Pondering

I was thinking, how do we define our parishioners as part of OLPS?




1. Someone who goes to OLPS regularly? (eg. Mass every sunday.)

2. Someone who is actively involved in OLPS regularly? (eg. Serving in a ministry.)

3. Someone who is seen around in OLPS regularly by higher authorities?

4. Someone who is 'socially accepted' by members of the OLPS; viewed as active member of OLPS?

5. Someone who did not serve in OLPS or is serving other external ministries for an extended period of time but have served before in OLPS previously?

6. Someone who has not been to OLPS or any other catholic church for an extended period of time but was with OLPS/ the church previously?



So if we define parishioners of OLPS as someone who goes to OLPS regularly, then for theory sake, 90% of OLPS population are considered parishioners.
( We give 10% buffer as those who cannot make it regularly due to external commitments etc.)



If we define using number 1 and 2., then perhaps about 50%.
(a conservative theoretical estimate, given a parish population of 10,000++, 5000 is really a big estimate.)


If we define using number 1,2 and 3., then maybe about 40%.
( We assume that the person involved does not actively seek the presence of higher authorities.)


If we define using number 1,2,3 and 4., then maybe about ??%.
( This is definitely subjective. Results may vary.)


Now, look at point number 5. Point 5 states that perhaps someone like me, who has served OLPS before but currently am not, is to be considered 'secondary-OLPS parishioner' and not 'primary-parishioner' even if I go for mass in OLPS regularly, or consider in my opinion OLPS to be my home parish!

Simply because I did not fulfill criteria 2,3 and 4!

Alright, then without considering point 4 and bearing in mind conservative estimates, I am said to be outside of the 40% to be considered OLPS! Meaning 60% of the parishioners of OLPS also cannot be considered to be OLPS parishioners! Goodness!




I am aghast at the answers I get, reasons why I am not being recognised as a 'primary-OLPS parishioner' but a 'secondary-OLPS parishioner'. Always having to constantly endure the pain and suffering of being viewed through tinted lenses; one that seeks to label me with my ministerial affliations rather than my roots in my church.

No longer am I called OLPS first, but OLPS second.

Nevermind if Sylvester thinks he is OLPS first. As long as he is affliated to his ministerial works outside OLPS, we'll consider him that first and OLPS second. Nevermind if he once played a part in OLPS, the past is not of much significance to us. If he is not for us in OLPS, serving and putting his efforts here in OLPS, he is against us. That betrayer! Choosing to serve other ministries rather than those ministries in his own parish!

Oh, how radical. But sadly how true.

Disappointed

Just yesterday, I was in church for the Christmas party that was held in OLPS. When I was there, I happened to meet Person 'A'. Shaun was there and he wanted to show Bryan a verse in the bible, and he flipped the bible and handed it over to Bryan.

Person 'A' was there and commented, "That is so Amplify-like.". I am shocked and stunned at that moment when Person 'A' uttered that comment.

What exactly was so "Amplify-like"?

Did Person 'A' meant the useof the bible to show another person a paassage was 'Amplify-like'?

Or did Person 'A' meant that only Amplify uses the bible?

Or did Person 'A' mean that the bible is not part of the church at all?

I am shocked beyond words. So it means that only people from Amplify reads the bible?

Why do people from our parish OLPS look at us through tinted lenses? Everytime I step into OLPS and I greet the youths in our church, they give me the kind of look that goes like "Oh its you again, hello." or "I wonder what you are up to this time." Why is it Amplify first then OLPS?
Why do they not see that I am OLPS first then Amplify? Why do they take such a radical stance of "You are either for me or against me."

I am disappointed. All my life I have been a parishoner of OLPS, almost all my life I have served in OLPS, for OLPS. My thoughts are for OLPS, my worries my concerns my hope are all for OLPS. Why do people seek to reject me because of my current status? Simply because I no longer serve in OLPS therefore I am branded? I am sad.

30th december

Hello happy seven people!

Please do not forget 30th december to come down to OLPS to pray together. Many people from other parishes will be joining us to pray for our church. Spread this to all your friends and get them down to pray also.

New Year New Direction

Hey there to everyone in happy 7 people..

As the new year approaches, i've been thinknig about the new direction that i feel HSP may want to adopt..

But first, i wanna retell sly story that he told me and john today
HSP is like a ball that is almost stationary there are 3 ways to get us started again.
1) remove the surface that the ball is resting on (or put it in space)
2) push it (eventually it will stop but for now it will move)
3) increase its mass (increase inertia which is its reluctance to stop moving)
and this means to
1) pray together in agreement
2) organise activities so that we can come together'
3) include more people
respectively..

To accomplish this, John, Sly and I came together and agreed that we need to do certain things and these are:
1) Come together to pray every week when the new year starts so we are starting with our first prayer gathering on the 3th jan..
2) invite others to pray with us
3) pray in agreement for the youth in OLPS to have a passion for Christ

Keep this few dates in mind:
30th Dec 08 - General Prayer meet organised by me and John, we're inviting everyone down
01 Jan 09 - HSP first anniversary, we should all come down together to pray
Every subsequent Sat/Sun when we come to pray together



Let's keep each other in our prayers and God bless.. See u all on 1st Jan

Hey Jude people,

Please keep me and my relationship with eugene in prayers. It's been a very hard time and tiring time for me.

When are we meeting up again to have jude meeting?

Miss you people badly!

Liberation 08 - Shaun's Testimonial

This YISS 08 Liberation was really a humbling experience for me..
It was more service compared to the logistics team which i served before..
Instead of doing various fun decoration and setting up stuff (quiet time station among), i now had the privilege of washing countless numbers of cups, making cordial (and milo in the morning), and clearing rubbish. It sort of became a routine for me..
I felt disappointed and fear in me each time meal time approached, but each time i picked up courage from God to go forth joyfully to carry out my task (obviously the kitchen team was extremely good so it was also fun serving with them, that's one of my other motivation to carry on despite being exhausted).
It was physically tiring also, but God provided me the strength i needed to carry on, plus the army training helped me see this camp thru.. I feel that God was in a joyful mood during this entire camp.. Each time i prayed, i felt a sense of peace and joy and i would be reminded of one of my favourite quotes Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always and again i say: rejoice". Also, the verse from Hosea "As surely as the sun will rise, the Lord will come."

The Lord really touched the lives of everyone present. By the time the commissioning mass ended, everyone was praising God for all that He has done, not just for the transformation of participants' lives but also the renewal of desire in the service team. The call to serve and to love resounds very deeply in each of us.

God's love for us is simply amazing. We are such sinners but God's love for us is so much that He sent His only Son into the world.. Nothing is greater than Christ and hence all things are made possible thru Christ.
It reflects aptly in this song here How can i keep from singing his Praise