Today was bittersweet. We had a great service during Sunday morning worship. We had several visitors and the lesson, which centered around the Joys of Christianity was very encouraging. After services we had a wonderful meal and time of fellowship together. I was able to visit with several of our visitors and well-- it just seemed like there was a lot of loe flowing through the congregation today. Then our afternoon service was led by some of the young men of our congregation and they all did such a wonderful job. I am so proud of each of them and their willingness to serve God by taking a leadership role. Listening to these young men speak, read scripture, leads songs and pray was a great way to cap off our day of worship.
Yes today was a wonderful day - but it was also a sad day. This Sunday morning was the last time our minister gave us a lesson as our minister. After almost 8 years, he and his wife are leaing to go work with another congregation. This was not a surprise today. Tim gave us notice about three months ago. It was still sad to see them go. Tim and Betty have been a blessing to our congregation in so many ways and we will miss them.
We are thankful that God sent them our way 7 3/4's years ago. As soon as they arrived, they started immediately serving the congregation in any way they could. Betty was a great hostess as she invited members willingly into her home. Tim was always working. He visited the hospitals and nursing homes. He visited with us in our homes. He ministered to those of our number who needed him in any way. They have two sons. It was a joy to watch these young men grow. They are both young men of good character and are good examples to other members of our youth group. Each of them also contributed to our church family in their own unique and loving way.
Yes, we are happy and blessed they were with us for a time. They are now a part of us and we are part of them. As we move forward and seek a new minister, we pray that God will bless us with another wonderful family to love and work with to God's glory. But the blessings God bestowed upon through Tim and Betty will stay with us -- will always be part of us - as individuals and as a congregation. In the same fashion, they will take us with them, I'm sure. We will become a part of them. They will take the love and knowledge and maturity they have gained while they were with us will go with them and hopefully bless them as they begin their new work. They are family now. They always will be.
All of this reminds me of a beautiful song that congregations often sing toward the end of a service. The last song we sang today was "God's Family." I love this song -- love its meaning and the sentiments behind it. This song was particularly appropriate today.
However, this is not the song I am thinking of at the moment. Actually, the song I had in mind was "Blest Be the Tie That Binds." It has popped into my mind several different tmes during the last few days. "The Tie That Binds" is a beautiful song in its own rites. The older I get the more I appreciate the lyrics within this song. They carry such a deep meaning for me now. So many times we sing the songs conducted by our song leader we just go through the motions. We don't take the time to understand or comprehend the words. If we did, we would singing from our heart and oh! how we could change the world!
The beautiful words of this song, written by John Fawcett way back in 1782 still hold a special meaning for Christians today. This song is a description of how the church should really be-what Christ meant for it to be. Remember Christ's prayer to the Father in John 17? He prayed that we would be one as He and the Father were one - were "in" each other. His desire - His prayer was that believers would "also be one in us (that is Christ and the Father) that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Jesus prayed for the unity of faith and love for all His future followers -- that's me and you!
So here's the song:
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. (this is what Christ prayed for)
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. (Jesus wanted us to one as He and the Father are one.)
Before our Father's throne, we pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comfort and our cares. (Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 14 that God comforts us in all our troubles and as He comforts us - then we are able to comfort others.)
We share our mutual woes; our mutual burdens bear;
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear. - {We are told not only to rejoice with those that rejoice - but also to weep with those weep - Romans 12: 15.}
When we asunder part, it gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again. {Christians should always be joined in heart - for we are all members of the same body --that is Christ's body.}
The last verse is the one that particularly our congregation's situation today. We will definitely miss Tim, Betty, Chris and Jonathan and Mrs. Estelle, Betty's mother. But as I said before, they leave part of their hearts with us and take part of our hearts with them. We are certainly still joined in heart. We all have the same love for God and the same desire to continue to build up the church, glorify our God and go to heaven.
I did not say Good bye to Betty and Tim -- but rather I just said "See you later." I pray they will come back to visit someday. I also pray that they will happy in their new home and gain strength in the power of the Lord as they continue to serve Him in their new heart. They are going to be part of a new family. We will eventually bring a new family into our hearts at our congregation. But we are still joined in heart -- because we are ALL part of the same family -- that is the family of God.
I John 3:1 - "Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God; therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not." What a wonderful thought -- what a wonderful promise -- what amazing love! God loves us so much -- we should be called the sons [and daughters] of God! Woo Hoo!
God bless you, Tim and Betty. May the joy of serving the Lord always be in your heart!
Christ above all things,
Robin
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