The Christmas message often gets lost in tradition and can be commonly reduced to fun gatherings, presents, good food, and fixings. But the brethren at First Assembly of God Wortmanville (FAOGW) know that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, so this past Christmas, they ensured the birthday parties fittingly honoured the King. The children lead the celebrations with a concert, followed by caroling in the community, and finally, a celebratory service on Christmas day.
A King is Born
There is something to be said about the pure and earnest worship of a child, and the Children’s Church Department brought their best sacrifices to the Christmas concert on Dec 23. Under the theme, ‘A King is Born,’ against a backdrop draped in glittering gold, little ones recited, performed, danced, and sang their hearts out. Feelings of joy and nostalgia filled the air as the audience was treated to hearty and soulful renditions of ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful,’ ‘Silent Night,’ and ‘Away In A Manger.’ In addition to the more traditional performances, Mathew Farrier caused quite a stir with his eloquent recital of the Christmas story (Jesus’s birth) while Jael Richards put his little fingers to task on the keyboard with his melodic rendition of ‘Joy To The World.’ The common thread amongst the many performances was the message of love, redemption, and grace – the true meaning of Christmas, as reiterated by 6-year-old ‘Sammy’ in his poem titled, The Greatest Gift of All.’
Presiding Bishop Dr. Murtland Raphael Massiah brought the curtains down on the concert with a message of encouragement to children to carry the King’s message into their world and a challenge to parents to teach their children to be strong, disciplined, and persistent.
Jesus is the Reason for Season
The sounds of FAOGW Mass Choir, accompanied by steel pans, keyboards, and drums, serenaded the Wortmanville community on December 24, as the annual ‘Christmas Caroling’ was held at Generation Next building. Along with dances and poems, Pastor Evelyn Gulliver, Dr Wilbert Lee, Asst. Pastor Joshua Griffith and Rev. Winston Assanah shared short Christmas messages. The common theme of each message was: ‘Jesus is the Reason for the Season’.
Jesus came to make Us One
The Christmas service was electric as Pastor Paul Benjamin led congregants in uplifting worship. The exuberant Sanctuary Choir belted out ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘New Born King,’ while the dance ministry took the congregation back in time as they danced in worship to ‘Go to Tell It on the Mountains.’ In a soul-stirring Christmas message, Bishop Dr Murtland Raphael Massiah observed, during the Christmas season, “many people celebrate Christmas but have no interest in Jesus.” According to Dr Massiah, Christmas is commemorated by many individuals who have never embraced Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Instead of celebrating the remarkable birth of Jesus Christ, attention is diverted to worldly distractions. Despite one’s ethnicity, social standing, and physical attributes, Bishop Massiah emphasised that “Jesus came to make us one.” He urged congregants to remember the true purpose of the season and not become engrossed with the usual diversions. Encouraging listeners to place Jesus at the center of their Christmas celebration, Dr. Massiah underscored that Jesus’s birth is the source of all human needs, including joy, peace, and happiness.
