Happy holidays: Christians gather at St Andrew’s Church for mass on Christmas day

The gothic edifice was decorated with bright lights.

KARACHI: Beneath an intricately carved rose window, worshipers at the St Andrew’s Church, which is one of the oldest churches in Pakistan, knelt and clasped their hands in prayer.

As part of the morning mass on Christmas, they celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ and sang a series of carols from the famous hymn opus “The Sialkot Convention Songbook.” The gothic edifice, which was built in 1868, was decorated with sparkling lights, a variety of colourful baubles and of course, a Christmas tree.

As the church bells tolled, men, women and children, who were clad in colourful clothes, flocked inside the church to participate in mass congregation. To ensure security to the people, a heavy contingent of law enforcers was present outside the church. Despite this, no body searches or other checks were carried out on those entering the church.

“Let’s all stand up for the prayers,” said the guardian of the church, Pastor Yousuf Fazal, in order to commence the service. He prayed for tranquility across the world. While he made a special prayer for peace during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s rally, 12-year-old Moses Javed sat long-faced outside. “My father had promised that he would take me to the jalsa after the mass, but we aren’t going.”

Pastor Fazal even prayed for those who were intending to set up residential apartments and shops on the church’s land. “May God grant them wisdom and conscience so that they may change from what they have become,” he said.

“Blood gives life and we seek it in order to save our loved ones in times of emergencies. Likewise, Jesus gave his blood so that dying humanity could live at his expense,” he added. The mass ended with the Holy Communion, during which the Pastor shared bread and wine with the worshippers. The ritual is a commemoration of the Last Supper.

“The message of Christmas is peace on earth and goodwill towards all people,” James Kamran told The Express Tribune. “It is hard for me to imagine any other point in history that has been more in need of peace and goodwill among people than the one we are living in.”

The president of the Young Women’s Christian Association, Nuzhat Williams, was also present at the mass. “I will host my family and friends for dinner tonight and serve Pulao as well as a variety of sweet dishes to them,” she said. Williams added that the exchange of gifts is a salient feature of the celebrations as they are an expression of affection and increase the bonds of love between the giver and receiver.

Another participant, Erum Sohail, said that baking cakes for relatives has become a tradition. “Celebrations start on the eve of December 24 and continue till late night on Christmas day. During this time, we exchange gifts and send cakes to relatives,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2011.