Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio urges officials to serve with dedication and humility during the State Advent Christmas celebration in Kohima.
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DIMAPUR — The State Advent Christmas was celebrated at the State Banquet Hall, Kohima, on December 12 on the theme ‘Immanuel: God with us in our service’.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the occasion urged legislators and government officials to serve with dedication and humility in order to build a society grounded in justice, harmony, and mutual respect.
He added that sincere and dedicated service brings blessings not only to individuals but also to families and to the state as a whole, according to a DIPR report.
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Reflecting on God’s grace in his own life, Rio shared that the year was particularly meaningful as he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary and over 50 years in public service, having begun as a youth leader. He conveyed gratitude to fellow legislators, government officials, and the administration for their continued support and cooperation.
Encouraging everyone to prepare their hearts during the Christmas season, he urged them to renew their spiritual lives, inspire one another, and uphold the virtues of compassion, humanity, and service – the true essence of Christmas.
The speaker, Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, remarked that Christmas being the busiest period of the year, people must take care not to become so preoccupied that they “miss Christ”, turning Christmas into “Christ-miss”. Introducing the acronym JOY—J for Jesus, O for Others, and Y for Yourself—he explained that true joy comes when we give Jesus the first place, care for others, and then ourselves.
Referring to Revelation 3:20, he reminded the audience that every Christmas is Christ knocking at the door of their hearts, seeking to transform their lives. He urged everyone to make space for Jesus this Christmas and to live out His teachings and values to experience deeper joy, peace, and the true meaning of the season.
As all are called to serve their fellow beings, he appealed to everyone to strive to be more like Jesus.
Earlier, reflecting on the theme of the celebration, Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen, in his Christmas greetings, reminded the legislators and senior government officials present that they have been entrusted with a great responsibility to serve the people through the positions and authority granted to them.
Citing the example of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper, he urged the gathering to draw inspiration from Christ’s life of service.
Quoting Woodrow Wilson, “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed,” he expressed hope that the Christmas season would motivate every public servant to work with dedication rooted in ethical governance, compassionate administration, and people-centred leadership.