On the evening of 13^th December, 2018, Nanjing Union Theological Seminary held a “Seek Your Face” Advent prayer meeting in its prayer room. The meeting was initiated by the Spirit and Morality Department of the Student Union and hosted by the Light of Zion Fellowship. Students coming to the prayer meeting on this day were of greater solemness and sobriety than before.

After reading today’s lectionary, brothers and sisters honored the memory of 300 thousand compatriots who lost their lives when Nanjing was ravaged by gunfire 81 years ago. Sister Xue Xiaodi who led the prayer meeting of the day then prayed for the victims, the hard-won peace that we have today, and future harmonious development in China and the whole world.

The first two purple candles lit during the candle-lit ceremony symbolized “Hope and Expectation; Wish and Peace”. Similarly, the whole prayer meeting centered on the topic”Recall the Past and Long Live the Hope”. Theological students earnestly prayed together on the National Memorial Day for the peace and prosperity of our nation, for that period of history that deserves to be faced squarely, and for God’s mercy on seeing our sorrow and hope and comforting us. Having such a special prayer meeting during the Advent that was filled with hope and peace would definitely be a valuable experience for all the theological students.