#Pastor G. Khankham welcomed and greeted the congregation with a warm “Merry Christmas”.
#Nu Thangzai read aloud Luke 1:28-38 and led us into a word of prayer.
#Worship Leader Pa Kamchinmung wished everyone a Merry Christmas! and the Worship team led us into Praise and worship.
Worship songs:
- Pathian Ngaih Laa 335 “Lemna Kumpi Hong Piang”
- Pathian Ngaih Laa 326 “Tungnungpen Ah”
#Offerings of collection was blessed by Elder H. Zabiak
Sharing:
Elder H. Zabiak:
- Today we are able to celebrate Christmas amidst this Pandemic while many have not been able due to various reasons. Have we ever pondered why the Lord has still kept us alive to see this very day? It is because Jesus wants everyone (big and small, rich and poor, young and old) to know the good news (Luke 2: 10).
- Have you been excluding yourself from that “everyone” and celebrating the Christmas without that good news? If so then stop doing that and start including you in that “everyone” because that good news is meant for everyone including you and me.
- Good news can come in different forms for everyone- worldly or physical and spiritual.
- Like in today’s time, those who have been tested positive for them the good news would be testing negative and being able to see and be with their loved ones after being quarantined for 7-14 days. But good news like these fades away with time as there is no guarantee that you can’t be positive again. Therefore good news like these is temporary and can only bring short time happiness.
- He then talked about Barabbas who we all know was a sinner waiting to be hanged to death on the cross for his sins but fortunately for him that day he received good news and was saved from death by a total stranger that day.
- While considering him to be fortunate, we need to ponder upon the question whether we consider ourselves fortunate enough to have received the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ. If we have, then this good news will save us from eternal suffering and will bring us eternal happiness.
Pa Songlianthuam:
- During this pandemic most of our conversation has been about how and whether things will get back to normal. If so, when? Which made him ponder on why we as Christians want things to go back to normal when there have been signs of different calamities and how things will get difficult when the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will take place as they have been written in the Bible. This made him happy as the coming of the Lord was drawing closer and closer.
- As we all are wearing masks in accordance with the CoVid protocols to prevent the virus from spreading further. Likewise, in our spiritual journey are we allowing our sins, iniquities, and wickedness to mask our relationship with God? Let us unmask ourselves from them and look back at all his mercies and goodness and focus on strengthening our relationship with God.
- Let us mask ourselves from all the sins and harmful things of the world that can destroy us physically and spiritually. This masking will not be possible by ourselves; therefore we need Jesus Christ to help us through the hardships and trials. These trials and hardships are present everyday as this is not our final destination. But the good news is that the Lord Jesus Christ has conquered it all. We only need to use the mask that is “Jesus Christ” to be immune.
Pastor G. Khankham – “Good news that will cause great joy for all the people”
- It was first proclaimed to shepherds. Mary and Joseph were in town to register for the census. There was no need for shepherds to register because they didn’t count. The shepherds were homeless and forced to move to the outskirts of the society. And since they were not so literate and they would not have been able to read the Bible where Prophet Isaiah prophesized the birth of Jesus Christ, so the Angels went and proclaimed to the shepherds themselves.
- It was secondly proclaimed to the three wise men. They saw the ‘Star’ and were inspired by it which led them to the place where the King of Judea was born. The wise men were astrologers, and the star was an astronomical sign they saw that signified the prophecy of the Jewish king. As our knowledge and wisdom is increasing, we should be able to apply it for a better cause like unraveling the fact about Jesus’ second coming.
- In Luke 2: 8-14 the good news is the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord for all mankind. It was first proclaimed to the lowly shepherds. He explained how the birth of Jesus Christ into this world is the fulfillment of the prophecies in the Old Testament. The angels came down from Heaven and sang praise to God in front of the lowly and simple minded shepherds who were homeless and outcasts in their society. Likewise God can use your simple nature or your low status for his glory. You do not need to be Kaiser Augustus or the wise men or scholars or priests for the Angels to come down and proclaim his Glory.
# Closing worship song “Pathian Ngaih Laa 318 – Honpa Hong Piangta”
# The service benediction was pronounced by Elder Thangkhosiam Tonsing.
