Palm Sunday without services

Amid the COVID-19 restrictions on movement of people and congregational worship, Christians in the country marked Palm Sunday sitting at home.

The funfair, procession with palm branches amid brass band music, and children singing along that characterise the celebrations were all missing.

Nonetheless, some of the churches came up with other plans to reach out to their members and offer prayers for God to see the nation through the difficult period.
Principal among the plans was the use of radio, television and social media.

Don’t glorify coronavirus

Mary Mensah reports that the Royalhouse Chapel International held a special online service to mark Palm Sunday.

The Apostle General of the church, Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah, who preached the sermon titled “The Master Has Need of You”, urged Christians not to allow the COVID-19 pandemic to diminish their faith in God.

“Today, we won’t glorify coronavirus; we will glorify Jesus Christ and his triumphant entry into Jerusalem, “ he said in a message which was also carried live on Facebook.

He said Christians must remain unshaken, and continue to pray for God to save his people from the difficulties.

“Our faith remains unshaken. We are still committed to the work of God and nothing changes,’’ he said.

Rev. Ankrah said any time the people of God were going through difficulties and challenges, they must know that the prophecies upon their lives were about to be fulfilled, adding, “The donkey was tied and not only have you been tied, but you have been tied at a certain spot, that was not desirable.”

Hosanna

Rebecca Kwei writes that during a broadcast of Passion Sunday Mass on Crystal Television Plus, which also streamed online, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, in his homily, said: “Any time we shout Hosanna, we are saying save us,” and indeed this is the right time for all people to shout Hosanna to ask God to save the world from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said although “we cannot have a jubilant procession at this time, God knows the situation, understands and is listening to all prayers offered in the silence of our rooms”.

Most Rev. Kwofie said it was the responsibility of Christians to observe the necessary protocols on the pandemic.

He prayed for God’s healing grace on all who had fallen sick from the disease.

No fears

In his online sermon, the Area head of the Anyah-Ablekuma Church of Pentecost, Apostle Samuel Kwadwo Gakpetor, said Christians had prayed on the outbreak of the coronavirus and he believed God had heard their prayer, Emelia Ennin Abbey reports.

His sermon, titled the Lord shall save you, was based on Matthew 21: 1-11.

He said Christians must not be gripped with fear because of the pandemic because “Jesus is Lord over sickness.”

Apostle Gakpetor said: “You have peace in Christ, so cry Hosanna at this time that COVID-19 has taken over the world and believe that God can deliver you; God can protect you and hold you in His hands.”

Bolgatanga quiet

From Bolgatanga, Vincent Amenuveve reports that the streets of the Bolgatanga Municipality were unusually quiet.

When the Daily Graphic visited some church premises, including the Holy Ghost Assemblies of God Church and the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), there was no church activity.
Many of the churches resorted to holding church programmes online.

Many watch television in Koforidua

In Koforidua, some Christians were glued to their television sets to listen to sermons from preachers, reports George Folley.

Itinerant preachers also spread the word of God at some vantage points in the municipality.

A Christian, Ms Jemima Boateng, told the Daily Graphic: "We can’t do anything against the law. My boy of six thought we were going for Palm Sunday procession but was disappointed when he was told there was not going to be church service."

However, she said, the lack of celebration of the day was not going to stop her from preparing palm nut soup which is associated with the day by most households.
A minister of the Gospel, Rev. Kofi Boateng, said the coronavirus pandemic had brought hardship to the church since the day would have been used to raise funds for church activities.

Significance not lost

In Tema, a cross section of Christians who spoke to the Daily Graphic said although they missed the processions, the significance of the day was not lost on them, writes Benjamin Xornam Glover

Madam Emily Yawson, a member of the Methodist Church, said just as Jesus Christ marched victoriously to Jerusalem, so will Ghana and the rest of the world overcome COVID-19.

Mr Joshua Arhin, a Presbyterian, called on Christians to use the day to reflect on the passion and suffering of Christ to save humanity, especially as the world had been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Unprecedented Cape Coast

Shirley Asiedu-Addo writes from Cape Coast that a family raised palm fronds in front of their house near St Monica's school. An apartment at the 4th Ridge also hung palm fronds on the verandah to mark the day.

Mr Kofi Asare, who fellowships with the Methodist Church, said he could not believe Palm Sunday could pass this quietly.

"This coronavirus thing has cost us too much. But God knows best," he added.

Some churches continued their online services to mark the day.

Rev. Pascal Godwyll of the Loyalty House International of the United Denomination, in a sermon broadcast online, described the situation as never seen in the history of the church and urged members to use the period to get close to God.

Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah reports that many Christians lamented that the ban on public gathering, including church services, had taken the shine out of this year's occasion.

"I did not realise that today is Palm Sunday until I came to town and saw some few cars with palm branches", Mary Pomaa, a second-hand clothes seller who worshipped at the Hope Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Fiapre, told the Daily Graphic.

She expressed the hope that the virus would be defeated very soon to enable religious bodies to have the opportunity to hold their usual church services and celebrate such occasions.

Madam Comfort Pokuaah was not happy that the forthcoming Good Friday and Easter Sunday will also pass quietly just like Palm Sunday and expressed optimism that things would be normal soon.

From Tamale, Samuel Duodu reports that some Catholic faithful who shared their thoughts and feelings with the Daily Graphic, said Palm Sunday meant so much to them.

Abraham Ali, a Catholic, said it was an awkward situation now since he missed all the excitement that came with the celebration.

"I had to be in the house with my family to have our morning devotion and there were no palm branches to celebrate the day," he stated.

Lawrence Amponsah, a member of the Church of Christ, said the current situation which the world and Church was experiencing was biblical and, therefore, there was nothing happening today which had not been written in the Bible.