All good things come to an end

REFRESH was birthed from a strong sense that God wanted us to start and lead a regular worship night for the Chiang Mai community. We have done that for 4 years and it has been our pleasure and privilege.

After much prayer and thought we have made the decision that REFRESH will not continue. We feel we have come to an end of this ministry at this time. 

We look back on the 4 years with gratitude and joy. It is exhilarating and humbling to remember what God laid on our hearts in the years we prayed and planned before REFRESH, and then to see how it came to pass.

We could not have run REFRESH without a lot of help in various ways – the REFRESH Band members over the 4 years, the technical team (sound, lights, lyrics), musicians, artists, the venues (CMCC, CMIS, GIS and HOP), CMCC’s support, Sojo’s Café, the prayer team, and the ‘roadies’ (set up and pack down). We want to thank all those who supported the ministry of REFRESH in these ways. We trust you have been blessed by your involvement, as we know you have blessed the community.

For the many who came regularly to REFRESH worship nights, it has been a joy worshipping God with you. 

And for our great God, we glorify You! For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise! (1 Chronicles 16:25)

Blessings,

KEN & ROSLYN MANSON and MARK & DANA RITCHIE

REFRESH Year 4 #6 : Feb 15, 2013

Here are photos from the last REFRESH of this international school year!

We would like to thank all of those who helped make REFRESH possible this year:  Grace International School and House of Praise, our 2 venues; all the musicians who contributed pre/post music and special music;  all our artists who exhibited;  those who brought the spoken word by reading scripture or speaking on celebrating God's heritage; those who brought worship through dance;  all those who helped set up and take down;  those who took photos;  Sojo's Cafe which provided snacks and drinks;  those who helped with sound and projection; and all those on the REFRESH prayer team.

Also a special thank you to the REFRESH band (Ryan Gehrmann, Melanie Gehrmann, Andy Ikeda, Jenny McKechnie, Sacha Olson, Dana Ritchie) and to Roslyn & Ken Manson who continued to help lead REFRESH from New Zealand and Australia.

REFRESH began with a vision for community worship and that vision continues.  We do not know yet if REFRESH will continue next year, but are praying for God's guidance and provision for His plan.

Blessings,

Mark & Dana Ritchie for REFRESH

REFRESH is tonight!

REFRESH is tonight!

Come at 7:00 to look at the art, listen to live music and grab a coffee.

Worship 7:30-9:00

Post even music and cafe and art from 9:00 - 9:30.

At House of Praise (HOP).

See you there!

Dance!

Itsara Dance School will be sharing a story in dance with us based on the book You Are Special by Max Lucado.   The dance portrays the community of the Wemmicks, people who give each other star and dot stickers all day long.   Those who are beautiful, talented and admired receive stars from the others, while those who are not so gifted or attractive receive dots.   One Wemmick who only receives dots finds a whole new identity when she meets Jesus, who shows her that her value comes from knowing and belonging to Him.

See you Friday at House of Praise!

Pre-worship music, cafe and art 7:00-7:30
Worship 7:30-9:00
Post-worship music, cafe and art 9:00-7:30

Art for March!

We please to have several artists showing their work at this next REFRESH, including Karen Block, Andy Ikeda and one or two more!

Flute and Harp for March

We will have live music again at REFRESH this coming March 22 during the half hour before and half hour after the event -- 7:00-7:30 PM and 9:00-9:30 PM.

This is the final REFRESH of this international school year, and we are pleased to have Joy O'Boyle (flute) and Judi Utley (harp).

Please come early and stay late, grab a coffee or snack at Sojo's Café, and listen to some great music!

Joy O'Boyle

Judi Utley

Celebrating God's Heritage

We are excited to have Gene and Linda Fisher to share stories of God's goodness at the next REFRESH.

We served at Murree Christian School in Pakistan for 30 years (we went as short-term workers in 1971).  Gene taught music and Bible, I taught 2nd grade, was a stay at home mom, guidance counselor, and the last ten years served as the high school principal.  We came to Chiang Mai in September, 2002, following the terrorist attack on MCS.  We remained in our same positions at MCS/Thailand, for the remainder of the 2002- 2003 school year.  We moved to Grace International School in August 2003.  Gene teaches band and I have been the secondary principal until this year when I have been serving as the acting deputy superintendent of academics.

We have two married daughters and five grandchildren in the USA.