CHRISTMAS: ANGLICAN CLERGY URGE NIGERIANS TO EMBRASE LOVE AND RECONCILIATION

By: Safiya Dabban

Anglican clergy have urged Nigerians to embrace love, peace and reconciliation, describing the Christmas season as a critical moment for healing, forgiveness and renewed hope for the country.

Delivering a Christmas message during the service, the Vicar, All Saints Anglican Church Wuse Zone 5 Abuja, Venerable Ernest Onohua, said the celebration of Christmas in 2025 was a reminder of God’s faithfulness to humanity through the gift of Jesus Christ, whom he described as the Saviour of the world and the Prince of Peace.

“We thank God for another year of Christmas. God has been kind and faithful to us by giving us His only Son,” Onohua said, adding that without the coming of Christ, humanity would have remained without hope. He explained that while the first Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, Jesus Christ, the second Adam, restored mankind through love and peace.

The cleric challenged Christians to reflect the character of Christ in their daily lives, especially by resolving conflicts and living peacefully with others. According to him, Christmas is a time to settle differences, forgive one another and demonstrate love, as instructed in the Scriptures.

“God is love, and those who follow Him must live in love. We pray that it shall be well with us and with our nation as we prepare for the coming year,” he said.

Also speaking, Venerable Emmanuel Okorafo from the Diocese of Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC), Europe, emphasised the need to keep Christ at the center of Christmas celebrations, warning against reducing the season to mere festivities.

He described Christmas as a season for reflection, forgiveness and reconciliation.

“Christ is the King of peace and the embodiment of God’s love. This is a time to forgive, make amends and enter the new year with a clean slate so that God’s blessings can abound,” Okorafo noted.

Worshippers at the service expressed gratitude and joy for the celebration. Mr Rogers, a member of the congregation, thanked God for life and good health, saying the well-being of his family was his greatest joy this Christmas.

The celebration concluded with prayers for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria, as worshippers looked forward to the new year with faith, gratitude and renewed commitment to love and peaceful coexistence.

A highlight of the service was a special rendition of the popular Christmas Hymn “Oh Holy Night”, by Venerable Okorafor to the cheer of the congregation for his vocal mastery and delivery
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CHRISTMAS: ANGLICAN CLERGY URGE NIGERIANS TO EMBRACE LOVE AND RECONCILIATION

Anglican clergy have called on Nigerians to use the Christmas season as a time for love, peace, forgiveness and national healing.

Speaking during the Christmas service at All Saints Anglican Church, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, the Vicar, Venerable Ernest Onohua, said Christmas reminds Christians of God’s love through the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Prince of Peace.

He noted that the coming of Christ restored hope to humanity and urged Christians to reflect Christ’s character by resolving conflicts, forgiving one another and living peacefully.

“God is love, and those who follow Him must live in love. Christmas is a time to settle differences and promote peace,” he said.

Also speaking, Venerable Emmanuel Okorafo of the Diocese of Anglican Missionary Congregations (AMC), Europe, urged Nigerians to keep Christ at the centre of Christmas celebrations, stressing that the season should go beyond festivities.

He described Christmas as a period for reflection, reconciliation and forgiveness, encouraging believers to enter the new year with a clean heart.

Worshippers expressed gratitude for life and good health, while prayers were offered for peace, unity and progress in Nigeria.

The service ended on a joyful note with a special rendition of the Christmas hymn “Oh Holy Night” by Venerable Okorafo, drawing applause from the congregation