Come December, it is celebration time all over the world. Days before the festival, the city adorns a festive look what with people especially Christians in a celebratory mode and preparing for the festival, a month ahead.
Churches in the city are busy chalking out programmes with various wings like Sunday School, Youths, Women Fellowship, Choir and Bhajana Mandali joining hands to make the celebrations a success. For Christians, this festival is not a one day event, but a month-long event.
To mark the celebrations, the Hudson Memorial Church has chalked out a series of programmes till January 1.
The celebration starts with first Sunday of December called as the Advent Sunday. This day is dedicated to the Bhajana Mandali as the carol singing begins in the following week. During the carols, the Church visits its congregation members’ houses in the night heralding the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ.
This will be held till December 23, says Presbyter in-charge Rev V P Ashwal of Hudson Circle. On December 16, the Church will distribute clothes to the poor.
In other churches, Boxing Day is celebrated. On this day, congregation members bring clothes of their choice and put it in a big box which is later distributed to poor families.
Speaking to City Express, Rev Solomon Paul J of Lalbagh said, “Nowadays, everything, including festivals is being commercialised. But we should treat festivals in a way where we share our happiness with others. Christmas in fact, means a time to rejuvenate ourselves.”
Hudson Church is also planning to hold Youth Christmas, Sunday School Christmas, Women’s Christmas, Senior Citizen Christmas and White Christmas as a prelude to Christmas celebrations.
During Youth Christmas, young people will come together to celebrate in their own way. On this day, they hold games, enact skits, sing songs etc.
However, the White Christmas is not the same, says Rev V P Ashwal. On this day, Youths, Women’s Fellowship and Sunday School children prepare tableau based on Christmas.