A Fifth sunday

Sunday August 30, 2015

Every month that has five Sundays means that the children here at our church are featured on the fifth Sunday. August 30th was such a Sunday. BUT, sadly, no songs or presentations were prepared for the Sunday morning service.

As leader of the children’s department, I was responsible for the morning message. I spoke a bit on a passage from Luke where folks addressed Jesus as “Good Master”. We talked about one of my favorite subjects, the goodness of God. Then we looked at images from Old Testament stories. It’s something we do with the kids almost every Sunday. We want them to know the Bible stories. AND, by the way, those images were purchased by ASAPH Teaching Ministry! Thanks to you, our sponsors for providing us with equipment to teach God’s word.

Immediately after church, a motorcycle taxi driver whisked me to Labaleine, a community in the mountains where a church was celebrating it’s anniversary. Already that morning, six ASAPH brass players had presented a pair of songs in the program that began at 9:00 and lasted past 2:00. (Wow! Imagine an American congregation sitting for a six hour program!)  I was unable to be with them due to my obligations at the local church, but I was proud that they were able to respond to the invitation on their own. It relates to one the reasons I chose the name ASAPH for this ministry. In the book of Ezra, years after Asaph was in the grave, the author mentions the ‘children of Asaph’. Bible scholars think it is a reference to his ‘students’, his music students, who continued to minister after his death. That’s my goal with this ministry as well, to have folks who continue on without me. Sunday morning was a first opportunity for that to happen. Three trumpeters, two trombonists, and the tuba player made the trip…on their own.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.