an ongoing

experience of His love.

c. Experiencing God’s love through Jesus Christ leads us to transformation

i. Our lives are a happy response to God’s immense love for us

• The reason behind our actions (going to household, serving in

Ancop and the Social Ministries, loving others even if it is

difficult and inconvenient, etc.) is love for God.

ii. We are compelled to share and proclaim God to others through

both word and witness

• It is not merely giving talks or quoting Scripture but a life that

reflects God working in us

• It is living out our faith

B. The SFC Mission

"Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the Poor"

The SFC mission is taken from the mission of Couples for Christ. This is the

expression of the Mission in the SFC Ministry.

1. BUILDING THE CHURCH

• First, be good and faithful members, who are committed to growing in love,

personal holiness, and knowledge of the foundations of our faith.

• Be defenders of the Church and life by opposing worldly beliefs and

movements that undermine the very things our faith holds sacred.

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• Work for justice, equality, and the dignity of life.

• Actively serve and participate in our parishes.

• Second, we build the Church by bringing more people to knowing Christ

through active evangelization and by being strong witnesses to Christ living in

our lives.

• We strive for both holiness and excellence in all aspects of life that Christ

may be known and glorified.

• We are passionate to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim Christ and

we are just as passionate to do the same where we are right now.

2. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE HOME

• We take the lead in creating a family atmosphere where there is love,

openness, forgiveness, happiness, and unity under Christ.

• We are reflections of Christ in our own homes as we support the families we

are born into (as members) as well as prepare ourselves for the families we

will start in the future (as heads). We do this by living a life of purity,

holiness, and selflessness.

3. BUILDING THE CHURCH OF THE POOR

• Because we see and experience Christ in the poor, we serve the poor

through a committed and loving dedication to provide for their needs with

urgency through love and a personal sacrifice of our time, our resources,

efforts and talent. We understand that we cannot build God's kingdom here

on earth without the poor.

We are FOR Christ and we live like the Apostles as His disciples in the present day

(empowered and led by the Holy Spirit to passionately and unceasingly proclaim

Christ to all nations, establishing a brotherhood of love and sharing, and serving the

poor, the captives, the blind, and oppressed). The totality of our lives is a reflection

of Christ.

V. CONCLUSION

What is the Lord telling us?

• The SFC Covenant is a reminder of our commitment to the Lord in our loving

relationship with Him. Our faithfulness to this covenant will prepare and enable

us to pursue our ultimate goal, which is to live out the SFC Vision in our lives with

the SFC Mission as the means to achieve this.

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• Living out our covenant individually and as a community allows us to to be one in

love, one in heart, one in life. In this way we begin to make the SFC vision a

reality.

Reflection Questions

1. Am I ready to commit to having a loving relationship with the Lord through SFC?

2. What specific action steps will I take to deepen my relationship with the Lord?

3. What does the SFC vision mean to me?

4. What is the SFC vision requiring of me?

5. How can I begin to live out the SFC vision in my own life?

THE COVENANT OF THE CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Trusting in the Lord’s help and guidance:

I. I shall live as a follower of Christ.

� Pray daily for at least 15 minutes.

� Study scriptures daily for at least 15 minutes.

� Live a righteous life and avoid situations which are occasions for sin.

� Put good order into my private life and support my parents in building a Christian

family.

� Participate regularly in the worship life of my church.

II. I will work towards the evangelization and transformation of my work place, my family

and my community.

� Put good order in my work situation.

� Be a witness of the love and power of the Lord Jesus in my work and in my family.

� Be a good steward of all resources entrusted to me.

� Be a good citizen of my country, obeying its laws and protecting its environment.

III. I will be a committed and active member of the CFC Singles for Christ.

� Attend my small group meetings regularly and support the good order of the

meetings.

� Faithfully participate in all the activities of the group.

� Relate in love, loyalty to and respect for all my brothers and sisters in the Lord.

� Interceded daily for the group and its mission.

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IV. I will make myself available to the Lord for service.

� Bring other single men and women to Christ.

� Give generously of my time and resources to the Lord’s service, whenever I am

called and follow directions of those who responsibility for any service .

� Support the work of Couples for Christ and its Ministries.

V. I will study and seek to grow as a Christian person.

� Attend all teachings, retreats, seminars and conferences of the CFC SINGLES FOR

CHRIST.

� Diligently study all materials given to me.

May the Lord Jesus Christ help me to be faithful in living out this commitment every day for His

greater honor and glory and for the good of my brothers and sisters.

______________________________

Signature

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TALK No. 2: Prayer, Scripture, and Sacraments

Objectives

1. Develop a greater understanding on the importance and power of prayer, scriptures,

and sacraments in one’s faith journey.

2. Move SFCs to commit to strengthen their relationship with God through faithfulness in

prayer, scripture reading, and receiving the sacraments.

Speaker’s Profile

Someone who can share the joy of having a deep and intimate prayer life, his/her experiences

in knowing and hearing the Lord speak through His word in Scripture, and how the sacraments

have helped him/her in his faith journey.

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction

A. Prayer, scripture and sacraments are crucial tools to growth in the Christian life.

B. We grow in our relationship with God by communicating directly with Him (through

Prayer), by studying His word (through regular reading of the Scriptures) and by

encountering Him (through the sacraments).

C. Prayer, scripture, and sacraments draw us closer to God and help us to understand

His will for us.

D. In SFC, we commit to a daily personal prayer time, to a daily reading of the Bible and

to regular participation in the sacraments. These are an integral and essential part

of our being a single FOR Christ.

II. Prayer

Prayer is a form of communication, a means of talking to God. As SFCs, we need to have

a daily personal prayer time.

A. Why should we have a personal prayer time?

1. To develop an intimate relationship with God

a. Just as our relationships with those we love are nurtured and deepened by

regular communication and time spent together, so God desires that we

spend time alone just to be with Him.

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b. Attending mass daily, praying the Rosary, reciting novenas are important in

helping us grow in our prayer life but we also need to nurture a personal

prayer time, a time set aside to dialogue with God and just be in His

presence.

c. Prayer is more than knowing and reciting prayers, more than asking God to

answer our heart’s desires. It is about communicating with Him and getting

to know His heart and mind, and falling more deeply in love with God.

2. To grow in humility.

a. Bowing before the Lord in prayer is acknowledging our littleness before Him

and expressing to Him our gratitude for His mercy and love despite our

unfaithfulness. This allows us to humble ourselves before Him and recognize

His greatness.

b. Every day, we need to go before the Lord with our sins and failures, and

restore our relationship with Him. We are unworthy but we are forgiven

through Jesus’ blood.

c. God desires us to pray, most especially in our feelings of unworthiness,

because He seeks a contrite and humble heart.

d. When we increase in our humility, we are more able to resist the devil who

seeks to feed on our pride.

e. The more time we spend in prayer with God, we grow in humility, and we are

able to hear God’s voice. For one who is proud and who is so full of himself

will certainly find it difficult to hear the voice of Someone greater than

himself.

3. To strengthen ourselves in fighting temptation.

a. Our hearts weaken with temptation when we do not pray because we lose

our focus on the Lord.

b. Remember that seven days without prayer makes one weak Prayer is our

main weapon in the fight against evil.

c. When we pray, our whole being is protected from the devil. If we lose one

day of prayer, we let our guard down and become less vigilant.

