Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year – there is even a song written about that! While we look forward all year to this special holiday, imagine having Christmas repeated two weeks later! That’s how it is in Ukraine. Part of the Christian church in Ukraine celebrates Christian holidays according to the Gregorian calendar and part of the church uses the Julian calendar. 
This split even exists within SELCU (Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine) so most congregations celebrate Christmas twice, on December 25th and again January 7th. While this increases the number of services and the work for the pastors, there is greater opportunity to minister to a larger segment of the population, to both those who attend regularly and those who do not.
In the fall of 2019, Rev. Navrotskky’s congregation in Nikolaev announced the year 2020 as “The Year of Mission”, taking the Great Commission from Mathew 28:19-20 as their motto. Their plans were to reach extended family members and neighbours with the Gospel.
Last Christmas season the Nikloaev congregation began with a potluck supper on December 25th, inviting church members’ extended families and friends. Everyone attending heard about Jesus, born in a manger and come to be our Saviour. On January 6th the Candlelight Service was mainly attended by church members. 
On January 7th a Christmas Concert was held with a meal, with personal invitations again made to non-church members. The Sunday School presented a great program with the Youth Team singing and a Christmas video was shown. The congregation joined in singing Christmas carols.
More than fifteen new people came to this service. Three of these started coming to Sunday services. Two ladies asked Rev. Navrotskyy for a Bible, which he gave them along with Small Catechisms.
SELCU Head office initiated the “Christmas Gifts for Orphans” program in 2019.
With money received from LCC and from mission partners in Germany, more than 1000 Christmas gifts of food and other necessities were packed and delivered to the orphanages, hospitals, retirement houses, prisons and homes of poor people during this Christmas season. These gifts were given because Jesus gave Himself for us all! All SELCU pastors and congregations were involved in this mission program.
Candles are lit because Jesus, the Babe in the manger, came to be the Light of the world. Ukraine continues to have dark times (Russia looms just across the border) with many suffering from poverty and now having the added stress and hardships of the Covid-19 virus.
The year 2020 did not turn out as the Ukraine congregations had planned, but they continue to do what they can to alleviate peoples’ day-to-day suffering and to bring the hope of the Gospel. During the Covid lockdown, church services were presented on-line. Most services are back to being held in-person with care to be social-distanced and following safety precautions.
Yes, the candles are lit at Christmas, and throughout the year, to remind us all that Jesus’ message still shines out to the darkest corners, bringing hope to all hearts that welcome Him.
