Christmas is celebrated on December 25 to remember the birth of Jesus Christ; who Christians believe is the Son of God. The name Christmas comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus). A Mass service (which is sometimes called Communion or Eucharist) is where Christians remember that Jesus died for us and then came back to life. In Rwanda and the world at large, Christians and other different people are celebrating the day as Covid-19 cases arise. At St Peter Anglican Church in Remera, several Christians have attended a congregation to celebrate Christmas. Covid-19 measures – including social distancing, handwashing and measuring body temperature of people were respected. The people were also requested to present Covid-19 vaccination certificate before entering the church. Robert Gonza is one of them. When asked what Christmas means to him, he said that it is a time of hope and a time to remember the birth of Jesus Christ that comes along with the renewal of people. “It doesn’t matter how far we have been running from the grace of God, but He is still there and is giving us hope that we can live for tomorrow,” he said. He declared that one of the ways of celebrating Christmas is the usual one concerning eating and fellowshipping with people, adding that however, Christmas is also a time to be with family and speak more about the grace and love of God. “As we eat and drink, let’s also remember to play and most importantly, to come for this moment of remembrance that Jesus has come for us. We have to receive the message but also act on it,” he said. Rose Mukabaranga, another Christian at the church said that Christmas means a lot to her including that Jesus was born and has come to save sinners and provide hope for those without it so that whoever believes in Him can have life. “It’s an important day for me; not a day for drinking or eating, but a day to celebrate the life of Jesus,” she said. She declared that due to the prevailing situation of Covid-19, her family cannot go out to overstay. “Starting from Christmas eve, we have to pray as a family and wait for the birth of Jesus Christ after midnight. Then, we give thanks to God for having carried us from the previous year and having protected us up to this time that we are now celebrating His birth,” she said. Speaking with The New Times, Reverend Antoine Rutayisire, the Pastor of the Church said that Christmas was well spent though some Christians had to be turned away because they didn’t have vaccination certificates. He declared that however, they weren’t a big number since most of the people have been vaccinated and been informed that they have to be fully vaccinated in order to attend the congregation. “We may not have the kind of celebration that we usually have; without flurry, vuvuzelas and noise, but still people are rejoicing over Christmas,” he said. He stressed that the message of Christmas is only in the bible and explains that it is a day when Jesus was born to save His people, a day to celebrate the time He came to teach us how to glorify God and save us from our sins hence giving us peace. “Christmas is not about us; it’s about Jesus. On Christmas, we don’t invent our message, we teach a message that He gave us,” he said. “Christmas is not a shopping day or an eating or dancing day. On Christmas, you just have to celebrate that Jesus was born for your salvation and that’s all. You may eat, drink or do whatever but that’s not the message of Christmas. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ.” At Ste Famille Parish of Catholic Church in Kigali, many Christians have queued outside the church and have left a one metre distance between each other. They too were asked to present Covid-19 certificate and sanitize before they could get inside the church. Aventin Hategeka attended the mass. He said that for him, Christmas means the salvation of sinners and remembering how God humbled Himself so that He could save us. He quoted what Father Plolycarpe Nzayisenga preached and said, “Being saved is daily and so I strive to change every day to do good and to ask for forgiveness of my sins every day.” He noted that on Christmas, he has to attend mass, respecting Covid-19 guidelines and later celebrate with his family – thanking God for all He has done for them as well as playing for the sick.