4. To help us become more attuned to God’s will for us.

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a. Regular prayer helps us become more attuned to God’s voice and His

direction. It helps us understand who He is in our lives and what He wants

for us.

b. The more we go deeply in our prayer life, and the deeper our relationship

with God, the more we are able to surrender ourselves completely to Him.

We soon reach the point that we no longer seek to have Him do what we

desire but rather we seek to desire what He wants for us.

B. What should we do to improve our prayer life?

1. Make a commitment to pray at a scheduled time. Choose a time when you are

alert and not too tired from the day’s work.

2. Start with a short time of prayer, then gradually increase it.

3. Find a place where you will not be distracted. If you can have the chance to pray

in front of the Blessed Sacrament, try to do so.

4. Be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

a. Techniques, like ACTS, are good, as long as we are not locked into them.

b. Be open to how the Holy Spirit will lead you.

i. Quiet vs expressive prayer – Prayer allows us to bare ourselves to the

Lord and express to Him what is deep in our hearts. At the same

time, sometimes we are led to just be quiet and bask in the Lord’s

presence and love.

ii. Different physical postures – It is good to be in a relaxed position but

not too comfortable as to be induced to sleep.

iii. Speaking and listening – We allow time to both speak to the Lord and

listen to Him in the silence of our hearts or through His word. After

all, what He has to say is more important than what we have to say.

iv. Praying in tongues - This is not limited to communal worship.

Praying in tongues can also deepen our prayer as we allow the Holy

Spirit to express our praises and prayers to God.

c. The goal is not to “pray well,” but to enter into communion with God. It’s not

what we can do for God; it’s what God can do for us when we put our trust in

Him.

5. Dealing with obstacles to prayer.

a. Anxieties and concerns that distract us.

i. Have faith that God will provide for your needs.

ii. Intercede for your concerns and surrender them into His hands.

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b. Too much concern about your prayer quality.

i. God is only concerned about your desire to be with Him.

ii. Prayer is as simple as a child running toward his Father.

iii. The Holy Spirit will lead us. (Romans 8:26)

c. Dryness.

i. Spiritual dryness in prayer and Christian life happens.

ii. It might come from God. He seeks to find out if our faithfulness

comes from the consolation we experience in prayer or from being in

His presence.

iii. Therefore, we need to persevere in prayer during periods of dryness.

Prayer is a commitment, not an emotional experience.

d. Difficulty in listening to or hearing the Lord.

i. Prayer is both talking and, most especially, listening to God. We listen

in the silence of our hearts.

ii. Prayer is not only petitioning to God; it is allowing Him to form our

hearts and minds as wait on Him patiently and with humility.

iii. We trust that if we seek Him, we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13)

iv. Oftentimes we see the fruits of our prayer after we have prayed, in

the way we live our lives day to day.

III. Scripture Reading

A. Aside from daily personal prayer, we also need to read and meditate on the Word of

God.

1. The Bible is our guide to a life in the Holy Spirit, filled with wisdom and counsel.

2. The Bible has power to convict us and change our lives. (Hebrews 4:12-13)

3. It allows us to know God and His plans for us.

4. The Bible can inspire and strengthen us as we face difficulties of life.

a. Reading the Bible could lead us to passages that speak directly and

personally to our situation.

b. The Bible is truth and its Word is consistent from age to age.

B. We can incorporate our Bible reading into our daily personal prayer time.

1. It could assist us in hearing God’s voice and what messages He wants to share

with us, where He wants to lead us.

2. A useful tool is to use a scripture-based daily prayer guide like “In His Steps”.

C. We need to study the Bible so we may grow in knowledge of God.

1. We understand ourselves better when we read Scripture. We begin to see who

we are in God’s eyes.

2. It helps us to understand God’s heart and mind; therefore we become more

attuned to God’s purpose and His plans.

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3. When we understand God and the Truths that He teaches us, we are able to

fight the lies the devil spreads around us.

D. We should read Christian books.

1. Through God’s inspiration, writers are able to write about the heart and mind of

God, helping us to understand Him at this present time.

2. Reading about the saints inspires us to persevere in our faith through our trials

and sufferings.

3. We need to be discerning though of the books that we read, especially those

written by non-Catholic writers. When in doubt, we may consult a priest or

trusted elder or research about the book.

IV. Sacraments

A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. There are seven

sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick,

Matrimony and Holy Orders.

A. We encounter God through the sacraments. It gives us a physical sign of God’s

presence in our lives.

B. Christ instituted the Sacraments to give grace.

1. This grace, an unmerited favor, is “a supernatural help of God.”

2. The power of Christ also lives in the Sacraments, therefore when we participate

in the Sacraments, we receive Christ’s power.

C. Sacraments we can frequently participate in:

1. Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

a. CCC 1384: The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive Him in

the sacrament of the Eucharist: “Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh

of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Jn:6:53

b. The Holy Eucharist is so great a sacrament because, in this and in no other

sacrament, we receive the very body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus

Christ. Innumerable, precious graces come to us through the reception of

Holy Communion.

c. When we celebrate Holy Mass and receive Jesus through the Eucharist, we

become more like Him and obtain God’s favor.

d. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink

his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood

has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real

food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood

abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of

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the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which

came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats

this bread will live forever" (John 6:53–58)

2. Sacrament of Reconciliation

a. When we sin, we are unable to see God. It is our pride that inhibits us from

asking forgiveness.

b. God wants us to be reconciled with Him so we receive the fullness of His

sanctifying grace.

c. The sacrament of Reconciliation restores to us the merits of our past good

works if these have been lost by mortal sin.

d. The sacrament of reconciliation fortifies us against a relapse into sin.

V. Conclusion

A. Having a regular prayer and Scripture reading time, as well as living a Sacramental

life, helps us remain faithful to the Lord.

B. When we nurture our prayer time, our Christian lives will be filled with power, peace

and we will be able to follow more closely God’s direction for our lives.

C. When we pray and read the Bible, we tap into God’s mind and heart, which gives us

knowledge. This knowledge helps us overcome life’s struggles.

D. Prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments are our weapons against the devil who will try

to sidetrack us from our desire to follow God. Our lives will be enriched and our

faith in God grows stronger when we are consistent in developing an intimate

relationship with Him.

E. God gave us these three tools to draw us closer to Him that He may sustain us in our

spiritual journey.

Reflection Questions

1. What makes it difficult for me to have a consistent prayer and Scripture reading time?

2. What inhibits me from participating in the sacraments (Holy Eucharist and Confession)

regularly?

3. What will I commit to do to develop a relationship with God?

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TALK No. 3: STRENGTHENING FAMILY LIFE

Anchor Verse:

“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you

may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “

(Deuteronomy 5:16)

Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of the importance of a solid, Christ-centered family life

2. Empower SFCs to be a source of unity and harmony in their families

3. Move SFCs to desire to bring the love of Christ in their families and lead their families to

Christ


Someone who can inspire others with his/her family life, possibly someone whose family

members are also in community; one who can explain clearly the importance and the Church’s

view of the family.

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction: The Catholic Church’s View of the Family

To gain a greater appreciation of the importance of family, we need to be made aware of

the Church’s view of the family’s role especially in the world today. In his 1981 Apostolic

Exhortation, Familiaris Consortio (FC) “On The Christian Family in the Modern World”, Pope

John Paul II lists four general tasks of the family. As members of our own family and of the

community of Singles For Christ, we also have a duty to take up, commit to and apply in our

own lives these tasks.

