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Special gatherings for choir members were held from November to December 2025 in various ecclesiastical districts. In these gatherings, choir members are all the more edified in the faith and encouraged to fulfill their duties with utmost devotion, no matter what they encounter in life.
During these sacred gatherings, officiating ministers reminded the choristers the significance of their duty of leading blessed hymn-singing, that is, experiencing how God will be with them in the performance of their duties, the benefit of which felt down to their respective households.
Featured are some of the districts and choir members therein who expressed their zeal upon being uplifted in the faith:
At Alabang Congregation’s house of worship, choristers from the Ecclesiastical District of Metro Manila South attended their special gathering officiated at by Brother Arnel Tumanan, the Church’s Edification Overseer, on November 25, 2025.
“Various trials test us, choir members, but this timely gathering has inspired us to remain capable, diligent, and proficient in performing our duty,” said district choir director Nemerson Mariano.
Before the event’s conclusion, assistant district supervising minister Brother Teodorico Lapada Jr. led the oath-taking of 126 new choir members.
“Sing with a sincere heart, be devoted, and use the lips in praises and worship, not in any evil,” said Manchester, England Congregation choir leader Allen Rae Felix in an interview after the special gathering that he and fellow choir members, adults and those of the Children’s Worship Service (CWS) alike, attended on November 30.
Britain North District supervising minister Brother Romeo Anthony Peña officiated at the said gathering. Mainly held at the Birmingham, England Congregation house of worship, it was livestreamed to the North Shields, England Congregation, benefiting its choir members and to the Glasgow, Scotland Group Worship Service (GWS) and Edinburgh, Scotland GWS.
With “God’s presence felt during the special gathering,” attested district choir director Tony Nepomuceno of the Newport, Wales Congregation, “we anticipate just the same in the upcoming thanksgiving worship services.”
Choir members of the Ecclesiastical District of Capas, Tarlac convened at Navy house of worship on November 30 for their special gathering led by district supervising minister Brother Amor Mallari.
San Francisco – Concepcion Congregation choir member Joy Anne Merell Paras was filled with joy as she attended the sacred occasion “with my family. We thank God for until now, we are a family of choir members,” she said.
During the occasion, those who were trained for months to join the choir were sworn into duty.
Choir members of the Ecclesiastical District of Catanduanes filled to capacity the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Virac on November 30, 2025.
District supervising minister Brother Vedasto Acog led the gathering’s study of God’s words. “We were reminded to sing with a sincere heart, being instrumental in helping the congregants receive God-given strength necessary in facing trials in life,” recalled organist Ginalyn Tugay of San Andres Congregation.
“I’ll never grow tired of performing my duty,” said Kilikilihan Congregation choir leader Leonisa Dela Paz. She added, “My body may grow weak, I may become sick, but I promise to keep on singing for God as long as I have my life and strength.”
Prior to this gathering, a “typhoon recently struck,” district Church officers overseer Brother Junell Leonardo attested. Regarding the officers, he attested, “Despite losing either their house or livelihood, they continued performing their duties to please God.”
On December 2, 2025, Central District choir members flocked to San Francisco house of worship for their special gathering with district supervising minister Brother Diosdado Dades leading them.
“We were taught to value, above anything else, our calling from God such as our being choir members,” shared Danna Almozara of Cubao Congregation. “Such we can show by prioritizing the performance of our duties among any other endeavor, no matter how busy we become,” she further stated.
For Mecca Ela De Guzman of Murphy Congregation, God’s words preached during the gathering “did not only bring me joy but further inspiration to continue my training so that one day, I’d become an organist.”
In the Ecclesiastical District of Marikina, choir members convened at the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Parang on November 23, 2025 for their special gathering. District supervising minister Brother Cyrus Jose Dizon led the study of God’s words during the occasion.
Rodriguez Congregation choir member John Carlo Viajante expressed his delight for “the Bible-based lecture reminded us in the choir that our sacrifices in performing our duties are never in vain.” Overall, “this gathering has nurtured our faith to all the more please God.”
After the homily, new choir members were sworn into duty.
Linked online to Guam Congregation house of worship where Micronesia District supervising minister Brother Joven Sepillo Jr. would preach them God’s words, choir members across Saipan and its neighboring islands attended their special gathering at their respective houses of worship on November 30.
“It was emphasized to us that as long as we obey God’s commands, we’ll always be blessed especially in the performance of our duties,” shared Machanao, Guam Congregation choir Faye Dinogan. Her sister, Charlene Anne, added, “We’ve been choir members at a young age until now that we’re older and so the lesson truly inspired us to hold on tightly to our duties.”
At the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Minchinbury of the Ecclesiastical District of New South Wales, Australia, choir members convened for their special gathering on November 30 with district supervising minister Brother Seth Gutierrez as the officiating minister.
“This sacred occasion reminded us to lead congregations in singing praises to God with voices guided by faith, dedication, and humility,” shared district choir director Riza Afenir De Borja. “This has renewed my commitment. I promise to do my best in fulfilling my God-given duties.”
The Ecclesiastical District of Rosales, Pangasinan simultaneously held two gatherings for choir members on November 28, 2025 held at the houses of worship of Tayug and Sto. Tomas congregations. District supervising minister Brother Rowell de Lara and assistant district supervising minister Brother Junnel Camacho officiated at the occasions respectively.
Denice Tugaoen from Umingan Congregation said that the special gathering “was timely especially now that evil is rampant around the world.” She added that through God’s words, her “faith has been strengthened” and she “had the firm resolve to continue loving the duty which was entrusted by God.” Organist Shyne Dahan from Rabago Congregation shared, “I was inspired to continue honing this talent which I use primarily in glorifying God.”
Also conducted during the special gatherings was the oath-taking of new choir members.
The Ecclesiastical District of Spain conducted a three-part series of choir special gatherings to further inspire and strengthen the choir members, both in adult and CWS, in three different regions of the district.
All officiated at by district supervising minister Brother Froilan Enriquez Jr., the choir special gathering series began on November 28, 2025 with the house of worship of the Local Congregation of Madrid serving as the venue. Choir members from the local congregations of Madrid Norte, Madrid Sur, Bilbao, and Lisbon, Portugal GWS attended there. On November 30, Mallorca and Ibiza choristers joined those in Barcelona Congregation for the gathering. Lastly, the choir of Marbella Congregation were joined at their house of worship by those of Fuengirola, San Pedro, Las Palmas, and Sevilla GWS on December 2.
“I feel closer to the Lord God whenever I sing hymns of praises to Him. The lyrics that I sing truly reflect my life,” said Madrid Congregation choir member Katherine Arceo. Barcelona Congregation choir member Ester Escaño also said, “I have been a choir member for 63 years now. It’s only through God’s mercy that I’m still able to fulfill my duty.”
After the lecture, the oath-taking of new choir members, organists, and assistant choir directors also took place. – With reports from Jerome Comaoay and Eranniel Angelo Dosdos
