We celebrate this Christmas with some uneasiness as the pandemic continues to encroach us; this is our second Christmas amid the COVID-19 pandemic
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Christians have become accustomed to celebrating Christmas with new habits after living with the pandemic for two years, chairperson of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Rev. Gomar Gultom, has said.



"We celebrate this Christmas with some uneasiness as the pandemic continues to encroach us; this is our second Christmas amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Gultom noted at a press conference at Immanuel Church, Central Jakarta, on Friday.



He expressed the hope that Indonesian Christians would remain joyful in celebrating Christmas though they would only be able to attend Christmas Mass through online means.


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Christians have become accustomed to new celebration habits as they have celebrated two Christmases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.



PGI has also prepared a recorded video of worship activities that will be broadcast on television and social media on Monday (December 27, 2021), he noted.



Gultom reminded churches organizing offline Mass to enforce the health protocols to prevent COVID-19 transmission.



"Churches must also remain modest in celebrating Christmas because most residents are yet to recover from the pandemic," he said.



The chairperson informed that PGI and the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia have agreed to set the theme of this year's Christmas celebration as "Christ's Love Inspires Our Brotherhood".


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He said that designating Christ's Love as this year's Christmas theme is to remind Christians to reunite and rekindle their brotherhood after years of conflict and political differences.



"Our nation is a nation that holds brotherhood in high esteem, yet conflicts and political differences somehow break us apart," Gultom remarked.



In the spirit of the 2021 Christmas celebration, Indonesian Christians shall reunite in the spirit of brotherhood under Christ's Love, he said.



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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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