A. To form a Community of Persons

1. The family is a symbol of Trinitarian love: free, total, faithful and fruitful which is the

essence of God’s love. He asks us to image this same love in our families where each

member has specific and appropriate roles which they are called to exercise. Just as

the 3 divine persons of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit work together in

harmony but remain distinct in a way appropriate for each, so does each member of

the human family have his own role to play to express this love.

2. It is founded on and given life by love, consisting of a husband and wife, of parents,

of children, of relatives. This love becomes the soul of the community of marriage

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and family, which sustains and leads the family to an even deeper communion with

each other. It translates into mutual service every day, and a sharing of each other.

3. In situations of conflict, the Church calls on the family to practice a great spirit of

sacrifice, which requires from each family member an openness to understanding,

forgiveness and reconciliation. This spirit of sacrifice is a reflection of the sacraments

of Reconciliation (the family’s unity is restored when we choose to lower our pride

and take steps to resolve conflict and reconcile feuding members of our family); and

the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (where Christ continues to offer us His Body and

Blood, and shows us God’s infinite love for us).

4. The roles of father and mother, husband and wife complement each other. They are

not simply functionally interchangeable. Even within families where spouses are

separated or are away from their family, the need for fathers and mothers to

develop character in their children and to nurture their spiritual growth remains.

5. As a member of our family, we, Singles for Christ, have a specific calling to

contribute to the growth in virtue of our siblings and to deepen our parents’

understanding of who we are called to be. We have our own special individual

vocation within our own family community of love and life.

6. The family is a domestic Church (CCC 2204). It is an example of Living Christianity –

living and breathing the Commandments (Deut 6:7). It teaches children that they

are loved equally unconditionally.

B. To Serve Life

1. More than ever, God calls for us to be brave enough to stand up for Him and what

He stands for, starting with our own family. As members of Singles for Christ we

stand for:

a. the dignity and sanctity of every human life, from conception to natural

death;

b. God’s design of our sexuality as male and female created in His image and

likeness;

c. the sacredness of marriage and our participation in building the Christian

family; and

d. our freedom to practice our family and life values based on our Catholic

faith.

2. In our families, we are responsible for each other, and so we must strive to assist

our parents in educating our siblings and showing them by example how we live out

such a lifestyle.

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a. We encourage ouf families to support programs that educate the public,

especially the Catholic faithful on the moral responsiveness on the different

aspects of pro-life and pro-family issues. Relatedly, we stand against any

form of coercion that forces people to agree on practices that violate the

dignity of the human person, the sanctity of the human life and the

sacredness of marriage and family.

b. We value our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit – that our bodies do not

exist only for pure individual physical pleasure but to be God’s vessels in

creating and preserving life. We encourage our families to be advocates of

living a Pure and Free Lifestyle: free of drugs and other addictive substances

and by living a life of chastity.

c. We work to strengthen the bonds within the Christian family, between

husband and wife, between parents and children, among siblings – starting

with our own family.

C. To Participate in the Development of Society

CCC 2207: “The family is the original cell of social life. It is the natural society in which

husband and wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. Authority,

stability, and a life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for

freedom, security and fraternity within society. The family is the community in which,

from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God, and make good use

of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society.”

1. Being the first community we are exposed to, the family environment is where we

first learn from our parents how to deal with people around us with respect, justice,

dialogue and love. It is where we learn to distinguish right and wrong behaviour.

The way we were taught in the home is a reflection of how we carry ourselves

outside of the home.

2. These are the same values we bring to the society outside our families. This will

include our work places, our social networks, and our community. These are the

values we use when we relate with our employers, our subordinates, our co-

employees, our friends and all the other people we come into contact with..

3. On the other hand, as we are faced faced with a society that is becoming more

depersonalised and dehumanised with various forms of escapism such as drugs,

alcohol, and even terrorism, the family can continue to instil and remind one other

of his own personal dignity, humanity and uniqueness that would strengthen him

amidst such an envorinment.

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4. What we learn from our community Singles for Christ, we can also share with our

own family. Walk the talk at home – just like what we share during households, in

the way we serve and treat brothers and sisters in the community, how willing we

are to make time for people in the community and its activities. If anything, with

CFC and its family ministries being focused on family renewal and building a Church

of the Home, our life as an SFC would be able to help us become a uniting factor in

our family and in other social groups we belong to.

D. Share in the Life and Mission of the Church

1. The Christian family’s faith and evangelizing mission runs in the same vein as the

Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole

creation” (Mark 16:15).

2. The sacrament of marriage takes up the task of defending and spreading the faith in

their family, just as we are all tasked to do from Baptism and Confirmation.

3. As a member of a family, we are also called to contribute and play a significant role

in this mission. The best thing we can do to bring members of our family closer to

God is to pray – it expresses our dependence upon God, it expresses our love for our

family, it expresses our desire for them to be saved which is also God’s desire. God

can do it and will do it if he wants.

4. If a member of our family does not have the faith or does not practice it with

consistency, we can also be lliving witnesses of our own faith by encouraging and

supporting the family member along the path towards the acceptance of Jesus as

our saviour. “The Church of the Home is called to be a luminous sign of Christ’s

presence and his love for those who no longer live in accordance with faith that they

once received.” (FC)

II. What does it really mean to be Single in our families?

Let us not discount the support and life we can get from our family, who will always be

there to fall back on. We must never take them for granted and loving them should always

be a priority.

As Singles, we are in a unique situation with regard to our time. We have more time than

we will ever have! Being single for our families means:

A. A time of generosity for the family

1. It’s about helping out – let us appreciate the VALUE OF GIVING and letting our

parents know we are there for them.

2. A time to serve our parents to repay the kindness of parenthood, e.g. footing some

bills, take them out occasionally, simple gifts, spend time with them as well as our

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siblings and extended family, keep in touch, take charge of health concerns

especially when there is a serious condition or illness in the family.

3. Constantly pray for our family

B. A time to bond with our brothers and sisters

1. Spend time with our siblings rather than be pre-occupied with the TV or the

computer.

2. Share our stories of victories and trials with our siblings and whatever we are going

through.

3. Be available to our siblings when our parents are not.

C. A time to enhance the family or being a family

1. Initiate family outings or gatherings.

2. Help keep traditions alive in the family.

3. Make sure you remember special occasions – make them important and take the

time to greet family members on these occasions.

4. Encourage our family to be more expressive of our love for one another.

5. Encourage our family to have its own mission and vision.

D. A time to share what you’ve learned or are learning

1. For parents to hear what their children are doing is enough for them to be proud of

us.

2. Share with them how we respond to challenges and how we deal with things

through what we learn. In this way, we also affirm to our parents that they have

raised us well.

E. A time to share in adult decisions and let your voice be heard during family discussions

1. If applicable, introduce our family members to our love interest. Once that person is

exposed to our family, it’s an invitation for them to welcome and bring the person

into the family. But if something happens, the family can be our wall of support.

2. Share with the family the deliberate and serious life-changing decisions on where we

want our life to head. Share the goals we set for ourselves.

III. Conclusion

• John Paul II: “The future of humanity passes by way of the family.” (FC)

• We will always end up with family: the family we come from, and the family we will

build in whichever vocation we choose to go into.

