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This Christmas 'spotlight is on religious harmony' in UAE
posted on 24/12/2009
 On Thursday, thousands of Christians will attend the Christmas service at St Andrew's Church while their Muslim neighbours will be attending the Friday sermon at the mosque next door, illustrating the religious harmony of the UAE, said the church's pastor.
"Every Friday, when mass at church and the prayer call and Friday Sermon at Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Mosque [off Airport Road] go together, I always think of Abu Dhabi as a religious enclave", pastor Clive Windebank told Gulf News.
The pastor added that it was wonderful that Christians in a Muslim country enjoy the freedom to worship and celebrate the religious festival. Considering the religious freedom granted to other faiths, the UAE has a unique position among Muslim countries, according to the Rev Windebank, who is from the UK.
The Rev Windebank and pastors of other churches said with Christmas being on Friday this year, they expect more worshippers for Christmas this year.
St Andrew's Church, an Anglican Church will have the first Communion of Christmas (midnight mass) at 11.30pm on Thursday and Christmas mass at 8am and 10am on Friday, the Rev Windebank said.
About 80 congregations conduct services in 32 languages regularly at the church, so about 20,000 worshippers visit there on Fridays, he added.
Programmes
The Christmas service of various congregations will begin from 5am tomorrow and will continue until midnight, the pastor said.
The Marthoma Church in Mussaffah, an Indian Church has also decided to utilise Christmas falling on a holiday (Friday) with several Christmas programmes, in addition to prayers. The holy communion service will be held at 8am tomorrow, said the Rev Thomas Kurien Anchery, vicar of the church.
A Christmas tree competition, carols and cultural programmes will be the major events in a Christmas gathering of 25 prayer groups, which will take place at the church's community centre, he added.
The Evangelical Community Church will have its Christmas services at 8.30am and 10.15am on Friday (in English), said Cameron Arensen, Senior Pastor who leads the prayers.
About 25 other congregations also conduct their service at the church which is home to thousands of Christians from 60 nations, he said.
St George Orthodox Cathedral will hold Christmas mass at 8.30pm on Thursday night and a Christmas and annual get-together at 7pm on Christmas Day, said Father Johnson Daniel. – Gulf News
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