Every second Sunday of the Last month of each year, The Lifeway Chapel celebrates its Annual Thanksgiving Service at the church headquarters. Today, the service started with the Pastor of the Ogun state branch giving a charge to stir the people up to give thanks to God. After this, the Vessel of Life, the church’s choir, led the people in songs of gratitude. One of which was the popular Yoruba chorus that goes:
Ese ni bi te ti bere
Ese ni bi te ba de
A dupe o Jesu
Ibi te mu wa lo
Which means:
Thank you for where we started
Thank you for where you have brought us to
Thank you Jesus
For where you are taking us
The Lead singer in regular fashion charged the church congregation to reflect on the goodness of God from January till now, the last month of the year 2023. People lifted their hands and with a loud voice, offered prayers to God. Others were found heads bowed with their knees to the ground. The year 2023 has been a unique year worldwide and most especially for Nigeria.
After the singing was done, one of the Pastors of the church opened a psalm and read it aloud. The atmosphere was charged as he read. Before he finished his sentence, the choir leader raised another song of praise which went on for 5 minutes and then silence fell over the room.
The General Overseer, A great woman of God, spoke blessings over the people to which they all responded with a loud Amen before taking their seats.
The title of her sermon was Sure Mercies. It was a teaching that emphasized how God wants every human in the world to be fully aware of his goodness and mercy. He wants them to know how sure it is. It was a blessing to remember that God isn’t a boss who is eager to whack everyone on the head for their faults but one who would send his son to give life, show the way and restore truth to everyone who would care to listen. He is a Good God. The sermon ended with the media team playing the video of a heart pumping blood. God put that heart in us and gave us life to experience his mercy, his goodness following us with surety. The word was delivered so cleverly and with precision, it was a message I do not think I will forget.
In Lifeway, during the annual Thanksgiving day, every branch of the church from all states comes together for the service. We have a beautiful tradition during the Thanksgiving segment of the service where the people are divided into groups – Men, Women, Youth, Singles, Children, Families that indicate interest, and the Pastors. The choir raises a song for each group as they dance out, give their thanks, gifts and offerings and receive a prayer. The women’s group was the most exciting. These women danced and danced, I guess you could conclude that David trained them. It was beautiful to watch.
It is usually our longest service in the year, the service lasted 4 hours. Our average service is usually for 2 hours.
To wrap up the service, the resident Pastor comically gave a special thanksgiving to the members of the church, warmly welcomed the first-timers, read out the announcement and pronounced blessings upon the congregation.
Even after the service rounded up, thanksgiving was very much in the air. People stayed back a little longer, hugging each other, sharing gifts and offering words of affirmation. As I watched Thanksgiving fill the atmosphere, I whispered a prayer to God. “Father may this atmosphere never leave. Amen”
