Shanghai Moore Memorial Church (Mu’en Church) held four Christmas worship services on the fourth Sunday of Advent or December 20.
The church, which is located near a subway station, was decorated by the colorful wall lights and words of “ Merry Christmas” on the main building.
Churchgoers were required to register in advance to attend each service, in order to limit the number of participants and meet the requirements of COVID-19 prevention and control.
The third service began at two o’clock in the afternoon. Attendees entered the sanctuary after having their temperatures checked, following COVID-19 protocols.
To the music of O Come All Ye Faithful, choir members, officiant, and pastors entered in turn. The officiant announced the beginning of the service and led the congregation in reading Luke 2:8-14, which was also the main text of the service.
First, the choir sang five Christmas carols including Silent Night and Amazing Grace. Then a sermon entitled, "I Bring You Good News of Great Joy" was delivered and the pastor asked the believers for their most beautiful Christmas wishes and gifts. As December is Christmas month, it is celebrated everywhere, such as in shopping malls, streets, and churches. But everyone should know about Jesus, he is not only our Lord but also the Lord of our family and friends. So the pastor said every Christian had a responsibility to share the gospel and let others receive this most beautiful gift.
In addition, the pastor said the Lord was worthy of our praise and everyone should welcome him into their lives. He not only lives for us, but also died for us. The blood on the cross cleansed us from sins, and the resurrection brought us the hope that he would take us to live with him in the future. Jesus was born in a manger humbly and served us all his life. In the past year, we have personally experienced the peace God’s presence brought, as we still could enter the church to worship Him during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the sermon, the staff workers presented the dance Amazing Grace and a Nativity play entitled A Baby Is Born for Us, and the service ended with the hymn Joy to the World. After the service, everyone received a 2021 calendar as a Christmas gift.
In addition to the Christmas worship services, the church will also hold a sacred music worship service on the evening of December 24. The service was fully booked two hours after the information was sent out at seven o'clock on Monday morning. According to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the number of participants must not exceed 600 and reservations need to be made on WeChat.
-Translated by Abigail Wu
(The article is originally published by Gospel Times.)
2020年12月20日，前往上海基督教沐恩堂参加圣诞感恩礼拜，从人民广场地铁站14口出来，首先看到的就是教堂的主体建筑，上面的“圣诞快乐”，让人心瞬间喜悦起来，往教堂大门走，一路上，冬日的暖阳，深深浅浅的树影，门墙上环绕的彩灯，还有服侍同工们的红色背心，都充满了浓浓的喜庆和温暖。
上海沐恩堂全天四堂礼拜都定为庆祝圣诞感恩礼拜，每场礼拜需要提前预约扫码，以严格控制人数，满足疫情防控要求。
14:00将开始第三场礼拜，下午1点刚过，就有人开始陆续前来，服侍人员先要查看参加人员的健康码，然后扫码签到，在服侍同工的引导下，通过体温自动检查门就可以进入大堂了。
整个大堂和前厅被蓝色的圣诞树和彩灯装饰得焕然一新。在《齐来崇拜歌》的乐声中，诗班人员、主礼、证道牧者依次入场。主礼人宣布礼拜开始，大家一起读经路加福音2:8-14，这也是这次礼拜的主题经文。
首先，诗班献唱了《平安夜》《奇异恩典》等五首圣诞赞美诗。牧者以《我报给你们大喜的福音》为题证道，12月是圣诞月，无论是商场、街道还是教堂，各处都充满了庆祝的气氛，牧者引导大家思考，什么才是最美的圣诞祝福和圣诞礼物？那就是主耶稣。牧者提醒大家，这大喜的福音是关乎万民的，耶稣不仅是我们的主，也是我们亲朋好友的主，所以每一个基督徒都有一个责任，那就是与我们的同胞一起分享福音，让他们也得到这份最美的礼物。
另外，这段经文告诉也我们，主的一生是荣神益人的一生，耶稣从降生开始，出生在马槽里，就是为了服侍我们，而过去的这一年，我们也都亲自经历了主与我们同在的平安。全球肆虐的疫情中，尽管我们依然带着口罩，教堂也需要及时消毒，但神保守我们出人意外的平安。他不仅为我们生，也为我们死，十字架上的宝血洗净我们一切的罪孽，而且为我们复活，将来还要接我们与他同住。这样的一位主，配得我们献上最好的颂赞，并且迎接他到我们生命之中。
证道结束后，教会同工预备了舞蹈《奇异恩典》和圣剧《有一婴孩为我们而生》，带领会众一起欢庆圣诞，最后礼拜在《普世欢腾歌》中结束。礼拜结束后，每个人还领到了一份2021年日历作为圣诞节礼物。
除了圣诞感恩礼拜，沐恩堂还将于12月24日晚上19:00举行圣诞音乐崇拜，根据上海市民宗委文件要求，参加人员不得超过600位，只接受线上预约，21日早上7点预约信息发出后，两个小时后便已约满。
http://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/54698
上海基督教沐恩堂举办圣诞感恩崇拜 会众欢聚同庆圣诞！
Shanghai Moore Memorial Church (Mu’en Church) held four Christmas worship services on the fourth Sunday of Advent or December 20.
The church, which is located near a subway station, was decorated by the colorful wall lights and words of “ Merry Christmas” on the main building.
Churchgoers were required to register in advance to attend each service, in order to limit the number of participants and meet the requirements of COVID-19 prevention and control.
The third service began at two o’clock in the afternoon. Attendees entered the sanctuary after having their temperatures checked, following COVID-19 protocols.
To the music of O Come All Ye Faithful, choir members, officiant, and pastors entered in turn. The officiant announced the beginning of the service and led the congregation in reading Luke 2:8-14, which was also the main text of the service.
First, the choir sang five Christmas carols including Silent Night and Amazing Grace. Then a sermon entitled, "I Bring You Good News of Great Joy" was delivered and the pastor asked the believers for their most beautiful Christmas wishes and gifts. As December is Christmas month, it is celebrated everywhere, such as in shopping malls, streets, and churches. But everyone should know about Jesus, he is not only our Lord but also the Lord of our family and friends. So the pastor said every Christian had a responsibility to share the gospel and let others receive this most beautiful gift.
In addition, the pastor said the Lord was worthy of our praise and everyone should welcome him into their lives. He not only lives for us, but also died for us. The blood on the cross cleansed us from sins, and the resurrection brought us the hope that he would take us to live with him in the future. Jesus was born in a manger humbly and served us all his life. In the past year, we have personally experienced the peace God’s presence brought, as we still could enter the church to worship Him during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the sermon, the staff workers presented the dance Amazing Grace and a Nativity play entitled A Baby Is Born for Us, and the service ended with the hymn Joy to the World. After the service, everyone received a 2021 calendar as a Christmas gift.
In addition to the Christmas worship services, the church will also hold a sacred music worship service on the evening of December 24. The service was fully booked two hours after the information was sent out at seven o'clock on Monday morning. According to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, the number of participants must not exceed 600 and reservations need to be made on WeChat.
-Translated by Abigail Wu
(The article is originally published by Gospel Times.)
Shanghai Church Celebrates Fourth Sunday of Advent