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• Being more aware of the role of families in today’s world, let us make the most of the

time we have now while we are Single to prepare ourselves for when we build a family

of our own. There is no better way of preparation than committing ourselves to God, to

loving our own parents, siblings and extended family, and to all the existing bonds of

friendships and relationships we have outside the boundaries of our smaller family

community, including SFC.

• You reap what you sow:

If you sow a Christian family, you reap a Christian community.

If you sow a Christian community, you reap a Christian city.

If you sow a Christian city, you reap a Christian nation.

• Let’s take it one step at a time – with God, this vision is possible! For our part, let’s start

in our own homes, as a vital ingredient to the life of our family.

References:

Familiaris Consortio (John Paul II, 1981)

Catechism of the Catholic Church (2000)

Love, marriage and Family (Chris and Mary Clare Meney)

Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World: A Guide For Catholics (T.G. Morrow)

Activity: Family Dynamics

Form groups of 4 to 5 members, consisting of at least 2 males and 2 females per group. Assign

males to stand as father or brother in the group, and females as mother or sister in the group.

Extra males or females can play other roles as needed (grandparents, other relatives).

Each person in the group takes turns choosing one family member in the group he/she would

like to address. He/She will then talk to this family member as if this were her own parent or

sibling (or other relative) and express to him/her things that he/she has long wanted to tell this

family member (e.g., asking for or expressing forgiveness for this family member, honoring,

thanking, asking for help, seeking to be understood, etc.). The family member and the others in

the group will simply listen.

When the person has finished talking, the family member chosen may want to respond (e.g.,

ask or accept forgiveness, thank the person, express willingness to help). Others in the group

may also choose to express support for the person through words of affirmation, honoring, or

advice.

Make sure to start and end the activity with a prayer.

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TALK No. 4: OUR CHRISTIAN CULTURE IN CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST

Objectives

1. Inspire a desire and empower the SFCs to live out the Christian culture of CFC-Singles for

Christ.

2. Develop an appreciation for a common culture in the community that is full of passion, life

and grace.

Speaker’s Profile

Someone who is very familiar with the culture of the community and of the ministry, who lives

out the SFC culture as a way of life, and who will have many experiences to share about this.

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction

A. We have a covenant with God and with one another. We are to be His people, and our

lives are to reflect our intimate relationship with Him.

B. As part of God’s people, we are to live out a common life as Christians.

C. More specifically, we are called together in SFC to live out a culture. Part of this life is a

distinct culture as Christians in general and as Singles for Christ in particular.

II. What is culture?

A. Culture is the way of life of a people.

1. It is the sum total of attained and learned behavior patterns of a people, regarded as

expressing a traditional way of life. It is the sum total of what makes a people what

they are.

2. Culture includes a people's beliefs, values, social structures, customs and

expressions.

B. Christianity is a culture.

1. As a natural consequence of Christian beliefs and values, Christians ought to have a

distinctively Christian way of life that reflects and supports such values and beliefs.

a. We ought to be distinguishable from other worldly cultures.

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b. Ours is a way of life inspired by Christ’s own life.

c. In fact, Christianity is becoming a counter-culture at times.

2. Our culture as a Christian may be different from our culture as a nation.

a. For example, we can be Christian and Filipino (or Indian, Australian, Americans,

etc.) and have unique cultural traits for each as a result of this.

b. But we should remember that we are Christians first and foremost.

III. Our Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ

A. SFC is a Christian community with distinct beliefs, values and patterns of life.

1. Our basic Christian beliefs and values are those held in common by all orthodox

Christians.

a. Beliefs: Jesus is Lord, life after death, etc.

b. Values: What we consider desirable, e.g., loyalty, dependability, dignity of life,

etc.

2. In addition, we stress the importance of marriage and family life.

B. Our "vision and mission" provides the direction and the rationale for our existence. (SFC

Vision and Mission were discussed in Talk 1 so may just be briefly mentioned here.)

1. SFC Vision – “Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ.”

a. We are to bring singles and families back to the plan of God

b. Our lives will be centered on the fulfillment of this vision

2. SFC Mission – “Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the

Poor”

a. The family is the creation of God and God wants us to rise in defense of His work

b. God desires that we love and care for the poor (more on this in the last talk)

C. We are an evangelistic community. We desire to bring Christ and His love to the ends of

the earth. Our formation, activities, and goals reflect this desire.

D. Our "statement of philosophy" contains the beliefs and ideals of SFC, which governs our

vision and mission. This was discussed with you during the CLP. (See Annex 1 for details)

IV. Expressions of Christian Culture in CFC Singles for Christ

A. The way we build our lives as part of a body

1. We are one body, with a common life with brothers and sisters

a. We are not individualistic but brethren to one another

b. We do not pursue holiness just individually, but also corporately

2. The household is the core of building our lives a body

a. The household is a concrete manifestation of the “family” in our community life

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i. It is a support system that helps us live Christian lives.

“The purpose of the household group is to build an environment for the

support of the Christian life of singles and to provide a means of

encouraging and hastening growth in the Christian life.” (From the SFC

HH Heads Manual)

• It is where we give and receive the support and encouragement we

need in our Christian journey. It is where we can share joys and

sorrows, knowing we are surrounded by brethren who care for us.

ii. It is a safe place to be ourselves: broken but trying.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your

old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new

in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be

like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

iii. It is strong, trusting, and lasting relationships founded in Christ.

• We will meet some of our closest friends for life in our households.

These friendships are special because they are bound together by a

common love for Christ and the desire to love one another as Christ

did.

• Our friendships continue to expand because of our households.

• Do not resist household changes/re-shuffles.

• Look at them as opportunities to meet more people.

iv. It is an environment of love. It is where true love is learned and shared.

b. We meet regularly in the household, with the Lord together with our

brothers/sisters.

i. Thus, we should keep our household meetings sacred.

ii. We set the specific days of the month when we meet as a household

beforehand so that we can block this off in our calendars.

iii. We do not miss our household meetings except for extreme cases (e.g.,

sickness) because we know the Lord awaits us and it is there that we can give

of ourselves to our brothers/sisters.

3. The teaching nights, assemblies and conferences edify our formation.

a. Avenue for deepening the formation through the teachings and sharing of

experiences by brethren

b. Opportunity to experience the bigger SFC family beyond the household or the

chapter in communal worship and prayer

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c. Members/leaders should not forego the households and just attend these

gatherings. The household remains to be the foundation of our relationships

and these teachings/assemblies support this foundation.

4. Respect for order and authority in the body

a. We need order and authority for the body to function effectively

b. The Lord places various people in authority. We are to obey and respect them.

Heb. 13:17

i. For those in authority, avoid the temptation to hang on to power. A

leader’s anointing is not permanent nor irrevocable.

ii. For those who are called to take on leadership roles, do not be afraid.

God equips the leaders He chooses.

c. The order in the body is the same order designed for the family

i. The SFC structure mirrors the family

ii. God’s plan and order for the family: headship and submission (Eph 5:22-

25)

• Single men should learn to take on responsibility and headship

while they are not yet wed

• Single women should support and encourage the men in SFC to

take on responsibility and headship in the group and its activities.

B. The way we relate to one another.

1. Honor and respect.

a. We treat each one with dignity as a child of God.

b. We are one family, brothers and sisters in the Lord.

