Christmas at Atlanta Tamil Church: memories, and the joy of giving
Christmas at Atlanta Tamil Church is a very solemn, special, and sincere time. Patrons and worshippers came from across state lines to spend time in Atlanta and celebrate the season of Christ’s birth in their native tongue, Tamil.
The true meaning of Christmas is always the emphasis; this year the men’s fellowship went the extra mile and made it possible for the congregation to share with local charities. With their hearts filled with the joy of giving and minds ready to receive a special word from God, children and adults came with warm smiles and joyful souls. This season the church family was able to spread Christmas cheer to more than 50 homes with house visits and the singing of carols.
This year it was very solemn indeed since it fell on a Sunday. The church was prepped for an amazing service, with an extended altar, beautiful wreaths, a starry backdrop, and a grand tree with festive ornaments. The service started with cherished carols in Tamil and English. It set the tone for the rest of the service by preparing the people for a heart of worship. Pastor Palmer shared from the word of God by revisiting the manger scene and discoursed on how to prepare room for the Son of God in our daily lives. The church leadership followed with exciting news about the campus and highlighted all the spectacular events hosted at the campus throughout the year. The Sunday school provided a wonderful song for the offering time. All the events for the day were summed up with an elaborate meal that was catered by the Church, giving families the opportunity to relax and share stories from home, relishing remembered traditions from times long ago.
Christmas at Atlanta Tamil Church is a sincere time, because it is exactly a week away from ushering in the new year. The church took time this year to fast and pray for three days prior to the end of the year. It was a time of sanctification, self-examination, and exhortation from the Bible. Many were able to take time away from their routines to prepare themselves for the adventures that await for them in the new year. True to the efforts of the faithful, the church was able to enter the new year with the following promise from Isaiah 45:12 [GOD’s WORD Translation] “... You will never again be ashamed or disgraced”—a truly incredible promise that uplifted the spirits of many and will uphold many more as they progress through 2017.
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