Last Sunday, churches across China rolled out Christmas Eve celebrations to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches resumed in-person Christmas celebrations, also carrying out evening services or gatherings.
On the morning of December 24, Sheshan Xingcheng Church in Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, held a Christmas Eve worship service. The church was adorned with red ribbons, with two Christmas trees on either side of the altar, and colorful "Silent Night" stickers under a red cross on the wall.
After hymns, choir performances, and prayers, the pastor delivered a sermon titled "Today, the Savior Has Been Bornf to You," based on Luke 2:1–20. "Savior is a beautiful and powerful name with authority." The preacher said that the Savior was not an oppressor or a dictator, but a gentleman with open arms who welcomed all those who labored and bore heavy burdens. "Jesus brings us true peace, regardless of external circumstances."
The church also had a gathering on the evening of December 24 and a Christmas special worship service the next day.
Xiangcheng Church in Suzhou, Jiangsu, known for its unique architectural style, has become a popular spot for photography enthusiasts on social media. The Christmas celebrations organized by the church also piqued the curiosity of the residents.
A couple attending the event remarked, "Let's see what they are performing." Church groups showcased diverse performances, including choirs, solo singing, dances, recitations, piano solos, and flower stick plays. The joyful atmosphere encouraged two believers to offer praise through song and dance.
In a performance titled "Joy to the World," ten elderly female believers dressed in red sweaters and scarves performed with flower sticks.
Reverand Wang and a male believer surnamed Pei sang a duet of "Going with the Lord," a song by Professor Wang Weifan from the Nanjing Theological Seminary, who was Pastor Wang's teacher during his studies.
At Huaxiang (Flower Lane) Church in Fuzhou, Fujian, the youth fellowship conducted an annual Christmas praise evening. This year's theme was "It’s All for Love, "and after varied performances, over ten seekers accepted Christ.
Three consecutive Christmas events—"Retro Music Concert," "Christmas Candlelight Taize Chanting Concert," and "Christmas and New Year Worship Concert"—were advertised at the entrance of Fangcun Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong, alongside two large Christmas trees. The church held four gatherings on December 24.
The Christmas music worship, which officially started at 6:30 PM, drew a queue of over a hundred meters an hour before. After the service, the congregation orderly exited following the church staff's guidance, with another long line forming for the second evening praise concert.
On Christmas Eve, Shamian Church in Guangdong Province held a Christmas gospel rally. A pastor highlighted humanity's reality, from Adam and Eve's disobedience to the debt of human conscience, emphasizing that only Jesus, born among us 2000 years ago, offered a way.
On the same day, the church hosted five activities celebrating the birth of the Savior, including two Sunday services and two Christmas Eve worship meetings.
In contrast to the megachurches in the city, a rural smaller church had colorful streamers fluttering outside, with the entrance adorned with big red couplets. This scene unfolded at the joint Christmas Thanksgiving worship event organized on December 23 by the Fuli Lane Meeting Point and the Fifth Pastoral District's Jiaokou Church in Yaodu District, Linfen, Shanxi Province.
Local believers arrived early in the morning despite the snowy weather, comprising the elderly, women, and young people, who wore smiles as they gathered in the chapel. Originally scheduled for December 17, the event had been postponed due to slippery roads caused by snow.
Aside from classic choir performances, there was a Bible contest where people were asked: "How many books are in the Bible? How many are in the Old Testament and how about in the New Testament? What is the full text of John 3:16? Who is known as the 'Father of Faith'? What does 'Emmanuel' mean?" Those who answered correctly received gospel booklets as gifts. Additionally, two believers shared testimonies—one about surviving a car accident and the other about their son's miraculous recovery from a brain hemorrhage—through prayer.
Apart from the thirteen people making a prayer for confession, rural believers also shared a love feast, with over eighty Christmas gift packs distributed on that day.
