As Christmas approaches, it’s a great opportunity for missionaries and Japanese Christians to share with people the Christian message.
Even though Christmas in Japan mainly consists of a few decorations in a shopping mall, cream sponge cakes topped with strawberries, and sometimes a present or two for the children - Many Japanese people are open to talking about Christmas, the meaning and why we celebrate it today.
On December 23rd the Wec Churches in Japan will join together for their main yearly Christmas outreach event. ‘Biwako Christmas’.
This year, a professional team will come to Shiga-Ken to present the story of the gospel of Jesus using traditional Japanese theatrical puppetry, known as Bunraku.
Bunraku is a unique Japanese theatre, originating in Osaka in 1872.
The puppeteers control the puppets, which are 2 ½ to 4 feet tall, and have faces and hands carved intricately from wood. It takes 3 puppeteers to control 1 of the main characters puppet movements.
There will be two showings of the gospel presentation over the 23rd December, which happens to be a Japanese national holiday, as well as performances by a fantastic gospel choir and children’s choir.
We really pray that by presenting the gospel using the uniquely Japanese style of Bunraku, a media that many Japanese understand and relate to, that hearts would be touched as people hear the good news of what God has done for them!
Please join with us and pray too!
We look forward with anticipation to seeing what God will do the lives of the Japanese in 2009.