| |  Let tell you about the Good Friday service that God put together for our church!
I had been in contact with Pastor Lim, the pastor of the Jesus People Church (JPC). See, the JPC are a Korean congregation that is using our church building while they grow their church, and I wanted to let Pastor Lim know about our plans for Good Friday. I have a hard time communicating with Pastor Lim; his English is still in-progress and my Korean is non-existent; so, the best way for me to communicate with him is via email, which gives him an opportunity to take his time and translate. In my e-mail, I explained that we would need the sanctuary for Good Friday, and that the JPC could either move their regular Friday Vespers a little later in the evening, or they were welcome to join us for the service. I also told him that the service was entirely Scripture reading, and that if they did join us, we'd be happy for them to participate by reading Scripture as well.
Just before Palm Sunday, I heard back from Pastor Lim; he said that some of his congregation would attend, but didn't say anything about reading. So, I made some preparations for them. I knew that the JPC's services are entirely in Korean and that many of his congregation are not fluent in English. So, partly to be hospitable (but mostly because it seemed like a really cool idea!) I made copies of the Scripture readings for his congregation in Korean, which was basically a cut-and-paste job from a Korean Bible I found online. My hope was that, if they weren't going to do any actual reading, they could at least follow along in Korean and get something our of the service.
So, five minutes before the service started, in walks Pastor Lim with a handful of congregation members. After welcomes and handshakes and short bows, they find places to sit—and Pastor Lim asks me what they will be reading tonight!
I was flummoxed. I mean, I had already briefed our readers—and the Prelude music was playing and halfway done! In two minutes I was going to have to walk to the pulpit, make welcomes and introductions and start the service!
But God had another idea, and I found myself explaining to Pastor Lim a much different plan!
I told him that I thought it would be great if they would read, not one or two passages, but all of the passages—in Korean. We'd take turns: first a passage in Korean and then the same passage in English, and with that, I handed him the Korean Scripture verses (praying that they made some kind of sense to them!). And wouldn't you know, he made it work. Despite the language barrier; despite the lack of preparation; despite being thrown for the proverbial loop, Pastor Lim made it happen!
So, let me describe the Good Friday service we had—the service that God put together. It started with a very rousing anthem praising God. And then the readers started, first small, shy Korean words that rose and fell in an indecipherable patter. Then the same in English—and back and forth. A beautiful solo about Mary's lament. More of the Korean, stronger now, as Pastor Lim's wife found her voice. And more of the Word in English, and back and forth. Then the Garden scene and a mournful anthem about Christ's anguish. And then the candles started going out as the readers went back and forth. The Korean words filled the silence, but gave ample room for contemplation as the sanctuary grew darker and darker. Then the end and the Christ candle was taken away as the voices recited the Song of the Suffering Servant, first in Korean and then in English. And finally an acappella quartet singing "Were You There?" It was incredible.
I love it when I can see God's plan coming together! |
| | Posted 4/11/2008 7:50 AM - 121 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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