The Lord's Day Celebration is a short ceremony celebrated on Saturday evening (usually at sundown), before and after the evening meal. It is celebrated in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving. With prayers, feast and fellowship, it help us prepare and welcome the Sabbath. There are elements of Jewish tradition incorporated in the ceremony but the central purpose is to honor and celebrate Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:8). For us Christians, Sunday is the Sabbath Day - a day of resting our minds and hearts in the Lord.
"Today we set aside the concerns of the week that we may honor the Lord
and celebrate his resurrection." - from the Lord's Day Prayers
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you."
- Deuteronomy 5:12
Symbols:
The candle represents the light of Christ that has come to extinguish the darkness in the world. The bread symbolizes the food that God faithfully provides to His people while the wine is a symbol of joy. It is important to note that the Lord's Day Ceremony is not a Eucharistic Meal nor a Communion as Catholics have in the Mass. It is not a substitute for the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The Lord’s Day ceremony helps us honor the Lord’s Day and provide a framework from which we can continue the celebration throughout the Lord’s Day.
We hold Lord's Day celebrations in family, small groups or community-wide setting.
Short video of the Lord's Day Celebration (created by a University Christian Outreach worker in London):
