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Sunday school students sing during the Easter Sunday service on April 21 at the Lotha Baptist Church at Diphupar in Dimapur.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 21 (EMN): Christian denominations across Nagaland celebrated Easter Sunday on April 21 with worship and praise.
Updates from various churches in the state offered updates about the respective event they conducted to mark Easter Sunday, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
Lotha Baptist Church of Diphupar
The Lotha Baptist Church of Diphupar, in Dimapur, observed Easter Sunday. The pastor of the church Limhathung Lotha was the speaker of the programme, a note from the government publicity agency Information and Public Relations (IPR) stated on Sunday.
Lotha said believers worship God because they have faith in the word of God.
"Easter reminds us that hope should never be lost," the IPR quoted him as having told the congregation. He urged them to live according to the will of God to attain the hope of eternal life.
Music performances from members of various areas in Diphupar besides children were some of the highlights of the programme, the IPR added.
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Sanctuary Choir and Teens' Choir sing during the Easter celebrations at the UBC on Easter Sunday in Kohima.[/caption]
Union Baptist Church
The Union Baptist Church (UBC) in Kohima also celebrated Easter Sunday. Updates from a citizen informed that the highlights of the Easter celebrations included choir performances from various groups of the church’s members.
Christ the King Church
Christ the King Church also celebrated what updates stated on Sunday was an ‘Easter Vigil Mass’ with parish priest Rev.Fr. Linus Lonuo, as the main celebrant and Rev.Fr. Rajeesh Devasia as the 'concelebrant on April 20 at Kohima village.
The updates stated that Fr. Linus said the resurrection of Christ is a historical reality and a fact which took place in both time and space two thousand years ago.
Asserting that the feast of Easter was a joy in the life of every Christian and believer, he said it was the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Referring to the Bible, the priest narrated how the disciples encountered real experiences of the risen Christ.
Resurrection, the updates explained was the theme of the preaching as Jesus commanded his followers to preach the Gospel to the four ends of the Earth, the celebrant said.
The homily of the celebrant was translated into Tenyidie by Ruokuovituo Robert Rutsa, Catechist of the parish, the updates said.
“Led by the altar servers and the priest holding the new Paschal Candle, the congregation followed singing hymns and proceeded inside the church with each person carrying their own candle,” the source said.
On the Eucharistic celebration, six persons were baptised by Fr. Linus, the updates added.
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St Xavier Catholic Church at Kidima, in Kohima district celebrated Holy Week in the church’s premises, updates informed on Sunday.
Reverend Father Joy Thomas, of St Joseph’s Post Graduate College Jakhama was the main celebrant of Easter Vigil, the updates informed.
According to a citizen who offered updates on Sunday about the event, “Fr Thomas said Christ resurrection in Easter gives for eternal life.” “Easter is the manifestation for the love of the world,” the church leader was quoted as having said. ‘Rolled away of stone from tomb that took away the sorrow, broken relationship and sin,’ Thomas added.
Reverend Father Raymond D’Souza, director of Eden Garden and Children’s Home at Khuzama in Kohima also offered special thanksgiving to Almighty God.
“Fr D’ Souza said Easter was the joyful which honour of Jesus who risen from death. The empty tomb proved the fullness life for those who believed. In the large gathering faithful people to rejoice in their heart and mind for Jesus resurrection gave the faith of Catholic,” he added.
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The Chakhesang Baptist Church of Kohima also celebrated Easter on April 21 in Kohima. Chikhungo Puro and Kethovino Rhakho were the speakers of the service. They spoke on the topics “Alive in Christ” and “Hope in the resurrection,” in that order.
Early morning on Sunday, the MGOS church at Midland in Dimapur celebrated Easter Sunday. There were midnight prayers, morning prayers, ‘Easter proclamation,’ ‘Easter procession’ and Holy Communion, the media cell of the church stated in a note that was issued to the media on April 21. .
The note read: "Rev. Fr Dr P S Varghese led the services. In the Easter message he reminded that ' Easter is the message of hope. Victory of life over death, truth over lies.
Today the world is desperately needed this hope. The angel in the tomb told the ladies fear not, Christ is risen. The obstacle in front of the tomb was rolled over by the angel himself.
Whenever we are in need we need to seek God's guidance to overcome the obstacles.”
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During the ‘Easter proclamation,’ the note added members of the congregation ‘loudly recited after the reverend.’
‘He reminded that the early church devotees used to say: 'Christ is risen, indeed he is risen,' the updates stated.
