It has been said that when God closes a door on us, He opens another for us. I just experience that this past month.
Onlt a few weeks ago, my church's organist and choir director went home to the Lord unexpectedly. I, and many others, were concerned that this would result in not having our traditional Christmas Eve music service since she was the person who planned the program, got people to rehearse, and conducted the service. Here we were, just three weeks before Christmas Eve, no service planned, no one planning it, and no organist/pianist/choir director to set up the service. I was feeling that a door was closed.
Well, just the past week, God opened another door. One of our Elders was able to contact a young lady in our area who has a music-based ministy (Laurie Jeron Ministries). She is a music instructor, and a locally accomplished Christian singer. Link:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=94753673It turned out that she had been booked to perform at her own church that evening, but at the very last minute her church had requested that she perform this past Sunday instead of Christmas Eve. The door was opened. Being aware or our recent loss of our music director (they both lived in neighboring towns, and both were piano teachers), Laurie agreed to help us with our program. The problem was that she was not available to work with any of us until 6:30 Christmas Eve, and our service was at 8:00. For many, it would be a little scary doing such a program with virtually no meaningful group rehearsal. But she took on the task.
The progam was based upon last year's selection of readings and music. (Which was new to me, since I was unable to participate last year). I met Laurie at the church at 6:30, and we discussed the technical needs for the program (what microphones and where they should be), and did a run through and sound check of her two solo songs (pre-recorded CD and live microphone, with the sound board in a back room that makes it almost impossible to accurate adjust the sound during the performance) which required different setting for each song on a CD system that (i) is not properly plugged into the sound board and (ii) is almost never used. With God at work, we got the settings right on the first try. Next came the first time the "band" (Laurie on piano, the drummer, and myself) ever played together as a group. It was a run through of our soloist's song, Little Drummer Boy. Again, God was at work, we all meshed perfectly on that one. With only about 45 minutes before service, we ran through all the other music (with the choir on their numbers) and it was working out very well.
The real blessing was the service itself. Yes, the music we did was nice. But real blessing for me came from the fact that the service included the two other congregations that used our church. One is a small hispanic congregation, and the other is a small Korean congregation. We had worked into the program a place for the hispanic congregation to share some of their Christams music with us. A father on piano and his young son on drums provided the music, and several of the young ladies provided the singing. A little later in the program, the Korean congregation had an opportunity, and their very talented pianist and a male solo singer sang a traditional carol in Korean. What a performance. Our pastor gave a short homily in English, and then gave a shorter version of in Spanish for the hispanic congregation.
We always close the Chrismas Eve service with a candlelight rendition of Silent Night. This year, we had several members of our congregation sing the first verse in German. Then an elderly couple sang it in Dutch. After that, our Pastor's wife and daughter sang it in Spanish. Then, the Korean choir sang it in Korean. Finally, every one formed a circle around the church, the candle flame was passed, and we all sang several verses in English. Lastly, the benediction was given by each of the pastors, English, Spanish, and Korean.
What really struck me and blessed me so much about the service was that it drove home to me how universal Christ and His Message truly is. It is not just for Americans, or English speaking people, or Europeans; but is a message for all people and all cultures of the world. And that in fact people from all over the world worship Him and His birth.
So, when one door appears to be closed --- look for the one that is being opened. There may well be a blessing behind it.
k_enn
Home 
Wow, Ken, that must have been incredible. I know my eyes wouldn't have been dry for that!!!
