Christmas Celebration and Faith Journey at Harapan Bangsa SMP SMA in 2023

Joy and gratitude filled the atmosphere at Harapan Bangsa School as Middle and High School students gathered on the morning of Wednesday, December 13, 2023, to celebrate Christmas. The school wholeheartedly supports various religious celebration activities, and this Christmas celebration is no exception.

As tradition dictates, Christians annually celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a time of joy, where people express God's love to their families, friends, colleagues, and those less fortunate.

The significance of Christmas lies in the joyous moment when the world welcomes Jesus Christ, fulfilling the long-awaited promise of a Savior from God. The chosen theme for this year's celebration is “Goodness of God,” inspired by Psalm 100:5, emphasizing God's eternal goodness, steadfast love, and faithfulness through generations. The theme aims to convey to Christian students that all blessings stem from God's benevolence.

The festivities commenced with the collective singing of Christmas carols, including “Language of Love,” “In Jesus We Are Brothers,” and “Hey, Come Together.” Rev. Jenny Setiawan S.E., M.Th., delivered a Christmas message on the “Goodness of God,” drawing inspiration from Psalm 100:5. The message urged everyone to embody goodness throughout their lives and maintain gratitude in all circumstances.

The celebration featured captivating performances by middle and high school students, including praise, dance, and drama. Teachers added to the lively atmosphere with a rendition of “Joy to the World,” concluding the event with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

In the spirit of giving, donations were collected from parents, totaling Rp. 18,130,000. The collected funds will be distributed to Kemah Beth Shalom Nursing Home and Orphanage in South Tangerang City, Banten 15310, demonstrating the school's commitment to community welfare.

Following the Christmas celebration, students embarked on a faith journey, visiting the Bible Museum for Christian students and the Jakarta Cathedral Church Museum for Catholic students. This experience aimed to nurture students' love for the word of God and deepen their understanding of the church's development in Indonesia. The hope is to instill firm faith and positive character traits, fostering a sense of love, respect for God, and empathy towards others in their daily lives.

As a gesture of appreciation, Harapan Bangsa School presented plaques and donations to both the Bible Museum and the Cathedral Church Museum. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas once again, the school expresses gratitude to all involved parties for ensuring the success of the Christmas celebration and faith journey. May this event be a memorable and blessed experience for all. God bless us all.