Everybody Likes a Party
by Sue
I remember over the years, wonderful scenes pictures of garden parties, tea parties, and parties in the park. As a child I loved to be invited to a friend’s birthday party. What a wonderful time we had - memories of fish paste sandwiches, cakes, jelly and blancmange, and party games like ‘squeak piggy squeak,’ blind man’s bluff,’ and of course - musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey. And then singing happy birthday to the birthday boy or birthday girl and going home with a slice of sponge cake wrapped up in a serviette and feeling a little too full with all the things we had eaten. Everybody likes a party.
One time I heard that my aunt and her husband my uncle, had been invited to Her Majesty, The Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace. This was back in the time when one of my aunts worked as a secretary for former MP Michael Foot. My uncle was also a Justice of the Peace and they were invited to the garden party for services to the government and Queen. How nice it must be to receive such an invitation from the Queen herself, and at Buckingham Palace, with so many dignitaries and famous people in attendance.
My aunt and uncle were a lovely couple, and during a time when they were both experiencing health issues, Malc had been writing more Christian songs about the love of Jesus, and to bless them we did send a copy of his CD of the songs, for them to listen to encourage them both. The Lord gave Malc a whole bunch of songs to write, during a difficult time that he was also going through whilst he was seeking new employment following redundancy
‘Party in the Park’ was an event which our church put on during the summer for a number of years in the local park. The initial idea behind this was to freely offer local people the fun of the party whilst taking the opportunity to share with them the free offer of eternal salvation that Jesus offered to them. To entertain the local families many fun activities were included. Malc contributed by making and running made a ‘Bat the Rat’ game – hit the rat as it comes sliding down and out of the end of the drainpipe, to win some sweets. There were singers from a local school choir, puppet shows, ‘Guess the Weight of the Cake,’ and lots of others attractions and stalls, a prayer tent as well as refreshments, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Malc also sang on the stage some great songs from his mixed repertoire – some secular songs and some Christian songs including one really great song from one of our favourite bands at the time called PFR.
A married couple came up to us whilst we were running the ‘Bat the Rat’ stall. They had recently moved into the area from Northampton and they shortly after joined our church and became very close friends of ours. When Malc discovered that Mike was a good guitarist they decided to put a band together and with a couple of others at our church formed the eBand. Mike’s wife Iris also later joined the eBand. You see, the Lord wants people to enjoy life whilst we are in this world, but He especially wants us to turn to Him in repentance and faith so that we can then have the assurance of being with Him in Heaven.
As Christians, we have the assurance that when we die, or if the Lord calls His church out of this world at the rapture of the church (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18) we will gather for a banquet in heaven. The Bible calls this marriage supper of the Lamb when the groom (Jesus) will receive His bride (the church.) Come as you are to Jesus now, repent of your sin and receive the forgiveness of God in Jesus, for that day is approaching fast and will not be delayed.
And what a party that will be!