Andrew and Mary - Hillston* Music team

"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2

For many years Mary has been playing the church organ-rain,hail or shine. Each week she gets the hymns and practises in the days before Sunday. She is really the only regular musician in Hillston church.

This year for several weeks a young man sat in the back pews on the left hand side of the church. He was visiting from Korea and working at the cotton gin. We got to know him as Andrew.One Sunday one of the younger church members was back from Uni on holidays visiting her Mum and Dad.After church she decided to try out the new piano/organ with Mary and Julie. Andrew seeing that someone else was allowed to play too, quietly made his way to the front.The rest of us were in the hall having a cuppa.

Suddenly there was great excitement! Andrew not only played, but sang, beautifully,with a trained voice. He was - and is - a Bachelor of Music who has performed in and led choirs in Korea and in other countries.He had been missing his music while overseas. He was quickly enlisted to play the following week. 

                                                       Now the church had a music team. 

He and Mary practised together each week after that.Andrew gave Mary a welcome break from being out the front as he took over the playing for several months, having free access to the piano whenever he liked by being given access to the church key. 

                                                         And the moral of the story?

1) You never know who you have in your midst. As you welcome the stranger you may be entertaining an angel.  

2) Mary could have allowed no one else access to "her" piano but she didn't, she freely shared and stood aside to allow someone else to shine and use their gifts.

3) And Andrew?-He gave of his time after 12  hours overnight in the cotton gin each Saturday to play for a delighted congregation and to give Mary someone to share the load and a well earned rest.

4) OK - so your team is only two but if you both show up -it's a team.

Sadly for us, Andrew had to leave Hillston last week.His time in Australia is over and he is to continue his travels elsewhere, starting with the Philippines. He graced us with one final song and time on the piano. Just beautiful!

We now wait to see what other gifts of music God will provide for us as well as our lovely Mary.

PS - * That's Hillston not Hillsong.