This past Sunday, The Master Ringers, our Poplar Springs handbell choir, served out at the Broad River Greenway to encourage our community with songs of Christmas. As I walked down the road toward the cabin at the Greenway, I could hear the melodic sounds of the bells lilting clearly through the trees long before I was able to see where our bell tables were located. All the folks from the community who were waiting in line at the cabin to visit with Ole St. Nick, were able to enjoy handbell music performed for their listening pleasure. And a pleasure it was! The Master Ringers are such a great group of musicians who honor the Lord with their talents and encourage one another with their joy-filled banter as they play! It was fun to see them enjoying themselves even as they shared the joy of the Lord with the folks who were listening in!
The sounds of the bells coming through the trees as I approached, continues to resonate in my thinking. Therein is a great image of the way the news of Jesus’ birth is to be communicated – each of us ringing the bell of Jesus’ love for us through our interaction with our friends and neighbors. Our words, our actions, and our gifts to sends missionaries, make it possible for the message of Christmas to ring out around the world as it did in the life of the early church. Paul wrote to the church at Thessaloniki saying, “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thes. 1:8). Thank you, Poplar Springs church family, for following the lead of The Master Ringers and ringing out the Christmas message of God’s love becoming incarnate in Jesus!
In the Love of Jesus,
Tony Tench
