The Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Reverend Philip Naameh has urged all Christians to thank God for the gift of faith and fruitfulness in 2012.

“God gave all of these for free and we need to appreciate and strive hard to be each other’s keeper as our sign of appreciation,” he said.

Most Rev. Naameh said this when he conducted the New Year church service at the Our Lady of Annunciation (OLA) Catholic Church on Tuesday in Tamale.

He added that all Christians should thank God for the peace and prosperity in their families and in the country as a whole, even as they were unfaithful to Him.

“The birth of Christ gives a new world order under the direction of God's design for the redemption of all people,” he said.

He encouraged all Christians to adopt the behavior of the shepherds in the bible by being enthusiastic as they expressed their gratitude to God for bringing them a new year.

“As we thank God for being beneficiaries of this New Year, let us adopt Jesus and make him right in our heart,” he added.

At the Sacred Heart Parish also in Tamale, Rev. Father Christopher Beyuo urged Christians to be passionate and enthusiastic about the birth of Christ and advised all and sundry to ask God for Grace in order to burn all bad deeds in this new year.

Throwing more light on festivities in his first sermon of the New Year, Rev. Father Beyuo said salvation which the birth of Christ brought to mankind dated back to creation and that the coming of Christ marked the salvation given by God Himself.

“Salvation brought by Jesus is not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles, and not only for men, but also for women," he added.

He indicated that God offered time for humans to rediscover themselves and walk with Him intimately.