2. Loyalty and commitment.

a. We should be loyal and committed to one another and to the body. We are to

look out for the good of the other.

b. We should resolve conflicts in the Lord. We avoid taking sides but rather, work

towards peace and reconciliation.

3. Christian speech.

a. Our speech is of tremendous importance for the life of the body. Proverbs

18:21a.

b. We are to avoid slander, gossip and negative humor.

c. Our speech must be gracious. Colossians 4:6. Ephesians 4:29.

� Express prase and affection.

� Correct with meekness.

� Communicate faith and joy.

� Show courtesy.

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4. Our goal in the way we relate is to build one another up in love, and to build up the

body, SFC. Ephesians 4:15-16.

C. The way we relate to God (Note to speaker: The other talks in the Covenant Orientation

discuss these in more detail.)

1. Prayer - We are to have a daily conversation with God.

� Ephesians 6:18. Colossians 4:2.

2. Scripture -We are to receive wisdom, guidance and life from God's Word.

� Colossians 3:16a. Hebrews 4:12.

3. Faith. We are to be men and women of faith.

4. Christian finance.

a. We have a common responsibility to support God's work.

b. We are to make available to the Lord not just our time and our talents, but also

our treasure.

V. Conclusion

A. SFC is one body throughout the world, with one vision, one mission, and also one

culture.

B. God wants to create a new humanity, one that would live His life on earth. We are to be

witnesses to His work in our lives.

C. Our response will determine the effectiveness of our witness. Our positive response will

keep us united and will enable the Lord to use us for His mission.

SFC STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

1. We believe that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we safeguard its

sanctity by being pure in thought, word and deed.

2. We believe in the sanctity of human life and the right of the unborn child.

3. Our gifts, talents and resources are given by God to serve and glorify Him.

4. Marriage is indissoluble and is created by God for love and procreation.

5. Both man and woman have equal personal worth and dignity. God's order for

the family is expressed in roles, with husband as head and wife as helpmate.

6. Family life is important in plan of God.

7. The family shares in the life and mission of the Church.

a. Prayers

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b. Evangelization

c. Service to others

8. Christian family renewal is best achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and

the full use of all charismatic gifts.

GROUP ACTIVITY: CULTURAL FASHION SHOW

(Group participants into groups of 5 to 7.)

One of the aspects of culture is a people’s manner of dressing or their costume. Knowing the

Christian culture of SFC, its values, beliefs, and practices, design an “SFC costume” that will

reflect the important aspects of our culture. Use ordinary and recycled materials to create a

sample of this costume. Dress up one of the group members in this costume and present to the

rest of the body in a cultural fashion show. Each group explains the design of their costume.

Stage 1 Formation




Talk No. 5: Being a Christian in the Workplace

Goal:

To encourage SFCs to live one life for Christ by exercising being a good and true Christian in the

workplace

Objectives:

1. Make the participants reflect on the role of God in his or her work situation

2. Uncover misconceptions and pitfalls in the Christian’s attitude and orientation towards

his or her work situation

3. Guide the participant to take concrete action in making the workplace a place to glorify

God.


An inspiring SFC leader who is also a successful leader at work; showing excellence in the

different aspects of his/her life.

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction

A. Many renewed Christians today still struggle to live a truly Christian life in the

workplace.

B. Several SFCs, after going through the CLP, find that one of the greatest challenges is

being able to practice at the workplace, what is practiced in the SFC community.

C. The workplace remains to be one of the places that lead Christians to be unloving,

self-serving, and to act with a lack of faith in God’s ability to provide.

II. Pitfalls of a Christian in the Workplace

A. “Work is just work: Compartmentalized Living”. Because the orientation towards

work is that it is an activity that merely gives us the means to live the life we want,

we do not see it as part of life and we apply a different set of standards (oftentimes,

looser) to it than the Christian standards we practice when we are in and around the

community.

• We sometimes do not see the workplace as a necessary venue to be a

good Christian. We sometimes even think of it as an oppressive place

where people of faith will just be over-taken or taken advantage of.

• We apply a different set of moral standards in the workplace and fail to see

the workplace as a necessary venue to be a good Christian because all

that’s important at work is getting the job done.

Stage 1 Formation


• People at work don’t care if you’re a Christian. They care if you’re

competent. So why even bother being one?

• Example:

o An SFC who is a wonderful brother/sister in the community but a

ruthless boss or co-worker in the office.

o An active SFC member / leader who is mediocre at work and always

late justifying that “I’m good where it counts (i.e. the community)”

B. “I was successful before God got here: Past success formulas didn’t include God”.

Many renewed Christians have had success at work before their hearts belonged to

God making it difficult for them to introduce God into a business or career that is

already successful.

• Many SFCs are successful in their fields or professions and find it difficult to

follow or even consider following Christian teachings for fear that it might

yield a different outcome (i.e. failure)

• Some SFCs subconsciously do not believe that God understands their work

and their work situation thus intentionally cut God and prayer out of work-

related matters

• Examples:

o An SFC member who still uses bribes or cheating to gain favor for his

business believing that “it’s an industry norm to do these things”

o An SFC household head whose commitment to his lower household

and to going to going to Mass takes lesser priority to the need to do

overtime

C. “I do good works outside anyway: Justifying and rationalizing our actions and

attitudes in the workplace.” Sometimes change is hard or inconvenient so we make

excuses to justify our reluctance to change.

• There is a silent justification for not fully letting God into our life because it

is too difficult or scary to change how we are in the workplace

• Or that there is a feeling of “no one is watching anyway” or “people do not

know I am a member of SFC” so it gives us a feeling that we can behave to

the standards of the world and not Christ’s

• Examples:

o An SFC member who uses office supplies for SFC materials without

permission from management

o An SFC member who behaves like such a good person in community

but still goes to girlie bars after work with officemates

III. Negative consequences on our behavior (external effects)

A. We do not live one whole and Christian life.

• We are only part-time Christians and we neglect that there is a lot of need

for witnesses and holiness at the workplace.

Stage 1 Formation


B. We practice having double standards.

• We compartmentalize life and make justifications for acting differently and

holding different moral and behavioral standards in different situations

instead of the teachings of Christ in all things without exception.

• The practice of subscribing to double standards is dangerous because it can

erode one’s faith in God’s ability to provide for his faithful children

C. We do not give our best to our work.

• If we do not believe that God can be glorified through our work and our

workplace, we do not strive to do our best with the gifts we’ve been

blessed with and fail to bless others with them. We shortchange God.

• We do not give our best to our work but we could also not be giving our

best to the people at work. Our outlook towards them might not

necessarily be as children of the same God.

IV. Negative consequences on our relationship with God (internal effects)

A. We do not put our full trust in God. And we deny ourselves the chance to

experience the real meaning of “God is enough”—to allow God to be truly a Father

and the greatest provider to us

• We do not surrender some areas of our life to His kingship and command.

• We are prone to fear because we put our trust in ourselves and in our

abilities or in the things of the world to gain what we believe is success

B. Our holiness is not whole.

• We do not experience the fullness of life and we do not get to see the

extent of God’s transforming power in our life

• Others who need you to be God’s witness or an example for them are

deprived of the chance to be evangelized. There are some people in the

workplace whom we have unique and strong influence over and they could

miss out on the chance to be influenced to consider a relationship with

Jesus because we chose not to be a true Christian at work.

