A letter from Mary Nebelsick in the U.S., on Interpretation Assignment from the Philippines
Christmas 2014 - Love Comes Down
John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he sent his only son so that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Dear Friends,
The trees outside our window at the Furlough Home, here in Louisville, Ky., are glorious. They raise their branches up in praise to God who created them. Birds perch on their branches and squirrels run up and down their trunks seeking the last of the nuts that will feed them through the winter. It is an idyllic scene and a comforting one. In our lives, dear friends, it is you who are our tree. In praise of God you have sheltered us throughout our ministry, provided for our every need, and given us this year of hope to come to you and share the details of our ministry. We thank you for this immeasurable gift. Without you we would not be able to do ministry in the Philippines and we do it, gratefully and lovingly, with you as our partners.
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In the Philippines the Christmas season lasts at least four months. Christmas sits at the end of the “burr” months, which make up the coldest part of the Philippine season: Septem-burr, Octo-burr, Novem-burr and Decem-burr. This play on words is typical of the Filipino Christians whose intelligence and sense of fun permeate everything they do. During the “burr” months the streets and houses are festooned with lighted Christmas stars. These stars, or parols, are the most beautiful of all three-dimensional Christmas decorations. Made up of polished and colored pearlescent shells, they are illuminated from the inside. Lighted parols are everywhere. They festoon the highways, they decorate office buildings, they adorn homes, and, of course, they light up the churches. In this proudly Christian country, these stars of Christmas call all wise men and women to see Jesus Christ in all his beauty and humility. Filipinos adore children and no child is more beloved than the Baby Jesus.
In this country, in the words of the beautiful Christmas song by Christina Rossetti, “Love came down at Christmas,” love still comes down. Often, in the Philippines, love comes down unexpectantly in the midst of violence. There was a recent tragedy in one of the small towns on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. There, in a town called Pikit, a place where Muslims and Christians have worked diligently to stem the tide of violence, the unthinkable occurred. It was an ordinary Wednesday evening when a small cluster of faithful Christians gathered together for Bible study and Wednesday night worship. The long day’s work was behind them as they gathered in their beloved church seeking refreshment for their souls and strength to face a new day. The street outside was quiet—until two men on a motorcycle rocketed by and expertly flung a grenade through the church door. The bomb exploded. Two church members died. Shock and disbelief engulfed the entire church and galvanized it into action.
Action, in the face of this unimaginable violence, was an action of love. Bishop Reuel Norman O. Marigza, the leader of our partner church in the Philippines, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, sent a letter. It was not a letter calling for retribution, nor was it a letter of despair. It was a letter calling for prayer and proclaiming the love that the church has for all its neighbors, the love it has for the community of Pikit, and the love it has for reconciliation in a world blessed with different religions and cultures. It was a letter that reiterated the church’s dedication to peace in Mindanao, peace in the midst of violence, peace in the midst of persecution, and peace in the midst of suffering. Love came down!
The Muslim community of Pikit responded with love. The Muslim leaders sent out a letter. The letter proclaimed the respect that Islam has for all places of worship, for the innocent and for emissaries. It was a letter that reiterated the Muslim community’s dedication to peace in Mindanao, peace in the midst of violence, peace in the midst of persecution, and peace in the midst of suffering. Love came down!
Our prayer this Christmas is that wherever we are, and whatever we do, we will ensure that every one knows that Love came down at Christmas so many years ago and that Love continues to come down. Your love for us has been shown in your prayers for our ministry in the Philippines and we ask you to continue to pray for us. We thank you for your love shown in your monetary gifts and we ask that you continue to support our ministry in the coming year so that we can help ensure that Love continues to come down on all of us.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for the families of the church members who were killed in Pikit. Please pray for peace in Mindanao. Please pray that church people, Muslims and all people can find a way to stop the violence together.
In Christ,
Mary and Paul
The 2014 Presbyterian Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 238
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