Thousands of Rwandans on Friday, December 25 graced Churches and Cathedrals in different parts of the country to celebrate Christmas day.
For this year’s prayer gatherings, a number of places of worship hosted both physical and online congregations, a move partly meant to allow those who may not have managed to secure a seat in the church due to social distancing measures to have a chance to follow the service virtually.
In places that The New Times visited on the day, the faithful prayed showcasing their gratitude to God for the Gift of His Son Jesus the savior whom he sent to the world to save humanity, and his unshakeable love showcased to all, despite the challenges the world has got acquainted with in 2020.
Archbishop Laurent of Anglican Church of Rwanda, in a Christmas message, said,
"We are in a different situation and different circumstances, but you know what? The message of Christmas remains the same. Our Christmas joy and Christmas peace can’t be taken away by the Covid-19 pandemic. That is my way of saying to you merry Christmas,” he said.
At Christian Life Assembly in Nyarutarama-Kigali, while leading the congregation in prayer, Senior Pastor Andrew Mukinisha echoed his thanks to God for humanity by sending Jesus, who is the purpose of the celebrations.
"Our father and God we are so thankful to you. You loved humanity so much that after we had failed you; after we had messed our own lives up; after we had brought a lot of trouble on ourselves, you didn’t give up on us. You continued to love us, you sent Jesus to come and be born in this world to identify with us, to identify with our weaknesses, to identify with us in our desperation and to die for us so that if we can put our faith in him, we can be saved, we can be forgiven, we can begin a new life, we can have a relationship with you renewed. We can never thank you enough for that,” he said.
Lydia Masasu, a Pastor at Restoration Church Masoro, teaching on the day, she encouraged the believers about the fact that God always keeps His promises. She quoted from the Gospel about God’s promise to Mary that Jesus would be born to her, and it really happened.
"He is the God who fulfils His promises. Yes, He will fulfil it, not because of who you are, but for His Glory,” she preached.
Elsewhere, in a virtual sermon, Apostle Paul Gitwaza of Zion Temple – Kigali also issued an encouragement to the congregants, reminding them that Jesus is their Saviour, Lord, and Christ (Anointed One).
He was quoting from Luke 2:11, which says, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
Gitwaza said: "I want you to pay attention to these three names. A savior is one who saves the world……Christ means ‘He who is anointed’ to redeem and save his people. And Lord means He is The Lord of all things.”