A Sunday of Thanksgiving and Celebration

Today is our monthly Thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. As members, we observe this special service on the first Sunday of every month. Typically, our General Overseer leads this service, and it’s broadcasted online, allowing all parishes to join and listen to his message. So, every first Sunday, we watch the General Overseer as he delivers the sermon. For the rest of the Sundays, the service is managed by the parish pastor and other ministers.

Thanksgiving service is always an interesting and joyful event. It usually runs longer than our typical Sunday service, which normally lasts from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. On the first Sunday, we extend the service by an additional hour, making it a four-hour service to accommodate special Thanksgiving activities. This extra time is set aside for various celebrations: we have thanksgivings for children, adults, and specific milestones, followed by celebrations for birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and other personal achievements. It’s these special acknowledgments that usually lengthen the program on the first Sunday of every month.

Today’s service was especially eventful for me because my friend was holding a naming ceremony for her newborn daughter. Her baby was born last week on a Sunday, and in our culture, naming ceremonies traditionally take place seven days after birth.

Since her family wasn’t close by, I was there to support her right after she gave birth. I helped her with various things and made sure everything was prepared at her home. I ended up staying the night to provide extra assistance as she adjusted to her new role as a mother. I’m grateful to God for keeping her safe and healthy through it all. Although she had hoped for a son (the scan had initially suggested she might be expecting a boy), she welcomed a beautiful daughter instead. She already has two daughters, so naturally, she had hoped for a boy this time, but we know that only God decides these things.

The naming ceremony was a beautiful event. Given that my friend and her family recently moved from Ibadan to Lagos, they hadn’t yet become regular members of a church here, so I requested my pastor’s assistance with the ceremony. It was a joyful occasion, and her daughter received about 15 names, each holding a special meaning. Her husband made sure everything was organized for the guests and provided refreshments after the ceremony, making the day feel truly special.

It was a day full of gratitude and joy, celebrating both in church and with my friend’s family.