V. The Urgent Need for Christians in the Workplace

• There is a worldwide urgency to be Christians in the workplace. The workplace

has become a strong influence of adult behavior, a place where much sin and

wrongdoing happen, and a big source of anxiety in several forms.

• There is a need to bring the Good News to the workplace that others may have

hope through Jesus Christ, including ourselves.

VII. Conclusion: The Christian Response

A. Entrust your whole life to God and live one life for Christ.

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• Make your life belong to God that we may live out our true purpose for living: To

love God and to belong to God.

“None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for

the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we

are the Lord's.” Romans 14:7-8, NAB.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. He is like a

tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears

not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows

no distress, but still bears fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8, NAB

B. Be a witness.

• Our relationship with God is a gift that is meant to be shared. Others have

touched us by their relationship with God and their example, we do the same to

others.

“Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a

lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.

Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds

and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:15-16, NAB

C. Re-orient our hearts to focus on faithfulness rather than success

• Our motivation should be faith-oriented (a heavenly desire) rather than success-

oriented (which is often a worldly desire).

• God promises to provide the best for those who are faithful. What we consider

our best might not even be close to the best God wants for us.

• “God hasn’t called me to be successful. He’s called me to be faithful.” Mother

Teresa

D. You do your best and by doing so, glorify God.

• It does not mean that we should not dream to succeed at work, but rather to

succeed on God’s terms and to focus first on what God wants us to do.

“Whatever you do, do it wholeheartedly, working for the Lord, and not for

humans. You well know that the Lord will reward you with inheritance. You are

servants but your Lord is Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24 Christian Community Bible.

ACTIVITY: Small Group Sharing

Share in small groups of 4 your answers to the following questions. Suggest solutions for each

other’s difficulties and challenges.

What specific aspects of my work life are least Christian or most conflicting with being

Christian? What can I do to reverse this?

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Share two things you will commit to do when you return to work to help bring Christ to people

in your workplace.

Pray over each other at the end of the sharing. Ask for God’s help to conquer the challenges of

living out Christianity in the workplace. (Each one takes turns praying for the person on his/her

left or right.)

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Talk No. 6: Financial Stewardship

Objectives:

1. Develop an understanding of and appreciation for the principles of Christian finance and

tithing

2. Empower SFCs in wise stewardship of their resources, especially their finances, applying the

principles of Christian finance

3. Instill a desire to support the work of God in Couples for Christ through regular tithing

4. Inspire generosity and responsible stewardship

Speaker’s Profile

An SFC leader who is able to exemplify good financial stewardship, in tithing and in the way

he/she manages his finances and other resources; one who can inspire and exhort the

participants to give generously to the Lord.

Speaker’s Outline

I. Introduction

Our Lord Jesus Christ wants all the dimensions of our lives, including our financial

responsibilities and resources, to be directed and guided by the Holy Spirit. The Lord asks

that we open our hearts to the Spirit and allow Him to give us a Christian outlook on our

possessions and money and on how to manage them wisely.

II. Principles of Christian Finance

A. Everything belongs to God.

• Scripture Readings

a. Psalm 24:1 "The Lord's are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who

dwell in it"

b. Haggai 2:8 "Mine is the silver and mine the gold, says the Lord of hosts"

• God created everything. And everything – the heavens, the earth, and all that they

contain – belongs to God.

• God is the owner of everything without exception. This includes what we normally

call our own: our house, our car, our clothes, our investments, and our money.

B. We are merely stewards of what belongs to God.

1. We are stewards (or managers) and not masters over the things God has entrusted

to us.

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2. We are to manage what has been entrusted to us wisely, unselfishly and in

accordance with God's plan.

C. It is God who enables us to acquire wealth.

1. Scripture Readings

a. Proverbs 10:22 "It is the Lord's blessing that brings wealth, and no effort can

substitute for it"

b. Ecclesiastes 5:18 "Any man to whom God gives riches and property, and grants

power to partake of them, so that he receives his lot and finds joy in the fruits of

his toil, has a gift from God"

2. Without God's blessings, we would not have the good things we have.

a. 1 Corinthians 4:7 "Name something you have that you have not received. If

then, you have received it, why are you boasting as if it were your own?"

3. Our minds, our education, business opportunities, "good luck", all are ours only by

God's grace.

a. Sirach 11:14 "Poverty and riches are from the Lord"

b. Sirach 11:21 "It is easy with the Lord suddenly, in an instant, to make a poor man

rich"

4. We should use our finances (wealth and possessions) to glorify God and participate

in the spread of His Kingdom.

a. Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord with your wealth."

b. Though God allows us to enjoy our possessions, these are not exclusively for our

benefit. We need to see how we can use our possessions to serve God and to do

His work on earth.

III. Tithing

A. Definition

1. The tithe consists of ten percent (10%) of an individual's income after taxes from

whatever source, i.e., wages, rents, investments, business, etc.

2. The tithe is given to the immediate body of Christ of which one is a part, and where

one draws support for one's Christian life. For us, that basically means SFC and our

parish.

3. It is given to support the work of the Lord.

� In SFC, your tithes will be used for: evangelization, members' formation,

community activities, administrative expenses, etc.

B. Scriptural basis: Malachi 3:7b-10.

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1. We rob God if we don't tithe. Simply because the money is His in the first place and

He's just asking us to turn over 10% of it.

2. We tithe so that there may be "food in God's house." Food is life-giving. The tithes

support our work for the Lord, which work gives life to many couples.

3. "open the floodgates": God can never be outdone in generosity. We will always

receive more than we give (not necessarily in terms of money).

4. Other Scripture Readings

� Genesis 14:20

� Leviticus 27:30

� Numbers 18:26-29

� Deuteronomy 14:22-27

� Proverbs 3:9

� Matthew 23:23

� Luke 18:12

� Hebrews 7:4-9

C. Tithing is not part of our covenant in SFC. But it is certainly an essential part of our life as

a growing Christian. However, we understand tithing as part of the life of a maturing

Christian. Thus, we encourage tithing as a means of moving our members forward in

their growth in the Lord.

1. The only source of income of CFC Singles for Christ is from contributions, basically

from its members. As such, the extent by which SFC is able to carry out its mission of

global evangelization, family life renewal, Church renewal and building Christian

communities depends very much on the amount of funds it can raise.

2. SFC uses its income from tithes and contributions to pay for the following:

� Evangelization

� Support for missionaries

� Formation of members

� Community activities

� Administration (salaries and wages, transportation, repairs, office supplies,

communication, licenses, etc.)

� Donations (for needy members)

� Purchase of assets as needed

� International mission

3. SFC members are encouraged to be generous in supporting financially the work of

the Church, both in the parish as well as the CFC mission.

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4. SFC members are encouraged to remit their tithe monthly. (Speaker should mention

mechanics for collection of tithe in that particular chapter; e.g., that their household

heads will set up a system to collect tithes regularly.)

5. Let us not lose the proper perspective.

a. It is important to give not because of the need for our money, but because it is

just the right thing to do.

b. In fact, while we see that God's work needs money, God Himself does not! He

owns the universe.

c. The practical need for money is just His way of giving us the privilege of being His

co-workers in Kingdom-building.

• Focus not so much on the 10%, but on the 90% we keep for ourselves!

