Lampara Books hopes to promote spiritual formation and values education through its Guiding Light imprint

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The new Philippine imprint offers inspiring stories centered on Christ’s teachings and fun, purpose-driven storytelling

Lampara Books has recently launched Guiding Light, a new Philippine imprint that hopes to encourage parents and families to be a good influence on their children’s journey to life.

The family-oriented and faith-based imprint aims to promote the spiritual formation, values education, emotional growth, and community development through highly entertaining but transformative books written and designed by some of the world’s most promising and award-winning writers, illustrators, and personalities.

“It has always been our goal to inspire adult readers, most especially parents, to engage with their children on stories of inspiration, joy, and life lessons within a framework of Christ-centered beliefs and teachings,” says Segundo D. Matias Jr., the Chief Publisher of Lampara Books. “Our activity books create bonding moments between mom and dad with their kids through storytelling that put good values at the forefront of its principles while inspiring everyone to become a better human being.”

For its premiere offering, Guiding Light has recently released its ‘Little Life Lessons on’ series—a collection of fun activity books that parents and their children can color, play around with, and use as a medium for purpose-driven instruction. Written in both English and Filipino, the series is made for childhood care providers and parents to help their kids learn important values in life. The ‘Little Life Lessons on’ catalog contains inspirational stories that depict kindness, obedience, respect, and love, among many others.

The motivational imprint also takes pride of its Family Bible Illustrated edition, which has 365 pages of bible stories, meditations, and prayers for the whole family to reflect on together, and The Comic Book Bible, which offers a treasury of stories, known and loved by generations of readers.

For readers who are looking for a refreshing spin to the familiar narrative, there is Classic Bible Stories, illustrated for pictures-and-words format by talented young artist Tommaso d' Incalei. Bringing stories to life for a new generation of readers, this timeless collection will inspire people discover the meaning behind the teachings of God in an exciting and easy-to-read way. Another significant title under its banner is The Classic Children’s Bible, which is beautifully illustrated and presented to cater to a younger readership.

Other titles that are currently available at the Guiding Light website are Rhona Davies’ The Life Of Christ, strikingly illustrated to chronicle the important life events that Jesus Christ went through from his days in Galilee to joining God in heaven, and Angela M. Burrin’s Welcome To The Mass, a beautifully illustrated book that ‘explains the Mass by linking the liturgy to scenes from the Gospels.’

The classic and new titles are available at the Guiding Light official website, https://www.guidinglight.com.ph.

 

Spiritually inspired crafts mixing fashion with devotion; Bringing the Holy Land next to your heart

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Living life to the fullest... enjoy life, love, devotion, awe, worship, trust, an attitude toward the divine or nature.

Stay seemingly connected with your religious past, and take a piece of history – wherever you go, with fashion pieces inspired and derived from the Holy Land. 

Individuals, whether young or old, can surely embrace these pieces as they usher in an era of stylish relevance, while still embracing the past.

Recognized globally and distributed by EnergyGold Corp. in the Philippines, Authentica are products that are unique and truly one of a kind as they bring a closer feel to the Holy Land. Mostly seen as more than a spiritual accessory.

 “These products also integrate classic and sophisticated hand-made designs to their jewelries and displays – successfully mixing fashion with devotion,” says Jadeeyah Abang, EnergyGold Corp.’s Vice President.

 Jadeeyah Abang during the press conference as Journey Spiritual Craft launches one of its brand, Authentica by Oren Sagi.

Spiritually inspired, these products incorporate materials and basic elements from the Holy Land, such as Oil from Mount Galilee, Soil from chosen regions of the Holy Land, and Water from the Jordan River – all of which are authentic to assure the product’s purity and high quality.

Filipinos can surely get a glimpse of the Holy Land through these products. Authentica products are locally distributed by Journey Spiritual Crafts – and can be availed online, through its online partners. Those from other countries can also lookforward to being able to take home these products as it aims to expand to South Asian counties like Japan and Korea, and Australia.

Journey Spiritual Crafts is known to bring every believer of Christ (here in the Philippines) closer to the Holy Land, since few followers of Jesus has the chance to come and visit the place, we try to move and bring Jerusalem next to the heart of the Filipino communities providing them spiritual crafts and souvenirs.

Items are all authentic and traditionally handmade by the artist, Oren Sagi.Oren’s creations combine three basic elements: 

Hanging Triplet Charm Set - Water, Olive Oil, Soil

Water - from the holy Jordan River- Jesus Christ was baptized in the Bethany across the Jordan River (John 1:28). He traveled south to the Jordan to meet John the Baptist who was baptizing in the river all who came and repented of their sins. 

Olive Oil - from the selected ripe Galilee olives, crushed into pure oil at a local press, just as they were 2000 years ago. The oil represents holy anointing by the power of the Spirit of God. 

Soil - taken from several regions of this extraordinary land and combined into a single mass; then sifted, cleaned and flattened until every grain is a separate, distinct entity.

Visit the official Journey Spiritual Craft Facebook page www.facebook.com/JourneySpiritualCraft to know more about Journey’s spiritual crafts and souvenirs, you may also log on to www.journeyspiritualcraft.com.

Jordan River water, olive oil and soil Sealed with cross in a handmade Glass Bubbles. deluxe packaging with original wax seal.

Simbang Gabi : Filipino Christmas Tradition

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"Simbang Gabi" or Mass at Dawn, is a nine-day Novena to prepare for the birth of Christ. Since the Mass is celebrated when it is still dark, Simbang Gabi can also mean Mass at Night.  a Filipino Christmas tradition, it is is a series of nine dawn masses, the mass starts as early as 4:00 a.m. It begins on December 16 and ends on the midnight of the 24th of December, which is the midnight mass.

The Nativity Scene or "Belen" is displayed in preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It shows Baby Jesus in a manger with Mother Mary and St. Joseph. There are shepherds and farm animals. A complete scenario of the Belen includes the three wise men carrying their gifts to Infant Jesus and the star of Bethlehem that guided them in their journey.

The Roman Catholic churches across the nation start to open their doors shortly before the break of dawn to welcome the faithfuls to the Simbang Gabi mass. The church bells start ringing as early as three o' clock waking people up so they can get ready for the four o'clock dawn mass.

Simbang Gabi is not just a tradition that is the most important religious significance for those who attend Simbang Gabi, to be nourished with faith.

It is the perfect time to ponder how this truth influences our thoughts, actions and spiritual lives.

The Simbang Gabi is also seen as a way of requesting blessings from the Lord,as most people believe that if one completes the whole series of nine dawn masses, wishes will be granted.