Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (C.C.C.S.) parishes around the country celebrated an historic landmark on Sunday.

It was the occasion of 190 years since Christianity's arrival in Samoa. The event was commemorated together with the communion for the month of September.

All around Samoa C.C.C.S. parishes celebrated the landmark in a uniquely Samoan way. 

The celebration brought together parishes of each synod to combine donations which could exceed $50,000 per parish. 

Believers from different ages and walks of life listened to songs of praise which were exchanged between parishes during combined services.

Due to state of emergency restrictions, some parishes were advised to celebrate on their own, while other synods chose a few parish representatives to participate in the combined church services.

On Sunday, the C.C.C.S. parishes around Samoa read Romans 14, verses 13 to 21.

Believers from the C.C.C.S. were reminded of the value of withholding judgments.

Instead, believers were reminded they should affirm to never do anything that might draw others into sin. 

Last month, the C.C.C.S. at Sapapali'i in Savai'i celebrated their own anniversary of 190 years since the arrival of Christianity in Samoa.

Sapapalii, which is often referred to as the home of Christianity in Samoa, is where John Williams of the London Missionary Society initially docked and was welcomed into Samoa by fore-fathers of the village. This arrival is commemorated every year on August 24.

"And today, we celebrate 190 years since John Williams and L.M.S. missionaries came on the boat, [the] messenger of peace [who] brought Christianity in Samoa.

“The C.C.C.S. celebrates the arrival of Christianity in Samoa on the first Sunday of September every year, which we call: ‘Aso Sa o le Talalelei’," C.C.C.S. Sapapali'i, Reverend Esera Auatama Esera told the Samoa Observer.

Last Friday, the Government reminded Church Ministers that it is their responsibility to ensure social distancing inside their sanctuaries.

The reminder was issued by Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Dr. Sa’ilele Malielegaoi during his media programmes throughout the week, as well as in an official statement from the Government re-enforcing the orders for church services.