• Remember, it is God's money. He owns it all, but He allows us to keep the

bulk of it for our own uses.

6. What if I do not have enough

a. Relate story of the widow’s mite. Luke 21: 1-4. She gave out of her poverty.

b. No one has too little that he has nothing to give. We trust in the Lord’s

providence and that He honors our faithfulness.

IV. Roadmap to Financial Stability

Financial stability allows us to share more with others and in God’s work. Proper

stewardship of our finances includes managing and using it wisely.

A. Remember that God desires our abundance

God wants us to be blessed abundantly. However, we sometimes do not realize that we

are blessed because we measure abundance differently.

1. We use different units – Some people equate abundance only with pesos or dollars

when we can also have an abundance of friends or good health.

2. We use different standards – Some people believe they can only be abundant when

they have billions while others already feel abundant when they have thousands.

B. Trust God for Provisions

God asks us not to worry about the material, rather to concentrate on seeking His

kingdom, then all else will follow. (Luke 12:22-34)

C. Do our part

Financial stability can be approached in two ways. First is to increase our source of

income. Second, is to decrease our expenses. In both approaches, we end up with

Stage 1 Formation


having more resources to share and to give back to God and still have enough for our

own needs.

The following are practical tips you can use to improve your financial independence:

a. Increase our sources of funds

a. Salaries

• There is NO easy way to make money unless it is a scam or it is illegal. Learn

to earn money the old-fashioned way which is through hard work, innovation

and resourcefulness. Do not be afraid to start from the bottom and work

your way up.

b. Passive Income

• Augment your salary with passive income which is defined as income earned

without working for it actively. Some forms of passive income include

money market investments, stock market, rental income, etc. Invest in

education (study, read, enroll, consult) to discover which passive source of

income is best for you.

c. Business

• Cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit in you. Identify market needs and come

up with innovative ideas to meet the needs. Remember that there is always

a better way of doing things.

• If capital is a problem, start with something small and sustainable. Strive to

be an employer rather than an employee. Beware however, that not

everyone is cut out for business.

d. Debt

• Beware of debt. Do not borrow with the notion that eventually you will earn

enough to pay for what you borrowed. Instead, if you need to borrow, based

the amount on what you are able to pay now with your current capacity to

pay.

• Beware of credit cards. The interest rates of most banks are exorbitant,

especially if you opt to pay for your credit card purchases in terms. Avoid

paying the minimum amount only as interest will be charged on the interest

you have not paid, exponentially increasing your over-all charges.

• Think of the card as cash you left a home or cash that is in the bank. If you

have none, don’t use your card. Do not fall prey to free credit cards; you are

just opening yourself up to temptation. Thus, it is important to always live

within your means to avoid the use of credit cards.

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• Not all debt is bad. Some loans are given at preferential rates such as loans

from cooperatives or company benefits. Just have the discipline to know

when and how much to borrow.

b. Decrease our uses of funds

a. Simplify your lifestyle

o Live simply and within your budget. Identify what is important to you and

spend accordingly. Remember that what looks good on others will not

necessarily look good on you. Do not have the urge to "keep up with the

Joneses."

o Our closet and storage rooms are the best place to find out what we do not

need in life. Let us try not to fill them up by purchasing more.

o There are two ways to get enough or to be satisfied: one is to continue

accumulating more, other is to desire less. The second option is easier and

more economical to do.

o “Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and

into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and

destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9)

o Do not believe that material things will keep you satisfied.

“Their silver and gold cannot save them on the day of the LORD'S wrath.”

Ezekiel 7:19

o We need not spend to enjoy. Laughing, walking, talking, taking a bath in the

rain are cheap ways of having fun. Instead of meeting up with brothers and

sisters in coffee shops, meet up at someone’s house to enjoy inexpensive

coffee in the company of good friends.

b. Learn how to save

� The formula should be:

Income – expense = savings, and not

Income – savings = expense.

� This means always put aside a certain amount of income as savings already.

How can we save? Put money in a piggy bank or put money in a bank. The

bank will always be a better option than putting your money in the piggy

bank.

� If possible, open two accounts. One account is only for depositing. The other

account is your working account, where you will get your daily expenses.

Stage 1 Formation


� Look for bank products which reward investors with higher interest if they do

not withdraw their funds. Do not be afraid of banks. Some banks accept

small amounts as initial deposit and still earn interest. Remember that the

money you put in the bank is the money you will use in the future.

� For the more financial savvy person, know what investment products there

are (money market, stock market, etc.). Always diversify, meaning never put

all your eggs in the same basket.

� Similarly, avoid bandwagon. If everyone else you know is investing in the

same product, beware especially if you do not really understand the product.

� Know your investment horizon (short term, long term) and your risk profile

(risk taker, risk averse). This will determine what types of investments you

should be making.

� The general rule is, higher risk means high return. If you cannot afford to lose

your investment, stay away from high risk investments.

� There are other forms of savings outside the bank. This includes insurance,

pre-need plans, memorial plans, etc.)

c. Make a budget

� A budget enables you to keep track of your spending. It allows you to see

where you can cut down on costs.

� Always compare budget with actual expenses to know where you have been

remiss or if you need to adjust your budget especially if it is no longer

enough. This also makes you see the trend which can be a good indicator of

future expenses. (e.g., summer months, tendency to spend more)

� Beware of one-time purposes; they are recurring albeit in another form.

How often do we hear ourselves justifying purchases even if it is beyond the

budget by saying it will not happen again? When the following month

comes, we repeat the same justification until the “one-time” purchase

becomes regular and permanent.

� Beware of unexpected purchases like sales. 0% spent is still better than 50%

off, or even 90% off. We may end up buying things we do not need.

Stage 1 Formation


� Most importantly, Include tithes as part of the budget. Tithes should not be

what will be left after all our expenses. Tithes should come first before the

things we need to buy.

V. Conclusion

A. Be generous - Give, Give, Give!

B. Pay the proper taxes. Even our Lord paid taxes.

“When they came to Capernaum,the collectors of the temple tax approached Peter and

said, “Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?”

“Yes,” he said.” (Mt 17:22-27)

C. Share with the Poor. Everything you give away will return to you with interest

“God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having

all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

D. Remember the floodgates God promised us

Remember to store treasures not here on earth. God gives us abundance so we can

bless others.

“I will bless you and make your home great, and upon you will be a blessing.” (Gen

12:2)

Activity: Pie Chart

1. Make a pie chart of how you currently use up your annual pay after taxes. Group them

into categories (e.g., Food, Rent/Housing Amortization, Clothing, Education,

Entertainment, Transportation, Communication, Tithing, Outreach, Support for Family,

Others, etc.)

2. Identify how you can save up on each pie (e.g. for Food, bring packed lunch instead of

eating in the office cafeteria, “softdrinks on weekends only”, Clothing – “buy only once

every quarter instead of once a month”

3. Estimate how much you save per year on each item you identified. Add up the

estimated total savings.

4. Make a revised pie chart, with the identified savings area. In the revised chart, it is

mandatory that you set aside 10% of income for tithing.

5. Discuss your work with your seatmate.

6. If time will allow, open the floor for 2 or 3 sharings.

Stage 1 Formation


CFC SINGLES FOR CHRIST


Talk No. 7: Loving and Serving the Poor

OBJECTIVES:

1. Help the participants see God’s concern for the poor through the biblical passages of

the old and new testament.

