Jiangxi Bible School hosted an Ash Wednesday service on March 2, when the school also ushered in a new semester.
Following the flag-raising ceremony, the service comprised of preaching, prayers of confession, marking the sign of ashes, dedication service, communion service, and commission service, CCC&TSPM reported.
Rev. Yao Dafang preached a sermon titled "The Present Moment", mentioning the obligation of recognizing and seeking God.
After the confession prayer of sin, with the congregation stepping forward one by one, Li Yungen, the officiating pastor, marked the cross of ashes on the foreheads of believers according to the ancient church ritual. With the ashes of burned palm branches used in previous year's Palm Sunday service, Rev. Li exhorted the worshippers, "You shall return to dust, with which you were created. Turn from your sin and trust in Christ."
After the worship, all the faculty and the students studied the "Administrative Measures for Internet Religious Information Services" which came into force on March 1.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
