THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT!

Juliette Arulrajah, MMS Area Director of Cambodia

Christmas has always been celebrated all over the world and in Cambodia by Christians as the dawn of a new day with light breaking into the darkness and gloominess of the environment, of daily toil and struggles, injustice as well as broken relationships with the joy of the birth of Jesus!

Hope House Christmas 2021.

In Cambodia, the COVID-19 pandemic most certainly seemed to accentuate the darknesses of life - loneliness, matter of life and death, loss of livelihood, rising of poverty, etc. And the celebration of Christmas was very difficult in 2020 especially as many were not able to go online as Wi-Fi in various parts of Cambodia was not strong so several local churches had very few worshippers at online Christmas services. Hence, Christmas was more of a family affair. At some of our MMS entities like COSI or COSY, they went deep into the meaning of Christmas with the residents in the midst of celebrating with food, singing, storytelling, etc. This was done with safety measures and masks in place!

COSI Christmas 2021.

Indeed, the light of Christmas dawned bright and clear in 2021 as COVID-19 cases were low in the last quarter of 2021. Hence, churches and MMS entities / ministries were able to celebrate Christmas in a more robust way with enthusiastic children outreaches and adult worship services throughout Cambodia. Krang Svay Methodist Church had their little children share the message of Christmas through dances and drama for the village children who turned up at their church. They went home with a Christmas family care pack each but more importantly, the message of hope that Jesus brings. Antioch Methodist Church, on the other hand, had a group of adults, youth, and children to visit village homes especially those with children, blessing them with concern, songs, prayer, gifts, etc. Glory Trinity Methodist Church, Prek Omperl Methodist Church, Upper Room and The Third Place (Odem) shared the message of Christmas with pre-believing family and friends through carols and songs, dramatisation of the Christmas story, and the relevance of Jesus’ coming to bring light, love, hope, and peace in the midst of challenging situations not only when he was born 2000 years ago but now in contemporary times dispelling the darknesses of pandemic affected Cambodia.

COSY youth.

At COSI, COSY, Methodist and Joy Hostels, the young people were full of life celebrating Christmas through worship, carols, dances, fun-filled activities, competitions, outings as a group, etc. They presented the Christmas message in realistic and personal ways to one another and their other friends. Praise God for some pre-believing hostelites who responded and received Jesus as their Saviour! At Hope House, Christmas celebrations were conducted onsite with the slum children coming to have fun with songs, stories, and games led by their enrichment programme teachers who helped to bring the light, reassurance, joy, and peace of Christmas to them! Christmas celebrations at the Methodist School of Cambodia, including our ever-growing Kindergarten and at Prek Tual Kindergarten, brought the truth, warmth, and love of Jesus in very age-appropriate ways to the children and youth as well as to some of the parents in creative ways!

The star and light of Christmas is Jesus for He brings love, hope, peace, and joy into every situation of darkness.

Undoubtedly the star and light of Christmas is Jesus for He brings love, hope, peace, and joy into every situation of darkness, brightening the context and lives of those He touches! This coming Christmas is one which all our ministries and local partner churches in Cambodia are beginning preparations to be the heralds of the good news of Christmas with the healing, wholeness, reconciliation, and restoration of identity which Jesus, the Light the World, ushers into each of our worlds.

Merry Christmas! Soursdey Noel!