Many churches in Suzhou, Jiangsu, and Northeast China Theological Seminary presented activities with different themes during "Thanksgiving Month".
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year in the United States, due to which November is called Thanksgiving Month. As Thanksgiving Day was approaching, churches are also preparing for activities, and many believers offered fruits and vegetables, according to Suzhou CC&TSPM.
Suzhou Shishan Church held a Thanksgiving worship service with the theme of “Grateful to You” on November 20. Meng Yao preached with the title “Much More Than Enough”, sharing God’s blessing and encouraging believers to pay attention to the abundance of their spiritual life.
Jiayin Choir presented hymns “A Poem of Thanks” and “You Support Me”. Jeduthun Choir brought a poem recitation “A Song of Thanksgiving” in background music, as well as a male and the female vocal duet “A Song of Thanks". The Joy Dance Team presented “Anthem of heaven”. The service ended with worship and praise from Joshua Praise Group.
At the exchange meeting conducted by the Joy Dance Team on November 22 , each one shared their past service experiences and decided to participate in the church festival service in the form of dance, agreeing to use fixed spiritual practice to promote team cohesiveness.
Dushu Lake Church held a “Thanksgiving, Worship & Praise Meeting” on the morning of November 20. Pastor Xu Changfu preached with the title of “Thanksgiving Trilogy”, urging attendees to know, accept, and be content with the Lord’s grace. The praise group sang 12 songs such as “Grace”, “Begging the Lord to Use Us” and “Flowers in Bloom” to praise God.
Suzhou Xiangcheng Church held a Thanksgiving service on October 20. Rev. Kuai Mo preached with the title “Faith and Wealth”, urging believers to treat wealth correctly and earn money according to God’s will. He stated that Christians should also always be grateful and willing to give, help others and become the blessings of more people.
The group for greeting newcomers, which is of Mujia Garden Church, conducted a Thanksgiving exchange meeting on November 20. The staff members of the group reviewed the grace and challenges they experienced in the past year, sharing their service experiences and making a prospect for the following ministry.
As an important part of the pastoral work of the church, the ministry of the group for greeting newcomers is also a window for external display. Church members agreed that in the next new year they would continue to do a good job of welcoming new people who could feel the warmth of the church and the love of God.
Northeast Theological Seminary held a Thanksgiving Day worship service on November 17, expressing gratitude to God in a uniquely Chinese way, according to CCC&TSPM.
The worship service was divided into two parts, the first of which was the Thanksgiving service. Rev. Wang Jingli preached. By using Biblical characters like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Job, and David who offered sacrifices and thanksgiving to God, she shared how believers should be thankful to God. Faculty and students of the seminary responded to the sermon by reciting the Prayer of Saint Francis together.
The second part of the worship presented the performance of each class, including dance, chorus, and life dramas. For example, “Fan Dance” presented in the third grade of undergraduate class uses the song “Fair and Holy Jesus Name!” which is with Chinese national tune, as the dance background music. The dance program “All Creations Filled by Your Love”, was from the first-grade undergraduate class. The costumes, dances, and lyrics, also fully reflected Chinese characteristics. Performers of the life drama “Gratitude” from the first grade of technical secondary school reproduced the life transformation process of refusing evil and choosing the good as well as replacing the old with the new in Christ. Performers from the second grade of technical secondary presented the chorus “Northeast Theological Seminary is Our Home”, which was created by themselves.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
江苏苏州多间教会和东北神学院在感恩月献上了不同主题的感恩活动。
每年11月的第四个星期四被称为感恩节，因此11月也被称为了感恩月。在感恩节即将到来之际，各地教会也在积极筹备感恩活动，信徒奉献瓜果，据苏州市基督教两会。
11月20日，狮山堂举行主题为“感恩有你”的感恩节圣乐崇拜。孟耀传道以《富富有余》为题，分享了上帝的赐福，勉励弟兄姐妹要关注自己属灵生命的丰盈。
佳音诗班献诗《感谢诗》《你扶持我》，耶杜顿诗班带来配乐诗朗诵《感恩颂》，男女生二重唱《感恩歌》，喜乐舞蹈队带来《天堂赞歌》；圣乐崇拜在约书亚赞美团的敬拜赞美中结束。
11月22日上午，狮山堂喜乐舞蹈队的同工们举办感恩交流会。交流会上，大家一起分享了过往的服侍经历，立志用舞蹈的形式参与教会节期服侍，大家一致赞同用固定的灵修来增强团队的凝聚力。
11月20日上午，独墅湖堂举行感恩敬拜赞美会。徐长富传道以《感恩三部曲》为题，劝勉大家做一个认识主恩，领受恩典，知足常乐的基督徒。赞美团献唱《恩惠》、《恳求主使用我们》、《鲜花盛开》等12首诗歌，向神献上颂赞。
10月20日，相城堂举行感恩礼拜。蒯沫牧师以《信仰和财富》为题，劝勉众人要正确看待财富，按照神的心意赚取钱财。同时也要常怀感恩之心乐意奉献，并帮助他人，成为更多人的祝福。
