Christmas services held to herald the birth of Christ

Christmas services were held at various churches in the Cape Coast Metropolis to herald the birth of Jesus Christ, with the message of peace almost being the common virtue preached to all the congregants in the services attended.

Christmas is celebrated worldwide by Christians to signify the birth of Jesus Christ, as was revealed by God some two thousand years ago and foretold by prophets including Isaiah.

At all the orthodox churches that the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited in the Metropolis on Christmas Day, the common message preached to the gathering was centred on peace.

At the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral which was packed to capacity, Very Reverend Father Francis Ntsifreh, the Presiding Bishop, said with the birth of Christ, his followers have also been born anew.

He noted that the birth of Christ had brought fresh life to Christians, which should be reflected in them to put away all old and sinful lifestyle, and lead new and righteous lives whilst living in peace with all men.

Though the Wesley Methodist Cathedral at Chapel Square experienced only a handful of congregants, Very Reverend Richardson Aboagye Andam, the Superintendent Minister, was able to move the gathering with his strong message of peace.

Preaching on peace and taking his quotation from the Book of Luke, chapter two verses 13 to 17, he said God had desired goodwill towards men on earth, hence the birth of Jesus Christ to bring peace to the earth.

Very Rev. Aboagye Andam related his sermon to a scenario of a woman who had waited on the Lord for a husband for several years, and her perseverance paid off when she finally had a good and caring husband whom she was peacefully married to.

He admonished Christians to always have faith in God and wait on him patiently for all their needs and problems in life.

Mr. John Afful, the Sunday School Administrator of the church, who was dressed like a Santa treated the Sunday school children to Christmas gifts amidst singing and dancing which livened the rather solemn atmosphere.

At the Christ Church Anglican Cathedral near the Cape Coast Castle, the congregants who had come to the service in their numbers were in a joyous mood, with Bishop Reginald Victor Atta-Baffoe also delivering his message on peace.

He indicated that Christ’s birth signified peace, and therefore mankind must desire peace for better co-existence.

He prayed for the Government "in this trying economic turbulence", assuring that the good Lord would be faithful to Ghana in the New Year and the years to come.

The joyous atmosphere at the Presbyterian St. Paul Congregation at Kawanopaado in Cape Coast was similar to that of the Anglican Church with the congregants singing and dancing to praises from the church’s choir.

Reverend Otuo Acheampong, also preaching on the theme, “Peace” and entreated Ghanaians to seek peace at all times.

“Judging from the unrest in most African countries, coupled with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Ghanaians should count themselves lucky that none of these calamities had befallen us,” He noted.

“We should therefore not be complacent but continue to pray and conduct ourselves in peaceful manner for Ghana to enjoy peace,” he added.

Bishop Jake Godwyll of the Light House Chapel International at Pedu, Cape Coast, admonished the Church to engage in activities that was geared towards the salvation of its members, which he said was the core value of the celebration of Christmas.

He said that most at times Churches preached about materialism and the physical progress of its members without paying much attention to their spiritual conditions, adding that it was through spiritual wellbeing that the congregation could attain salvation.

Bishop Godwyll described sin as a serious disease that is taken along even after death and advised his congregants to shun sin and turn on a new leaf as that was the hallmark of the birth of Jesus.