December 28, 2023
Dear KMC family,
As we anticipate the end of 2023, I wanted to quickly touch base with you about couple of things. I am
anticipating sending out a semi-regular letter from me called From the Pastor’s Desk, the purpose of which is
simply to communicate with you about things which occupy your pastor’s heart and mind. The first one will
be included in the Newsletter which Sunyoung will be sending out in a few days so watch for that.
The next item is to encourage you to come participate in the New Year’s Eve Evening Service, Sunday the
31 st , (different from the New Year’s Eve Lord’s Day Service, regular Sunday morning time). The purpose of
this 7pm special evening service is to come together to worship in praise, prayer, singing, and thanksgiving
to God for who He is and for His goodness to us. Lest some of you dismiss this evening because you think
“it’s just singing” and only “emotional stuff”, I urge you to prioritize this occasion above other competing
things on your calendar.
One of the peculiar aspects of God’s people is our service to God with music; there is a special place in
God’s household for music, musical instruments, singers, and those skilled in the music arts. In 2 Chronicles
7, King Solomon is finally able to dedicate the Temple as all of Israel is gathered for this historic occasion.
Prior to his prayer of dedication, the Ark of the Covenant is brought into the Temple in chapter 5. Next to
the exposition of God’s Word, the ministry of music and singing unto the Lord is paramount: “…and all the
Levitical singers…arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres…and it was the duty of the
trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD, and
when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the
LORD, ‘For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever,’ the house, the house of the LORD, was filled
with a cloud, so that the priest could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD
filled the house of God” (vv.12-14).
This should not escape us, that, prior to commemorating a new season for the Israelites, worship in music
and thanksgiving to God saturated the occasion. Often you will notice that Israel was led out in worship, into
battle, in their sojournings by the Arc going before the congregation. Along with the Levites and the priests,
the Ark was accompanied by the singers and trumpets and musical instruments…in other words, much of
their warfare (spiritual warfare) was conducted through music and worship! There is something powerfully
spiritual which happens when God’s people gather together to worship God with music, it is as if we march
out with God leading the way.
I encourage you to prioritize this evening, this opportunity to come together with our brothers and sisters in
Christ and march into 2024, praising God and asking Him to go before us into the life of KMC.
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN
POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His
marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9
SDG,
PJ