On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Pustaloka Room, Nusantara IV Building was momentarily silent but warm in an atmosphere of fellowship. Faith and care intertwined, when the Oikumene Prayer Fellowship of the DPR, MPR, and DPD RI held a Joint Parliamentary Christmas Worship and Celebration. In the midst of the hectic rhythm of state work, Christmas is present as a pause that provides space to reflect, reorganize the heart, and awaken the desire to share.

 

Carrying the theme “God Comes to Save the Family”, taken from Matthew 1:21-24, this Christmas celebration reminds everyone that the family is the first space where the values of love, hope, and social responsibility grow. These values are then translated into concrete actions through support for various diaconal programs, including the One in Love Program initiated by the Indonesian Bible Society.

 

Chairman of the Christmas Committee of the DPR RI, DPD RI, and MPR RI, Martin Daniel Tumbelaka, emphasized that Christmas should not stop at symbols and ceremonies. “We are invited to prepare ourselves to welcome Christ with a clean heart, so that Christmas does not stop at celebrations, but lives in action, ” he said.

 

The Christmas service which began at 4:00 pm took place in a solemn atmosphere. Praise after praise was offered, candles were lit as a symbol of light, and intercessory prayers were offered for the nation, the church, and all those struggling with difficulties. The presence of inter-church ministers emphasized the ecumenical spirit that is the foundation of the togetherness of this celebration.

After the service, the event continued with a celebration filled with speeches and various art and praise offerings. The spiritual songs sung, including by Once Mekel, brought a warm and serene atmosphere. As if inviting everyone to take a moment to reflect and  arrange their hearts. In that silence, the meaning of Christmas as a call to share was reaffirmed.

 

The General Chairperson of the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI), Rev. Dr. Henriette T. Hutabarat-Lebang, on behalf of LAI received the financial support of Rp. 30,000,000which was delivered directly by Chairman of the MPR RI for the period 2024 & 2029, Ahmad Muzani.

This support is earmarked for the One In Love Program, a movement that brings Bibles to God's people in various remote areas of the archipelago in need, including areas affected by disasters and deprivation.

 

In addition to support for LAI, the Parliament Christmas series was also filled with various forms of diakonia. Assistance and tokens of love were distributed to worship ministers, retired employees, janitors, security, mosque caretakers, as well as scholarships for children from underprivileged families within the Secretariat General of the MPR & DPR & DPD RI. This diaconal activity emphasizes that the spirit of Christmas continues to be maintained through the concern of sharing love across roles and backgrounds.

 

Through support for LAI's One in Love (SDK) Program, Parliament Christmas 2025 finds its deeper meaning. From the parliamentary chamber, love does not stop as a discourse, but flows into actions that reach out to people in various parts of the country. The word that is presented, the aid that is distributed, and the prayers that are offered become a testimony that the faith that is celebrated together, is ultimately called to be lived out together.

That's where Christmas dwells longer. Not just in song and prayer, but in a commitment to continue to be present to others, one in love, one in hope.