The first Sunday youth gathering was held at a church in Guangdong at the beginning of July.
"At Shamian Church, the Sunday youth gathering features modern hymns and short contextualized sermons, aiming to align with contemporary youth's lifestyles and spiritual needs," said Guangdong CC&TSPM.
To achieve this, the church has established the Light Worship Team, a youth music group that will lead young believers in worship. In addition to music and short sermons, they will regularly invite different speakers to share the essentials of the gospel and the life of faith with the youth.
For the first gathering on July 7, the church invited Rev. Lei Yuming, executive vice president of the Guangdong Christian Council, to meet with young Christians and seekers. Reverend Lei gave a sermon titled "Blessed Are Those Who Wait on the Lord," using the parable of sowing seeds to highlight that on the journey of faith, one must wait patiently for the Lord's wonderful works with the assurance of salvation. He emphasized that, besides life directions and goals, the youth should be determined to wait on the Lord.
The church also arranges its True Light Choir to perform at the youth gatherings hosted every Sunday afternoon. Additionally, the church occasionally carries out testimony sessions where young people share their faith experiences and growth stories. A communion service is conducted during the youth gathering on the first Sunday of each month.
Built by the Anglican Church in 1864, Shamian Church was once used for foreign worship in the British Concession in Guangzhou. It was managed by the Hong Kong and Guangdong Diocese of the Anglican Church, with services conducted in English. After World War II, the Chinese government reclaimed the concession, and the church was transferred to the management of the Anglican Diocese of Southern China. It was occupied by government authorities after 1949, but returned to the Guangdong Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement in the 1980s. Religious activities resumed in 1991 under the name Shamian Church. It remains one of Guangzhou's rare, well-preserved century-old Christian architectural landmarks.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
广东省基督教沙面会堂首场青年聚会7月7日下午在主堂举行。
据广东省基督教两会，“沙面堂主日青年聚会以现代化的福音颂赞和处境化的圣经短讲为特色，旨在与时俱进地契合当代青年的生活方式和精神需求。”
为此，教堂特别成立了“有光敬拜队”，这支青年音乐团体将带领会众进入敬拜中。除了音乐和短讲，青年聚会还将定期邀请不同的讲员，与青年群体分享福音要道与信仰生活。
7月7日的首场聚会，本堂特邀广东省基督教协会常务副会长雷玉明牧师与青年基督徒及慕道朋友见面。雷牧师以“等候主的必然有福”为题，以撒种为比喻，指出基督徒信仰的旅途中，要带着得救的确据，耐心等候主的奇妙作为。他强调，人生虽然需要方向和目标，但是更需要等候主的心志。
根据堂会安排，本堂“真光诗班”也在每周主日下午的青年聚会中登台献唱。此外，教会还将不定期安排见证的环节，让青年们能够有机会分享自己的信仰经历和成长故事。每个月第一个主日，教会也将依照传统，在青年聚会中举行圣餐礼。
沙面堂建于1865年，是当时英国圣公会在沙面广州英租界设立的一座专供外侨礼拜的教堂，属中华圣公会港粤教区管理，一直由英籍牧师主持，用英语礼拜。第二次世界大战以后中国政府收回租界，该堂移交中华圣公会华南教区管理。1949年以后被政府部门占用，1980年代由省基督教两会收回，1991年恢复宗教活动，称为沙面会堂。现为广州难得一见保留完整的百年基督教建筑物。
广东省基督教沙面会堂正式启动主日青年聚会
The first Sunday youth gathering was held at a church in Guangdong at the beginning of July.
"At Shamian Church, the Sunday youth gathering features modern hymns and short contextualized sermons, aiming to align with contemporary youth's lifestyles and spiritual needs," said Guangdong CC&TSPM.
To achieve this, the church has established the Light Worship Team, a youth music group that will lead young believers in worship. In addition to music and short sermons, they will regularly invite different speakers to share the essentials of the gospel and the life of faith with the youth.
For the first gathering on July 7, the church invited Rev. Lei Yuming, executive vice president of the Guangdong Christian Council, to meet with young Christians and seekers. Reverend Lei gave a sermon titled "Blessed Are Those Who Wait on the Lord," using the parable of sowing seeds to highlight that on the journey of faith, one must wait patiently for the Lord's wonderful works with the assurance of salvation. He emphasized that, besides life directions and goals, the youth should be determined to wait on the Lord.
The church also arranges its True Light Choir to perform at the youth gatherings hosted every Sunday afternoon. Additionally, the church occasionally carries out testimony sessions where young people share their faith experiences and growth stories. A communion service is conducted during the youth gathering on the first Sunday of each month.
Built by the Anglican Church in 1864, Shamian Church was once used for foreign worship in the British Concession in Guangzhou. It was managed by the Hong Kong and Guangdong Diocese of the Anglican Church, with services conducted in English. After World War II, the Chinese government reclaimed the concession, and the church was transferred to the management of the Anglican Diocese of Southern China. It was occupied by government authorities after 1949, but returned to the Guangdong Christian Council and Three-Self Patriotic Movement in the 1980s. Religious activities resumed in 1991 under the name Shamian Church. It remains one of Guangzhou's rare, well-preserved century-old Christian architectural landmarks.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
Guangzhou Centennial Church Launches Sunday Youth Gatherings
