Sunyani (B/A) Dec. 25, GNA - Christians within the Sunyani municipal= ity celebrated Christmas with church services and thanks giving to their creato= r for successfully seeing them through the year. Delivering his Christmas sermon, the Head Pastor of Sunyani Central Church of Pentecost, Reverend Charles Boamah=96Asante, made a plea to political parties to unite and live in peace as the yuletide is used to remember Christ, the Prince of Peace. According to him,Christmas celebration should be devoid of rancour, bickery, animosity and scorn towards each other.

He reminded the public to be mindful of the purpose of the celebration and desist from acts inconsistent with the values of Christianity. Reverend Monsignor Richard Kyeremeh, Administrator of Christ the King Cathedral, added his voice to the call for peace. He noted that merry making and gift presentation associated with Christmas should not be a purgator y but a continuous event to enable peace to reign amongst all people.

The cathedral administrator said December 25 each year was recognized as a peace day worldwide and peace was supposed to reign everywhere throughout the year and not to be limited to the Christmas season. He attributed the high divorce rate and immoral lifestyles of especially the youth to the absence of peace in homes and urged all to be ambassadors of peace.

In a Christmas and new year message under the theme: 93Jesus Christ, The Solution to Our Challenges", at St. Anslems Anglican Church, the Right Reverend Dr. Festus Yeboah Asuamah, Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Sunyani, noted with regret that though God sent his only Son, Jesus, for the world t= o have peace, joy and abundant life, the world today was inundated with ever increasing social problems and suffering.

"Drug menace, HIV/AIDS pandemic, rape, domestic violence, armed robbery, ritual murders, cyber fraud and the like are increasing by the day in spite of the proliferation of churches", he said. He stressed the need for the church, the nation and each individual to re-examine their ways, actions and inactions by taking Jesus Christ into their lives 93because he has the solution to our woes and challenges".

Bishop Asuamah called on Christians to be prayerful, disciplined and focused, adding, only Jesus Christ could affect our attitudes and all other areas of our lives.

At the Lighthouse Chapel International, Sunyani Aparche, Reverend Sampson Kissih, Brong 96 Ahafo Regional General Overseer and Minister-In-Charge, admonished Christians to 93follow the example" of Je= sus Christ by sacrificing their lives for the sake of fellow brothers and sisters.

Preaching on John Chapter three, verse 16, he stated that God exhibite= d his love to mankind by giving His one and only begotten son, Jesus, for the salvation of man indicating that 93true love gives, it doesn't receive= ". "Christianity today has become a fathom of what it traditionally sta= nds for. Modern day Christians are interested in receiving blessings rather tha= n giving their lives for the sake of humanity, the work and the things of God", he added. Delivering a sermon on the theme: 94Christ, the Saviour Is Born", a= t the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Sunyani, Reverend Robert R. Brobbey, Brong =96 Ahafo Presbytery Chairman, noted with regret that Christmas was losing its significance with merry making being the central theme rather than concentrating on the eternal provision made available through Christ. He underscored the need to give thanks to God during such occasions adding, 93some people are dead and others are sick". Rev. Brobbey urged Christians to be law abiding and avoid compromising the religion to do what was wrong.

He asked them to indulge in activities that would promote the welfare of the state and pay their taxes.

The Presbytery Chairman appealed to the congregation to be shining examples of the world, stressing since Jesus was the Prince of Peace, there was the need to promote peace in homes, families and everywhere since peace had currently eluded the whole world. Pastor Patrick Amoateng, associate pastor of Living Grace chapel, in a sermon in the church stated Christmas was not the time of eating and merry making but a time to reach out to the needy in the society and to show love and care to them.

He noted that there were many who were sad because they felt hopeless but Christmas was the time to bring such people closer to comfort and offer them gifts as happened during Jesus' birth. The angels trekked to the manger where Jesus was born and presented their precious gifts to him and we can also be of tremendous blessing to those hurt in this Christmas, he said. The associate pastor said Christmas was a time of restoration and only those closer to the Lord would be able to face the future in confidence. He explained restoration could be possible 93if we give Jesus Christ full control of our lives to enable His promises come to pass in our lives= ". Pastor Amoateng asked Christians to remove all fears and doubts in their lives 93for if God be for us no one can be against us". 25 Dec.10