Sunday Worship Service | 05 January 2025 | 10:00 AM
The worship service for the first Sunday of the year 2025 commenced with a Bible verse and an opening prayer from Htp Eric Lianlalmuan. This was followed by the Praise & Worship team, and Upa Thiankhanmuan dedicating the offertory, which included the Relief Fund, bringing conclusion to this segment.
With it being the first Sunday of the month, Pastor Dr Suankhanhau Gualnam led the Pastoral Prayer. Before beginning, he made a short announcement to the congregation regarding the Hilhchianbu for the year, as well as being careful in public places as other(non-believers) people see our behavior, and we shouldn’t be setting a bad example for them. Regarding the weekday service held on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, it will now be had on Wednesdays at 3:00 pm starting next month, with no weekday services for the month of January. Pastor Hau requested the mass to keep these points in their prayers as he began the Mass Prayer.
The theme for the year 2025 is taken from the Book of Lamentations 3:40, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.” There is nothing that happens without a reason behind it. The shoes you’re wearing, the clothes you put on is not done on a whim, but for a reason. In that same vein, Pastor Hau said there is a reason the Church Leaders chose the particular verse for this year’s theme. He says for anything to really be effective, we must know the reason behind. The word “examine” in the above verse means to inspect, survey, inquire into. And so, he says, let us really decipher the reasons behind our ways of behavior. Why do we as a race, as Christians, and as humans in general, suffer in the ways that we do. In a more specific sense, the occurrences in Manipur that started last year, are still going on. What could be the reason for it? Are we really evil, and so deserve it all? Or is there another reason for it? The answers will differ depending upon who you ask, as our thought processes and understanding will differ too. Let us, for today, focus on one thing, that is to search our ways. And when we find out, let us return to God.
Pastor Hau says that if one has to return to somewhere, then one has gone a long way away. David says in the Book of Psalms 139:23-24, “search me, O God, and know my heart”. That same David is the one who said again in Lamentations to search our ways. He went from “search me” to “let us search”. If we ourselves don’t know, how then can we make any changes? God already knows us, and he knows us very well, more than we know ourselves. It is now time to have a little introspection. And when we do, we will know where the turn went wrong, and where we should return to. In Lamentations 1:1-2, one can see that Jerusalem was a great nation, and yet now it lies in ruins(paraphrase). We can see from the verses the fall of Jerusalem. If you don’t think this can happen to you, it most definitely can, so be careful. Even with warnings, we can still take a wrong turn, so be extremely cautious and examine your ways. When you don’t know which turn to take, turn to God. In Lamentations 2:14, it says”…the prophecies that they gave you were misleading.” Pastor Hau says when someone sins, it is difficult to tell them to their face. As well, when we get criticized, it is difficult to accept it right away, to realize and confess when we’re wrong, and yet we must do it. To return to God when we do wrong, one, it is important to have someone who can tell us when we do wrong, and two, it is important to accept our wrongs and right them.
Looking at 3:37-38, we learn that if we keep stubbornly on this path, why should we then complain when we’re only being punished for our own sins?(paraphrase). But there arises a question, why is it so difficult to confess, let alone accept one’s sins? Are really that ignorant, or are we merely feigning ignorance? Going by human nature, the latter might be closer to the answer. And we play dumb, all to avoid the responsibility(of being guilty). But be heedful of this path, as it ultimately leads to depravity. That is not just a mere step, but a whole world away from God. As a Christian, one does not want to find themselves in that place. In the midst of reflection on suffering and sin, the call for self-examination and repentance emerges as a crucial theme. Pastor Hau urges the people to return to the Lord and evaluate their ways, suggesting that their current plight may be a direct consequence of their actions. It is really easy to point the finger at the next person, but while you do that, don’t forget to bring that finger towards you too.
Introspection, as aforesaid, is crucial. And a few ways to do that is: by prayer, and being persistent like the widow from Luke 18:1-8 – being persistent shows what’s in your heart, it shows your sincerity more than anything else; our relationships, with God and with other people – the one shows the nature of the other; expanding on the topic of relationships, it is important to treat everybody with equality. Whatever position one holds does not make that person a more or a less important person. Would we even be able to tell the difference once we shed our earthly costumes. When we try to differentiate between right and wrong, one key point to remember is priority. Does it lie with heavenly things, or is it more aligned with the things on earth? Will you put your priority on eternal treasures or temporary ones? What is the foremost thing you look for? According to Jesus, it should be the kingdom of God, and His righteousness(paraphrase). In conclusion, prioritize God, confess your sins, and return to the Lord, and all other things will fall into their respective places. Pastor Hau ended his sermon with a prayer for the masses based on the day’s topic.
The worship service concluded with a final worship song from the Praise & Worship team, and Upa Thianzakham giving the benediction.