See Full Gallery HERE.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
上周日，中国各教会举行平安日崇拜，以庆祝耶稣基督的降生。
经历疫情三年，这是很多教会正式迎来的第一个对外开放圣诞节，而且一般都伴有夜场崇拜或者晚会。
12月24日上午，江苏省南京市栖霞区摄山星城教会举办了平安日崇拜，牧者以《今天，为你们生了救主》为题证道。
当日的教堂，具有明显的圣诞气氛：教堂多处张贴着红色的蝴蝶结，讲台两侧布置了两棵圣诞树，讲台后面墙壁红色十字架下贴着彩色的“平安夜”贴纸。
待赞美、诗班献唱、代祷等环节结束后，证道的牧者结合路加福音2章1—20节经文从三个方面展开分享。“救主，多么动听、有力量的名字，带着权柄的名字。”讲道人告诉大家，救主不是压迫、独裁者，他心肠温柔，张开双臂欢迎一切劳苦担重担的人。“耶稣带给我们真正的平安，不在乎外在的环境。”
摄山星城教会在24日晚还有平安夜聚会，25日上午有圣诞专场崇拜。
苏州相城基督教堂因其极具设计感的建筑风格，在社交媒体平台上俨然成了摄影爱好者口中的小众拍摄地。教堂举办的圣诞节系列庆祝活动，不仅信徒热情参与，周边民众也充满好奇。
“我们去看看他们表演什么”，一对进场的夫妻在周日下午走边说。
节目由教堂各小组准备，有合唱、独唱、舞蹈、朗诵、钢琴独奏、打花棍等表演形式。表演结束后的自由表演环节，两位信徒被欢乐的气氛感染，主动上台以歌声、舞蹈向主献上赞美。
在打花棍节目《欢乐圣诞佳音歌》，10位身着红色毛衣、系着丝巾、手持花棍的老年姊妹上台演出。
汪牧师和裴弟兄合唱了金陵神学院汪维藩老师的《与主同去歌》，因汪维藩老师是汪牧师在金陵读书时的班主任。
福州基督教花巷堂青年团契每年的圣诞节前夕，都会举行一场迎圣诞赞美晚会。今年迎圣诞赞美晚会主题是“是为了爱”，12月23日百年尚友堂座无虚席，陈明牧师在敬拜赞美会上证道《道成肉身的意义》。
在各类合唱 、乐器演奏、手语诗歌、朗诵、钢琴演唱、福音哑剧等节目后，十多位慕道友归于主里。
“复古音乐会”“圣诞烛光泰泽咏唱会”“花蕾圣诞新年赞美会”一连三个圣诞活动宣传栏摆在广州芳村堂大门处，后方摆着两棵大大的圣诞树。光孝堂在12月24日这一天共举办了四场聚会。
在18:30分正式开始的圣乐崇拜会，提前约一个小时，教堂前就排起了百余米长的队伍，且还在不断延长。结束后，会众跟随同工指引从侧门有序离场，正门又排起长长的队伍等待晚间第二场赞美颂唱会入场。
12月24日平安夜当日，广东省沙面会堂举行圣诞音乐布道会，谢旭广牧师从亚当夏娃的悖逆到人良心的亏欠，指出人是罪人的现实，在被造的世界里面没有出路，只有2000年前降生在我们中间的耶稣可以。
平安夜当天，沙面会堂共举行了五场活动庆祝救主耶稣降生，除音乐布道会外，还举行了两场圣诞主日崇拜和两场平安夜圣乐赞美会
相比城里的大教堂，不大的三间礼拜堂前有五颜六色的彩条飞舞，门口也贴上了大红对联。这是12月23日结对帮扶的临汾市尧都区枕头乡交口村福利巷活动点和第五牧区交口教会联合举办的圣诞感恩崇拜现场。
一大早，附近信众乡邻就踏着冰雪早早到来，有老者、有妇女、也有年轻人，他们脸上带着笑容，聚集在礼拜堂内。原定在17日，因降雪路滑为了安全，一再延期推迟。
除了各类经典的合唱外，中间还穿插了圣经知识竞赛：圣经有多少卷？旧约多少卷？新约多少卷？约翰福音3章16节的经文是什么？谁被称为“信心之父”？“以马内利”是什么意思……答对者可获得一本福音小册子作为礼物。另外，两位信徒还分享了车祸蒙神搭救化险为夷的见证和罹患脑出血的儿子凭信心祷告死而复活的感见证。
除了呼召13位信主外，农村信徒们还一起分享了爱筵，当天共发放圣诞礼物八十余包。
中国各地教会举办平安日崇拜
Last Sunday, churches across China rolled out Christmas Eve celebrations to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
After three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many churches resumed in-person Christmas celebrations, also carrying out evening services or gatherings.