2. Lead to a desire to love and serve the poor as part of their mission as members of the

Church and of SFC

3. Exhort the SFCs to live a life of simplicity, compassion and generosity


An SFC leader who has been actively serving in the ministry’s work with the poor; one who can

inspire the participants to share their time, talent, and treasure with the less fortunate.

Speaker’s Outline:

I. INTRODUCTION: The Bible on the Poor

The bible contains more than 800 verses on the poor, social justice and God’s deep

concern for both. From the history of God’s people to the Beatitudes of Jesus, the Bible

clearly states God’s regard for the poor as His children and affirms to us that they are

always in His mind.

Deuteronomy 26:5-9

Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering

Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a

great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us

suffer, putting us to hard labor. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers,

and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD

brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror

and with miraculous signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this

land, a land flowing with milk and honey;

Psalm 140:12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of

the needy

Psalm 10:14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.

The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

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Isaiah 41:17 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are

parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake

them.”

Luke 6:20-21 20

Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours

is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed

are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

II. How the World Sees the Poor

A. With disdain or fear

1. People might see the poor as dangerous or different

2. Some may blame them for their poverty

3. Others may consider them as simply lazy and inferior

B. Pitiful

• Many people look at the poor with pity, although sadly this does not often

translate to a committed form of concern and help

C. Restricted “love” is enough

1. Helping them once a year is enough

2. I will help them when I feel I can/when I have extra to give

3. I will help them if they are morally good/upright

4. I will help only those who are of the same race as mine or who speak my

language

These attitudes are far different from God’s thoughts. The world sees the poor

differently and these attitudes are a world away from God’s concern for the poor as

described by the verses mentioned previously. God loves the poor and He loves

everybody. Neediness arouses compassion in God to act. On our part, it is not so simple

to respond yet God’s character presents Himself as a model. If God values the poor, we

have to think about what this means for us.

We have different types of givers:

1. The reluctant giver – giving but not wholeheartedly, with a frown rather than

a smile on your face.

• God says, be cheerful in our giving:

2 Cor. 9:17 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to

give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful

giver.

2. The chooser – chooses whom to give or to be generous to.

• God says, share with anyone in need.

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Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things

common

Is 58:7 “Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the

oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see

them, and not turning your back on your own.”

3. The show-off – giving for others to see that you are generous.

• God says, let your giving be done in secret and you will be greatly

rewarded in heaven

Matt 6:24 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with

trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets,

to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their

reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left

hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be

in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will

reward you.

4. The compassionate giver – gives out of a genuine concern and love for the

poor, without counting the cost; sees what they need and seeks to respond

to this need

• Jesus asks us to love as He did, with a self-giving love.

Jn 13:34 “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I

have loved you, so you also should love one another.”

III. Loving the Poor: Our Response to God’s Commands

As God values the poor, we have to think about what that means to us and our

community. We may be responding yet what is the state of our heart in doing so? What

moves us? What stirs our hearts?

It is a two-fold principle. God’s commands include an overflow of blessings, for He who

is gracious lends to the Lord (Prov 19:17). God tells us that if we help the poor He will

bless us.

A. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we are called to love and care for

the poor.

Deut 15:7 7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of

the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or

tightfisted toward your poor brother.

Stage 1 Formation


Deut 26:12 When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in

the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the

fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Is 58:10 “If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then

light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like

midday;”

Luke 3:11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who

has none, and the one who has food should do the same."

1. Loving and serving the poor is an essential part of being a Christian and of

being part of the Church.

• We know that Jesus gave preference to the poor. He Himself was

born poor, He ate and drank with the poor, many of His disciples

were poor. As Christians, we must take after our Master, giving of

ourselves to the poor. We must look upon everyone as our brother

or sister.

2. It is our community’s mission.

• As SFCs, we are called to Build the Church of the Home and Build the

Church of the Poor. We need to do both for not one is greater than

the other. Both are essential to our mission in SFC and to fulfilling our

SFC vision.

• Our community focuses on Christ, family, and poor. Not to include

the poor in our priorities would be to fall short in following what God

calls us to do.

• Loving the poor should also be part of our personal mission. We must

be able to see them as brothers and sisters for whom we are

accountable.

3. We will be judged by how much we have loved and served others as Jesus

did, especially our poor brethren.

Mt 25:34-36 “Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are

blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the

foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was

Stage 1 Formation


thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and

you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

B. God promises blessings to those who serve the poor.

1. Serving the poor may be the right thing to do but the Bible associates it with

material and spiritual reward.

Prov 22:9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with

the poor.

Deut 15:10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then

because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in

everything you put your hand to.

Luke 14:12-14 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or

dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich

neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13

But

when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14

and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be

repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

2. Although we do not serve to receive the reward, we serve with gratefulness

and trust knowing that God takes care of our needs. We know we are

blessed that we may bless others.

IV. Embracing Our Mission to Love the Poor

What can we do as SFCs to help build the Church of the poor? Not all of us may be

called to give ourselves totally in service of the poor, as Mother Teresa did. But we are

all called to aim for the kind of love she had for the poor, a love that will get us out of

our comfort zones to actively do something to lessen their suffering and alleviate their

hardship.

Our vision, “Every single man and woman all over the world experiencing Christ”

includes the poor in a special way as we are called to bring Christ to them and

experience Christ in them.

Simple Steps we can take: A.C.T. L.O.V.E.

Stage 1 Formation


1. Be Advocates of loving and serving the poor. Be part of the marketing team/think

tanks of the various programs to present them creatively to various sectors for

possible partnerships/sponsorships.

2. Commit to give a portion of your allowance/salary to the various programs esp. the

Ancop Child Sponsorship Program.

3. Give Time for tutoring or values/spiritual enrichment in the different ANCOP areas.

4. Live Simply.

i. Give away things you don’t need.

ii. Minimize expensive purchases/pleasures that are not really necessary.

iii. What you might normally spend on luxuries (Starbucks coffee, branded

clothing, etc.), save for the poor.

5. Organize events or activities at ANCOP areas like parties and anniversaries and let

your family, loved ones, friends and co-workers enjoy the spirit of sharing and giving.

6. Visit the prison, the aged, the sick, and the abandoned. Find opportunities to bring

love and joy to those who need to be reminded that they are loved.

7. Elevate the lives of the needy by giving them opportunities for work and thus bless

his family as well.

Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing

something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with

those in need.

Our Child Sponsorship Program allows us to give the gift of a good education to children

who cannot afford such. With this we also give them hope and a bright future, one

child, one community at a time.

(Speaker explains other Ancop and Work with the Poor programs in place in the area.)

V. Conclusion:

Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my

Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was

hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and

you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was

in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we

see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’ And the king will answer

them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to

me.’”

Stage 1 Formation


In this verse, God gave us a radical way of understanding the presence of the poor in our

midst. Jesus did not only take the side of the poor but He puts Himself in their place.

Jesus takes the issue of poverty personally and He also calls us to do the same.

Having the same heart and spirit, let our hearts be cheerful in giving. Let us allow

ourselves to be channels of blessing to others especially the needy. Let “every single

man and woman all over the world experience Christ.” Let us be a part of this great

revolution of LOVE.

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The Covenant Orientation Weekend Manual_v2011

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