for my PIP

University of Saint La Salle

Bacolod City

Religious Studies 3

TOLENTINO, Jim Austin M.

AB1 - B

Parish Involvement Plan Activities (MidTerm)

NARRATION

August 15, 2008 - Friday

The Adventist Youth Society was in charge for all the Sabbath services the following day, and they wanted to present a concert, so I joined the group singing the song "Midnight Cry," which is a Southern favorite and one of my mum and dad's favorites as well. I sang Tenor, and we are supposed to sing it in Sabbath School. I played the piano for the tenors to learn their melody, and later, while the pianist has gone somewhere, I played for the entire chorale to sing to it. I eventually got to play for the official performance, because the pianist still has many other youth choirs to accompany. I also got to accompany one more chorale, on the song "Give Us A Vision." All the others were accompanied by the older pianist.

We started practicing at 2:30. During our practice, we had to evacuate the Grand Piano because it is not supposed to be used for practice pala. We had to settle with an electric organ, since the Upright Piano is being used by Mrs. Jonah Toledo, the older pianist. She was one of my piano and voice teachers, but even she didn't want to practice with the Grand Piano. It is only for the church services and official song performances. We stopped practice to prepare for the Friday night services at 6:00 PM

August 16, 2008 - Saturday

This time, we went to church early to polish the song, and at about 9:15 we sang, we are on the second part of the concert. I was on the Grand Piano all along, so I didn't get to sing with them. It's OK, we had a potluck for lunch after the Divine Hour of Worship (second service after the Sabbath School).

August 17, 2008 - Sunday

The chorale I sang with last Saturday agreed to do a bayanihan for the church. It was so filthy around the church because of the grand social night last night. Litter were everywhere, mostly of candy wrappings, straws, bottles, because we had games in the grand socials. We cleaned the surroundings of the church (the deaconesses cleaned inside) and had lunch together. We arrived there at 10:30, stopped for lunch, and continued cleaning at 1:30. We all went home shortly afterward at 4 o'clock.

REFLECTIONS

Music and singing were and remain to be the most popular and most beautiful form of worship, especially among our denomination. We had been trained in music (including musical instruments for me) while we were growing up. And it is not just for any other purpose, but all to glorify God with it. The reason why I took classical music for my voice lessons while most specialize in pop to sing in varied occassions is that I only wanted it to be used in church. Learning classical music is twice as expensive as pop music, but it's worth it.

I believe that praising God and bringing Him back the glory He shows us should be the best reason for everything we do. And by doing so, we also get to share Him with other people by crwning Him in our lives, and lead beautiful lives while doing it.