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2007年12月28日
The Church In Japan: Christmas
This year we held our Christmas Worship Service on the 23rd of December. It was a wonderful time with around 50 people in attendance. Besides new people there were several people who had not been to our church for many years. After the service we all enjoyed a Christmas feast together. Then, at 4 p.m. we held our Christmas Eve Service. In Japan, the actual dates, December 24 and 25, are usually not considered too important. Most churches hold their various Christmas services at the times most convenient for their members and not based on the calendar.
Our Christmas Eve Service was also well attended with a really good atmosphere from beginning to end. This year, for the first time, I myself had nothing to do with this service because of my recent health problems. As a result I was able to sit back and really enjoy the service in a new way. As I sat in the service my heart was filled with thanksgiving as I realized that our church here had matured to the point that church members could now handle everything without any help from myself or my wife. PTL!
In this service also we saw several new people in attendance. The Christmas season is a wonderful opportunity for evangelism in Japan. During most of the year, attending a Christian church is quite a challenge for new people. However, at Christmas, it seems to suddenly become easy and natural. Christmas is also a great time for personal evangelism as all the Christmas Carols and various Christmas events going on easily lead to the question of the meaning of Christmas which of course leads to the gospel-the good news of Jesus Christ coming to earth as our Savior from sin.
I always wish that the Christmas season would last longer and when Christmas is over I find myself already waiting for the next Christmas season to come along.
投稿者 bethany : 2007年12月28日 10:16
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