Our Stories
Crossover Reflections for Ipis’ and Ruruks’
Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Proclaim His salvation from day to day. 1 Chronicles 18:23.
Most of us take it for granted the blessings and mercies of our heavenly father on daily bases and totally forget to say a simple thank you every night. May we be reminded that “Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:23 – 24
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. James 1:17. His faithfulness does not change with the seasons and times and how each one of us feels.
There are many ways to remind us of the things we have experienced and look forward for in the future. One special way to remember the current which will become former in a matter of seconds and step into the future is to be at the end of the former and at the beginning of the future. Yes, the crossover period which comes around on the 31st day of December every year after 356 days of doing whatever we were doing!
Caine and John staff of CRMF had a “Crossover Reflection” time with the members of the Gamuga Evangelical Brotherhood Church during the new year cross over service.
The highlight for us as family (Ruruks) was to be with a family on the special occasion of reflecting on the faithfulness of God and trusting him for the new year. It was a wonderful feeling to be with family (John Ipi’s family) because we could not go home for the Christmas holiday to be with our own family.
Our children got to know each other well as occasional Christmas parties and CRMF functions are not venues for building deeper relationships.
As Anglicans celebrating the Crossover reflection was good learning time for Judith and I and the children. Each of us have a promise card (EBC tradition) to read and reflect on the word of God throughout the year.
The program consisted of power point presentation of the crossover reflections with Scriptures, songs and video clips for all who attended to participate. Time was allowed during the presentation to write notes with background music being played.
The reflections written were taken to a bonfire outside to be prayed for and thrown into the fire in hope purified ways for the new year.
The procession to the bonfire area was so special with a bright moon in the clear sky overhead and big bonfire lighting up the whole area.
It was by this bonfire that the last seconds of 2020 ticked by and were replaced by the initial seconds of 2021.
As we returned to the church to pick out our promised cards, I was filled with gratitude to be witnessing a church family who had made it to the finish of 2020 and now celebrating the faithfulness of God full of hope that God will again be their source of strength to face the new future.
The Church appreciates the ministry of CRMF and prayed for the support and prayers they too received from CRMF. I commend John and Rhoda Ipi and their children for being active members of this local church to provide a place for the lost to find their eternal father. Yes it was a good time to reflect the goodness of the Lord in 2020 and trust Him for 2021.