On June 6, the first Sunday of the month, a communion service was held in Shilipu Church, Baoji, Shaanxi.
Following COVID-19 protocols, the congregation wore masks to enter the sanctuary on the second floor, joining the learning of the hymn When I Saw the Cleansing Fountain.
At 8:30 a.m., the worship service began under the leadership of Elder Pang Xianhua. First, the united choir came onstage to sing the hymns Curse He Suffer'd; Grace I Enjoy and Hallelujah, then the congregation and choir together presented the song The Holy Lamb Sitting on the Throne. After intercession, Elder Liu Xifeng led the responsive reading of Psalms 84:1-12, followed by a sermon from Rev. Wang Binghui.
Based on Matthew 5:17-20, Rev. Wang gave a sermon titled Law, Prophet, and Grace. He shared that Moses received the law, while the prophet prophesied, breath entered the bones and a new covenant was established, according to Ezek. 37:10 and Jeremiah 31:31.Grace came as Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah and he fulfilled the salvation for us, thus we should look up to him.
The sermon stated that the mystery of God was to first promulgate the law in the Old Testament, and then later gave us the grace revealed in the New Testament. The law enclosed people in sin and death, so those who lived under the law suffered and had no way out without the grace. But the order of the law and the grace must not be reversed and both should be given consideration. The law was fulfilled in grace, and grace was embodied in the law.
Then after the intercession part, Elder Pang presided over the Communion service.
At the end of the service, Pang announced that the church would host fasting and prayer sessions from June 7 to 8 for students facing entrance examinations into high schools and universities.
(The author of this article is a Christian in Shaanxi.)
- Translated by Abigail Wu
