Churches racing against time on Christmas eve

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 23: Only a few days are left for the year to end and only two days for Christmas. The enthusiasm of celebration of Jesus Christ’s birthday is seen among the people and Churches as well in Guwahati.

Dispur Baptist Church is getting ready for three-day celebrations. The church members are racing against the clock. The stage inside the church is being decorated with red and white balloons. Some of the balloons and stars hang from a wire and a few are scattered on the stage. Two Christmas trees stood erect on either side of the stage.  In fact, for five days the church is witnessing caroling as part of beginning of the celebration.

“Today is the fourth and the last day of caroling. From December 20 we have been hearing carols. For December 24 evening to December 25 evening we are arranging service rituals, part by part, when people will visit the church and offer prayers,” Dispur Baptist Church member Jasmine Rabha said .

“As part of celebration a drama on the birth of Christ will also be staged on December 24, followed by chorus and praise songs and worship. On December 25, the main service ritual in the morning and in the evening will attract people from all corners. People who have been associated with this church and residing in other states will also join us. The Church will be filled with people, and sometimes there is also dearth of space. But we happily adjust,” a young church member, Joshua Saikia, said.

“We will be having a good time. This is actually a good time. The lord is taking birth. I will sing and play the guitar,” Enthralled Saikia added.

Dispur Baptist church will also organize a love feast and fun and games on December 26 on the occasion of Christmas celebration where church members will take part.

The Catholic Church located at Six Mile is also gearing up for the forthcoming Christmas celebration. For one week the church members and sisters have been constructing a model of Bethlehem where Jesus Christ was born.

“We are trying to show the birthplace of Jesus Christ. We are installing green shrubs and plants on the stage. Stars are hung from the plants. Cotton are scattered on the stage to depict snow,” Catholic Church Sister Margratte said.

“As part of celebrations we will take part in service rituals at the evening of Decmeber 24 as well as in the day time on December 25,” Six Mile Catholic church Father Steven Marayikulam said.