Today, at the China Christian Council class, I learned from two of the class members how their home churches celebrate Christmas; I thought you would be interested in these stories.
One church is in Liaoning Province, in far northeast China. The young woman who told of the church came to Nanjing to the seminary and after graduation, came to the CCC to work for Tian Feng, the monthly magazine. Her home church is in a small city, and has about 2,000 members. It is not the only church in this city, but it might be the largest one. It is a very spiritually active church, with the congregation organized into 15 or so teams.
Now the word “team” isn't entirely clear, but it is a discreet group, with a leader and a membership. The leader tends to the group, knows the families, nurtures members, takes action to meet needs, etc. Sometimes they gather in homes for various functions. Also, through these groups, the church operates an organized 24/7 prayer program, mostly conducted at the church, but some people who live far away pray in their homes, or by groups in homes. These leaders are spiritually mature Christians, but are volunteers, not ordained.
Anyway, to celebrate Christmas, the members (who are free in the daytime; those who work come when they can) gather in the morning of Christmas Eve and stay all day, eating lunch and supper at the church.
During the day, they will sing and have preaching, and different teams will give performances of singing, choreographed musical performances or dramas. They begin to pray at midnight, and pray until morning. Then many stay, or go home and come back, to Christmas Day worship, which also lasts most of the day.
The second church I learned about is in Zhejiang Province, which is south of Shanghai. This church is in a small town. Their Christmas Eve service is from about 6 p.m. until midnight. They also will have singing, musical presentations, dramas and preaching. On Christmas morning, from about 5-7 a.m., they go to the church, after which time they go home for breakfast and then go back to the church (the congregation lives very near the church) for all day programs, preaching, singing and musical presentations, with performances by children, youth and senior citizens. Some will play musical instruments, such as piano, violin and the Chinese erhu.
Isn't that wonderful? The greatest thing about Christmas in China is that it is a celebration in the church, not in society, though the big department stores play it up so they can sell more goods. They have Chinese New Year for their family gatherings, big traditional meals, visits to relatives, etc., so Christians can just concentrate on the celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas.
I thought these stories were very interesting. The big city churches don't do all day and all night celebrations, though they also have wonderful programs. I plan to go to Shanghai for Christmas Eve at Jingling Church, which has the best music in Shanghai — and that is saying a lot; Shanghai churches all have good music at Christmas.
In case I don't write again before Christmas, may I wish for you a blessed and warm Christmas celebration.
Lynn Yarbrough is Virginia Baptists' Kingdom Advance Ambassador in China.