Where 2 or 3 (or 10) Are Gathered...

...where two or three are gathered in my name, 
there am I among them. 
(Matthew 18:20)

This morning we had the privilege and honor of joining Nirund and Petcharin in worship at the Lampang Baptist Church which Nirund had helped found 35 years ago. The congregation usually numbers around 30; however, due to the travel many people engage in during the Thai New Year holidays, this morning's congregation was 10 adults and 3 children.

While we understood none of the Thai spoken or sung, we did know the tunes of the worship songs and were able to sing English words to the hymns from the Baptist hymnal as the eight others sang in Thai - making quite a joyful noise to the Lord.

When Nirund found out that Beth was a pianist (wonder who told him?), he immediately pressed her into service to accompany him and Petcharin as they led the congregation in singing How Great Thou Art. 

My wife then graciously offered me as guest singer (tit for tat). So we practiced a song from the hymnal a couple of times. But when it came time in the service for me to sing, she decided a different hymn would be more suited to everyone joining me - and, of course, the new selection was just at the upper end of my vocal range. (Talk about joyful noises.)

As I listened to the Rev. Chuchart Yakasame's sermon (2 Timothy 2:1-7), I could sense that he was preaching the Word and that he is a true servant of the Lord.  He and his wife have been in Lampang for 6 months - coming from ChiangMai where they had worked training church planters for twenty years.

At the close of the service and in recognition of a Thai New Year tradition, the congregation gathered at the front of the sanctuary so the older members could bless the younger members. The tradition involves older members dipping their hands into a bowl of scented water and placing their hands on the heads of the younger members of the group as they blessed them. It was a special time for us as we joined in blessing the younger members of this tiny congregation.

We then enjoyed the weekly luncheon. Today's menu was: grilled beef, spicy sausages, sticky rice, hot chili relish, crispy pork rinds, fresh cucumbers and tangerines.

After taking a congregational photo, we said goodbye 
to our new sisters and brothers in the Lord.