Regional News of Friday, 10 April 2009

Source: GNA

Christians in Bolgatanga start celebrating Easter

Bolgatanga, April 10, GNA- Christians in Bolgatanga on Thursday and Friday started church services and conventions to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Whilst some of the Pentecostal Churches started with Conventions on Thursday, the Catholic Church begun the celebration with a church service focusing on the message of Jesus to his disciples where he asked them to be humble in their work, to serve and not expect to be served and to demonstrate humility in their daily affairs. The Church also went on procession on Friday morning as a symbol of the journey Christ undertook to Calvary carrying his cross to be crucified.

Delivering the sermon, Reverend Father Francis Hammond, Parish Priest of Our Lady Queen of Africa (OLA) Catholic Church asked the congregation to trust in the mercy of God and believe that their sins are forgiven when they faithfully ask for forgiveness. He urged all to forgive others the wrong they might have done them, saying, "today, I urged you to forgive all those who have hurt you in one way or the other, do not go worshiping God with a heart that still cannot even accept one person."

Rev. Fr. Hammond called on the people to be humble and show respect for each other, no matter one's status in society. "Humility is a virtue all Christians should try to live", he said. Many Christians in Church were dressed in traditional mourning cloths, black and red as the first two days of church services commemorate the suffering and death of Christ and are rather solemn.