First PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
335 Seventh Street
New Westminster, BC V3M 3K9
Telephone: (604) 522-2801
Email: firstchurch@shawbiz.ca
Website: www.firstchurchnw.ca
Minister’s Minute – April 2012
Holy Week – final week of lent
All over the world this gospel is
bearing fruit and growing, just as it
has been doing among you since the
day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its
truth.
Colossians 1:6b
Following his resurrection Jesus instructed his disciples
to ...Go into all the world and preach the good news to
all creation. [Mark 16:15] The letter written by Paul to
the church in Colosse is evidence that Jesus’ disciples
listened to his instructions. Paul is writing this letter
about 30 years after Christ’s resurrection and the good
news has travelled from Jerusalem to Rome! We know
that the good news had spread because Paul wrote this
letter from a prison in the capital city. He wrote to the
city of Colosse in Western Turkey.
Beginning on Sunday April 22nd the sermons will be
based on the letter Paul wrote to the Colossian
Christians. Paul wrote to oppose the false teachers who
sought to lead the believers astray. He encouraged
them to remember the simple truths of who God is and
who they were called to be in Christ. Paul wrote to
emphasize the supremacy of Jesus Christ as Lord and
King over all. We can be grateful that the teachings of
this letter have been preserved, for there are many
voices discrediting or attacking our belief in Jesus as
Lord today. The attacks aren’t violent in Canada, but
spiritually damaging. We will remember on May 27th,
Pentecost Sunday, that God’s Holy Spirit is present to
strengthen and guide us in our time of need. Come Holy
Spirit of the Living God!
Take a look at the FPC website:
www.firstchurchnw.ca
You will find newsletter, daily readings,
slide shows, sermons, calendar of
events & more.
Palm Sunday begins Holy Week marking the occasion of
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
On Maundy Thursday [April 5th, at 7:00 pm] we’ll have a
symbolic meal together at tables in the Sanctuary,
commemorating the Last Supper. It will be a solemn
service of hymns, prayers & readings from Mark 14.
Fasting and Prayer time…
Those able will begin a Fast following worship, ending
with a Good Friday supper. Fasting can help us focus on
prayer and humility before our holy God. By fasting we
become aware of our plenty and the needs of others.
Good Friday: 10:00am – Prayer in prayer lounge
10:30am – Worship: hymns, prayer, readings - Mark 15
12:00pm – Stations of the Cross – prayer walk in city
1:00pm – guided meditation (sanctuary)
2:00pm – The Passion of the Christ (part 1 – lower hall)
3:00pm – guided discussion and study
4:00pm – The Passion of the Christ (part 2 – lower hall)
5:00pm – guided praise and prayer
6:00pm – break our fast with a meal (lower hall)
7:30pm – Worship: commemorating Jesus’ burial
Easter Sunday
We end Holy Week by celebrating Jesus Christ’s
resurrection on Easter Sunday. There will be songs,
hymns of praise and the Hallelujah Chorus presented by
the Choir. We will listen to the resurrection account,
welcome some of our youth into membership and
partake in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.
A kids Easter egg hunt will follow worship on the lawn.
Small Group Bible Studies & Youth
Saturday morning prayer - 9:00, Bible Training - 10:00,
Video Series on the Parable of Jesus – 7:00pm and
Youth Group all start up again on April 14th. Welcome!!
FPC Ladies Ministry
“Have you met Bayani Baybay & family?”
Bowling event for FPC Ladies on April 27th, 6:30 p.m. at
Lucky Strike Lanes in New Westminster (12th St & 6th
Ave). There will be refreshments after the games.
An invitation for all FPC ladies to celebrate the Mothers
and Daughters Evening on May 11th at 7:00 p.m. –
Friday, in the lower hall. Guest Speaker is Marlene
Penner & refreshments will be served. Tickets: $7.00.
Mission Update by Cerelina Gurat
The FPC Missions’ Team has set a calendar of focus for
the different mission groups and projects that we as a
church support.
For the months of April to June, we will focus on the
ministry of Camp Douglas, a Presbyterian Church camp
on the Sunshine Coast of BC.
1. Harry McClelland is the contact person for the work
parties which are held the last Saturday of every month.
2. If you are able to financially support a child from our
Church to attend camp this summer, contact the office.
3. We will have our congregational retreat at this camp
on June 15th – 17th – all are invited to attend.
This is a vital ministry that helps build and strengthen
the church body.
CONGREGATIONAL RETREAT
at
Camp Douglas
June 15 – 17th, 2012 (Friday-Sunday)
Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Paul Myers
Come & Join!
All are Welcome!
Sign-up form is at the Main Entrance of FPC.
We will car pool to and from the retreat.
Cost covers food & honorarium for our guest speaker:
Free for ages 0 – 3 yrs
4 – 12 yrs. : $ 20.00
13 – 19yrs. : $ 30.00
For Adult (Age: 20 above) : $40.00
Please contact: Rod Maonio at rodmaonio@yahoo.ca or the
church office.
I was born in Cavite City, Philippines. I have four
siblings, two in the Philippines, one in California, and
one in Vancouver. As children of a minister and
deaconess we were at church every Sunday & had
prayer each evening as each child recited a memorized
verse; a new one every time! I attended University of
the East for my BSc in Business Administration &
Lyceum of the Philippines for my Bachelor of Laws.
I first met my wife, Leonida Paguio, at a Student
Christian Movement meeting. She happened to be
sitting beside me when she was nominated as treasurer
and me as auditor. She asked me, “Do you know Bayani
Baybay? I have heard a lot about him but I have not met
him yet.” “Oh yes, I know him very well,” was my reply.
Looking around the room full of students, she asked,
“Which one is he?” Looking at her with a smile, I said, “I
am Bayani.” I still remember seeing her face turn red.
When I was in high school I wanted to follow in the
footsteps of my father and serve as a Minister, but
after graduating I began practicing both my professions:
law & accounting as well as becoming a politician.
We arrived in Vancouver on May 5, 1982. We have 6
kids & now 8 grandkids: Abdon [Maritoni & kids Nikko,
Tommy], Bayani, Jr. [Hilda & kids Hilani, Domina,
Antonnette], Lawrence [May & child Cole], Brian,
Marose [Ludwig Lagayan & kids Rizal, Lea], & Adinoel.
After living in Canada for 10 years I fulfilled my dream
and began serving as Minister of Lakeview Multicultural
United Church from 1992 until 2006 when I retired.
We started coming to FPC in 2011 wanting to return to
my Presbyterian roots. We liked the Vision which spoke
of the centrality of Christ & we appreciate the obvious
multiculturalism in this congregation.
One of the things that I learned from my father was that
ministry is done by the whole family. We hope our
family can contribute in whatever ways we can towards
the growth of the ministry. My father used to say,
“There is no retirement in ministry”. 