Accra, Dec. 25, GNA - Christians in Ghana today joined their counterparts throughout the world to mark the birth of Jesus Christ about 2000 years ago with church services, crusades and conventions.

Church halls were decorated with buntings and were filled with both regular worshippers and occasional church goers, who sang praises to the new born King.

Preaching the sermon at the Main Ghana Police Church in Accra, the Very Reverend J.M.Y. Edusa-Eyison of the Church drew the attention of Christians to the fact that Mary sang the Magnificat making God the centre of her praise even before the prophecy concerning the conception and birth of Jesus Christ were fulfilled. He advised Christians to emulate Mary and to rely on God since He took care of the needs of those who relied on him adding that God cared for the marginalised in the society. Rev Edusa-Eyison said God loved and showed mercy to all those who had encountered Jesus Christ.

Preaching the a sermon at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Anglican Church in Accra, the Most Reverend Justice Akrofi, Archbishop of the Church of the Province of West Africa, said there were lessons to be learnt from the Virgin Mary, who was chosen from her lowly position in society to give birth to the Saviour of the world.
He said while society overlooked the poor, the lowly, orphans and the disadvantaged and rather focused and celebrated politicians, the rich and the powerful; God was concerned with the lowly and the needy.
Rev Akrofi questioned whether the celebration of Christmas over the years had made any difference in the lives of people. "Is the Christmas story a story of mere eating and drinking?" he questioned. He said the celebration of Christ's birth and entry into the world should be used to set higher moral standards for society and should not be used as a one-stop event for merrymaking.
"If a nation has no regard for moral standards, that nation is
heading for self-destruction=85. Let the insight of Christ's coming
influence our behaviour all year round," he said.