11月20日，慕家花园堂迎新组举行感恩交流会。迎新组同工回顾了过往一年中经历的恩典与挑战，分享各自的服侍心得，并对接下来的事工做出了美好的展望。
迎新事工是慕家花园堂教牧工作的重要组成部分，也是对外展示的窗口。大家一致表示，新的一年将继续做好迎新事工，使每一位新来的朋友都能感受到教会的温暖和上帝的爱。
2022年11月17日，东北神学院举行了感恩节崇拜。以独特的中国化方式表达对上帝的感恩，据中国基督教两会。
感恩节崇拜分两部分，第一部分是感恩礼拜。王晶莉牧师证道分享。她以圣经中向上帝献祭感恩的几个人物代表亚伯、挪亚、亚伯拉罕、约伯、大卫等，来分享我们应该向上帝怎样感恩。全院师生以同诵圣法兰西斯祷文来回应证道分享。
感恩节崇拜第二部分是各班级呈现表演，有舞蹈、合唱、生活剧等。如本科班三年级所呈现的“扇子舞 ”是以具有中国民族曲调的《耶稣美名歌》为舞蹈背景音乐。本科一年级的舞蹈 《万物充满你的恩典》，服饰、舞姿、歌词等也都充分体现了中国化特点。中专一年级的生活剧《感恩》，表演者以自身悔改经历再现了在基督里弃恶从善、除旧换新的生命转变历程。中专二年级献上自创的大合唱《神学院是我们的家》。
江苏教会和一神学院举办感恩节活动
Many churches in Suzhou, Jiangsu, and Northeast China Theological Seminary presented activities with different themes during "Thanksgiving Month".
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November every year in the United States, due to which November is called Thanksgiving Month. As Thanksgiving Day was approaching, churches are also preparing for activities, and many believers offered fruits and vegetables, according to Suzhou CC&TSPM.
Suzhou Shishan Church held a Thanksgiving worship service with the theme of “Grateful to You” on November 20. Meng Yao preached with the title “Much More Than Enough”, sharing God’s blessing and encouraging believers to pay attention to the abundance of their spiritual life.
Jiayin Choir presented hymns “A Poem of Thanks” and “You Support Me”. Jeduthun Choir brought a poem recitation “A Song of Thanksgiving” in background music, as well as a male and the female vocal duet “A Song of Thanks". The Joy Dance Team presented “Anthem of heaven”. The service ended with worship and praise from Joshua Praise Group.
At the exchange meeting conducted by the Joy Dance Team on November 22 , each one shared their past service experiences and decided to participate in the church festival service in the form of dance, agreeing to use fixed spiritual practice to promote team cohesiveness.
Dushu Lake Church held a “Thanksgiving, Worship & Praise Meeting” on the morning of November 20. Pastor Xu Changfu preached with the title of “Thanksgiving Trilogy”, urging attendees to know, accept, and be content with the Lord’s grace. The praise group sang 12 songs such as “Grace”, “Begging the Lord to Use Us” and “Flowers in Bloom” to praise God.
Suzhou Xiangcheng Church held a Thanksgiving service on October 20. Rev. Kuai Mo preached with the title “Faith and Wealth”, urging believers to treat wealth correctly and earn money according to God’s will. He stated that Christians should also always be grateful and willing to give, help others and become the blessings of more people.
The group for greeting newcomers, which is of Mujia Garden Church, conducted a Thanksgiving exchange meeting on November 20. The staff members of the group reviewed the grace and challenges they experienced in the past year, sharing their service experiences and making a prospect for the following ministry.
As an important part of the pastoral work of the church, the ministry of the group for greeting newcomers is also a window for external display. Church members agreed that in the next new year they would continue to do a good job of welcoming new people who could feel the warmth of the church and the love of God.
Northeast Theological Seminary held a Thanksgiving Day worship service on November 17, expressing gratitude to God in a uniquely Chinese way, according to CCC&TSPM.
The worship service was divided into two parts, the first of which was the Thanksgiving service. Rev. Wang Jingli preached. By using Biblical characters like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Job, and David who offered sacrifices and thanksgiving to God, she shared how believers should be thankful to God. Faculty and students of the seminary responded to the sermon by reciting the Prayer of Saint Francis together.
The second part of the worship presented the performance of each class, including dance, chorus, and life dramas. For example, “Fan Dance” presented in the third grade of undergraduate class uses the song “Fair and Holy Jesus Name!” which is with Chinese national tune, as the dance background music. The dance program “All Creations Filled by Your Love”, was from the first-grade undergraduate class. The costumes, dances, and lyrics, also fully reflected Chinese characteristics. Performers of the life drama “Gratitude” from the first grade of technical secondary school reproduced the life transformation process of refusing evil and choosing the good as well as replacing the old with the new in Christ. Performers from the second grade of technical secondary presented the chorus “Northeast Theological Seminary is Our Home”, which was created by themselves.
- Translated by Stephen Huang
Churches, Seminary Celebrate Thanksgiving
