HOPE MANILA CAMPUS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

December, the most joyous and anticipated time of the year when everyone, everywhere and everything just screams out that all-around favourite celebration, Christmas. The cool breeze, the festive spirit, and the happy smiles – end-term projects, exams and deadlines, that was how most of us welcomed December. Not exactly the Christmas-time-spirit-filled welcome anyone would want to have. With all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas rush that surrounded (strangled) everyone, it was easy to lose sight of the true reason for the season. 

However, spirits were lifted when all the preparations for the youth Christmas celebration at church began. Different activities and contests were designed to strengthen fellowship and invite more youths (and youth at hearts) for the service. December 21 came and everyone was excited. The day started with a Spirit-filled morning prayer and afterwards came the welcoming. Everyone was smiling and shaking hands with one another to the beat of the song playing. It didn’t matter if you were a first-timer or an old dinosaur at the church; everyone went around and happily greeting each other a good morning or a merry Christmas.

Then came the praise and worship; people started to gather in front, just filled with excitement and zeal to praise God. Everybody praised and worshipped God - some clapped, some swayed, some sang, some danced, some kneeled, some lifted their hands - but no matter what their outward posture was, everybody’s heart was soaked in God’s presence and celebrating Jesus’ birth. It was truly a powerful moment when everyone just poured out their hearts to God and gave Him all adoration and thanksgiving for all He has done.


The highlight of the day would be the preaching. Of course during Christmas time the preaching would be about Jesus’ birth - the same story but a different style with a twist to it. This time, the story of Jesus’ birth talked about faith. The faith of Mary as she surrendered to God’s will of being the virgin mother of Jesus. The faith of Joseph as he obeyed God’s orders to take Mary home as his wife and to be the earthly father of Jesus. The faith of the Magi as they trusted and followed the direction of the star to the manger and believed that the little baby boy there was the King and Saviour of the world. Through that preaching, the Spirit gave everyone a new understanding and perspective of that old story that happened long ago in Bethlehem. It challenged everyone to trust God more in whatever He’s calling us to do. It challenged the whole congregation to stretch our faith even more - to let our faith be bigger than all our fears.



I’m sure that God spoke to everyone through that preaching, because when the altar call was given, everyone responded. Some came running, some came slowly, some came hesitantly, but all were yearning and crying out for more faith to follow God, more faith to stand, more of the Spirit’s work in their lives. In the midst of it all, an altar call for healing was given for two special visitors – a grandmother and her grandson. Despite of everyone’s personal prayers, each one took the time to stretch out their hands and prayed for them. That moment clearly depicted one of the reasons for Christmas – that it isn’t just for fun and games but it’s also a special time to reach out, care and pray for the least, the last, and the lost. Lunch, games and LG presentations immediately followed after the service.

The afternoon was filled with activities such as attacking the microphone for guess that tune, showcase of God-given talents through LG presentations, sharing of lives and catching up with friends and not to mention full stomachs. It was truly an enjoyable time, a genuine and priceless time of fellowship with God and His people - soaking up the all the love around and continually passing it on. This is a Christmas we will never forget.

By Trisha Faith Melo, Hope Church Manila