While Christmas is not a public holiday in China, many churches marked the occasion last weekend, as the festival falls on Thursday this week.
On December 20, a joint Christmas worship service was held at Jiexin Church in Huinan Town, Pudong District, Shanghai. Local choirs presented carols, and members of the congregation offered performances, including solo singing, dance, and a dumb show.
In the nearby city of Suzhou, churches also held Christmas celebrations. At Shishan Church, a pastor delivered a sermon on offering sacrifices that are pleasing to God before the performances began. Choral singing, a piano solo, traditional musical instrument ensembles, and dances followed. Apostle Church observed the fourth Sunday of Advent and baptized 20 seekers during its second service.
Further north, the century-old Shuishiying Church in Dalian, Liaoning Province, was filled with worshippers early Sunday morning. Each attendee received a Christmas gift parcel, with special care shown to those over the age of 80. The program featured various performances, including a testimony shared by a 95-year-old woman, who expressed her gratitude through dance. Believers with physical disabilities also presented a dance. One of the highlights was a man dressed as "Santa Claus," who distributed small gifts to the congregation. The celebration concluded with a communal Yangko dance.
Many churches across China are also scheduled to hold evening services on Christmas Eve and worship services on Christmas Day this week.
(The article is based on reports from the Gospel Times.)