On the morning of December 24, Sheshan Xingcheng Church in Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, held a Christmas Eve worship service. The church was adorned with red ribbons, with two Christmas trees on either side of the altar, and colorful "Silent Night" stickers under a red cross on the wall.
After hymns, choir performances, and prayers, the pastor delivered a sermon titled "Today, the Savior Has Been Bornf to You," based on Luke 2:1–20. "Savior is a beautiful and powerful name with authority." The preacher said that the Savior was not an oppressor or a dictator, but a gentleman with open arms who welcomed all those who labored and bore heavy burdens. "Jesus brings us true peace, regardless of external circumstances."
The church also had a gathering on the evening of December 24 and a Christmas special worship service the next day.
Xiangcheng Church in Suzhou, Jiangsu, known for its unique architectural style, has become a popular spot for photography enthusiasts on social media. The Christmas celebrations organized by the church also piqued the curiosity of the residents.
A couple attending the event remarked, "Let's see what they are performing." Church groups showcased diverse performances, including choirs, solo singing, dances, recitations, piano solos, and flower stick plays. The joyful atmosphere encouraged two believers to offer praise through song and dance.
In a performance titled "Joy to the World," ten elderly female believers dressed in red sweaters and scarves performed with flower sticks.
Reverand Wang and a male believer surnamed Pei sang a duet of "Going with the Lord," a song by Professor Wang Weifan from the Nanjing Theological Seminary, who was Pastor Wang's teacher during his studies.
At Huaxiang (Flower Lane) Church in Fuzhou, Fujian, the youth fellowship conducted an annual Christmas praise evening. This year's theme was "It’s All for Love, "and after varied performances, over ten seekers accepted Christ.
Three consecutive Christmas events—"Retro Music Concert," "Christmas Candlelight Taize Chanting Concert," and "Christmas and New Year Worship Concert"—were advertised at the entrance of Fangcun Church in Guangzhou, Guangdong, alongside two large Christmas trees. The church held four gatherings on December 24.
The Christmas music worship, which officially started at 6:30 PM, drew a queue of over a hundred meters an hour before. After the service, the congregation orderly exited following the church staff's guidance, with another long line forming for the second evening praise concert.
On Christmas Eve, Shamian Church in Guangdong Province held a Christmas gospel rally. A pastor highlighted humanity's reality, from Adam and Eve's disobedience to the debt of human conscience, emphasizing that only Jesus, born among us 2000 years ago, offered a way.
On the same day, the church hosted five activities celebrating the birth of the Savior, including two Sunday services and two Christmas Eve worship meetings.
In contrast to the megachurches in the city, a rural smaller church had colorful streamers fluttering outside, with the entrance adorned with big red couplets. This scene unfolded at the joint Christmas Thanksgiving worship event organized on December 23 by the Fuli Lane Meeting Point and the Fifth Pastoral District's Jiaokou Church in Yaodu District, Linfen, Shanxi Province.
Local believers arrived early in the morning despite the snowy weather, comprising the elderly, women, and young people, who wore smiles as they gathered in the chapel. Originally scheduled for December 17, the event had been postponed due to slippery roads caused by snow.
Aside from classic choir performances, there was a Bible contest where people were asked: "How many books are in the Bible? How many are in the Old Testament and how about in the New Testament? What is the full text of John 3:16? Who is known as the 'Father of Faith'? What does 'Emmanuel' mean?" Those who answered correctly received gospel booklets as gifts. Additionally, two believers shared testimonies—one about surviving a car accident and the other about their son's miraculous recovery from a brain hemorrhage—through prayer.
Apart from the thirteen people making a prayer for confession, rural believers also shared a love feast, with over eighty Christmas gift packs distributed on that day.
See Full Gallery HERE.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Christmas Eve Celebrated in China's Registered Churches
