A word or a phrase can mean different things to different people. A ship- to one person it means a cruise ship. A holiday. But to the deck hands, it means work. So, you hear the word ship- means holiday or work; depends on the person's perception. And every ship, has a kitchen. It has cooks, there may even be a chef; and there are kitchen hands. The kitchen hands do everything from cleaning potatoes, to washing dishes. They do not cook a la carte meals. The chef does. In the army, the kitchen duties, are where soldiers who are being punished go. They clean potatoes, wash dishes, clean the mess hall where the soldiers eat. The cooks cook. There are probably no chefs in the army, but many cooks. But the cooks don’t wash plates. Those punished, wash plates, peel potatoes. Every establishment, has a kitchen. MCC has a kitchen. It is called the Sunday School. The Sunday School has cooks and chefs. That is the Sunday School teachers. They love what they do. It’s their passion. The SS is what they love. It’s in their heart. Now, put a musician in the SS, and tell them teach the children, they do not like it. Rather, some do not like it. They say “I am not a chef or a cook”. So to them SS is a punishment, like peeling potatoes. I heard a comment recently; “I love music, because I love to be up the front so people can see me”. What a sad, selfish, vain, pagan reason for being on the music team. If I was that person, I would remove myself from music team. I will give you a chance to remove yourself, before I WILL remove you. You have no love of singing to the LORD, you do it so you look good. Very sad. Let’s hope you are strong enough to step off the Music Team. You don’t deserve to be on it. Talking about deserving to be on the Music Ministry; MCC Council has decided that from 2022, all Music Team members will have to spend time teaching children in Sunday School. A soldier, punished needs to understand, he is needed in the kitchen even if he does not want to do it. A musician is needed in the Sunday School, even if they do not want to do it. Why are they needed? They are needed so as to learn a very valuable lesson in life; you do what you are told to you. It’s called obedience. Why else? Maybe as being disciplined peeling potatoes, a soldier may eventually have a desire to be a chef, - after a lot of discipline- and not a soldier. Doors and windows of opportunity, open in the most peculiar of places. Even a place of obedience, the SS, may open up into a love for children, or a dormant love may become active. Some musicians, do not value the privilege of being up the front. They think it is their “right”. So, some simple rules of engagement; it will be decided by pastor and Andy who will receive what length of compulsory training of your character and nature, via spending time teaching children. Some may not have to spend time in the SS. Others 4 weeks. Others 2 months, or 3-5 months. Varies on the individual. Soldiers, who are soldiers at heart, always obey. If they are told to peel potatoes they will. Why? They are obedient. Soldiers, who refuse to follow commands are discharged from the army. So with the Music team. Each Music team member, who refuses to undergo character training in the SS, who fails to undergo training in appreciation of the privilege of the MT, will be discharged; that means you will be removed from the music team as you have failed to comply with instructions. And we can’t have disobedient people, leading us up the front. So, soon, a list will be given as to how long the MT will be in SS. Sadly, some have publically, spoken loudly how they dislike what will happen. What they did not realise is that they were talking loudly of their rebellion and arrogance against authority. The longest terms in SS will be reserved for those who complained. Learn in life to submit. Christianity is all about submission. Choice? SS or no MT.
MCC Admin
1 Tevet 5782