'Message of hope never changes'

Today, Christians across the world, including the UAE, commemorate Good Friday, which precedes Easter.

Good Friday marks the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and Easter his resurrection.

For Christians across the world, these events symbolise hope, redemption and eternal love.

Gulf News takes a look at the significance of Good Friday and Easter for Christians.

Suzie Cummings has over the years always shopped for a new outfit and shoes to wear to the Easter Mass in her native Sydney, Australia.

But this year it is different. Cummings works in the hospitality industry in Dubai and there are many things that she is willing to forgo in these thrifty times.

Cummings' case demonstrates the general predicament many families face as they prepare to celebrate Easter, one of the most important events in the Christian calendar.

A manager of a major Dubai outlet said Easter sales have been down this year compared to 2008.

Reverend John Weir, senior chaplain of Holy Trinity Church in Dubai, said Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christians fast during Lent, which precedes Easter, and meditate on the suffering in the world, on human sin and greed, and show solidarity with the poor and victims of injustice, he said.

The chaplain said the present world economic crisis is a reality check, not just for how we make money, but exactly what we are making money for.

"Such questions have been regularly asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury and other church leaders. Pope Benedict is about to publish his third encyclical 'Charity in truth' which will address international social problems focusing on the poorest nations," he said.

Asked what should be the role of the Church in such uncertain times, Weir noted that people had been turning to the church for support and counselling. "We are also praying for the people of Palestine and Iraq and work with local authorities to improve the welfare of the migrant labour force," he said.

The chaplain pointed out that The World Council of Churches' migrant committee had met with the Middle East Council of Churches in Dubai and declared 2010 as the International Year of the Migrant.

He said a Christian Businessman's Fellowship has set up its website to support those at management level.

"We do not judge ourselves in worldly terms by the size of our collection plate. Our resources are spiritual, and we continue to be wonderfully blessed, planning new churches in the UAE to meet the need of the remarkable growth in the numbers of Christians now living in the UAE," Rev Weir said.

Even the poorest labourer would not hesitate to share his free time to help relieve another's burdens, he said.

He said charitable assistance programmes of the Church aimed to mitigate suffering of people across the world. "We hope to refocus this to show a caring response to this region. Our spiritual wealth of love and prayer is God's grace and God's gift, and the churches have much to offer. We are opening a Pastoral Care Centre in Holy Trinity [Church], Dubai, to work closely with other agencies, clinics, doctors and counsellors for more focused care for the needy, and we are pledged to do all that we can to support Christian family life in these difficult times."

Asked whether the spirit of Easter is being diluted because of commercialisation, he said, "Come and see. Our churches are full and overflowing with every nationality. There are tens of thousands who will attend our Easter services. Current economic problems require tough decisions about life, its values, and its purpose. These tough questions are raised every year in the remembrance of Christ's suffering on the cross and his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. Economic cycles will come and go - but the Easter message of hope never changes."

PROGRAMMES: Services Timings

St. Mary's Catholic Church, Dubai

Good Friday Service, Today 6 am to 8 am (Malayalam); 9 am to 10.45 am (Konkani); 8am to 9.45 am (Tamil); 9 am to 10.30 am (Urdu); 10.30 am to 12.15 pm (Singhalese); 11.30 am to 1.30 pm (Tagalog); 3pm (English); 6 pm (English); 8.30 pm (Arabic) Easter Sunday (April 12) 5.30 am; 7 am; 9 am; 10.30 am (parents and children); 12 noon 3pm; 4.30 pm; 6pm; 7.30pm; 9 pm (Arabic)

Kings Revival Church International Ministries, Dubai

Today: 7:00am: Easter Holy Communion; 8:30pm: Easter Holy Communion African English Service. Easter Sunday: 8:00pm: Easter Holy Communion English Miracle Worship Service.

St Andrew's Church, Abu Dhabi

Today: 12pm 3pm: No Friday morning service. Sunday: 8:00am Holy Communion; 10am: Family Communion; 6pm Sung Eucharist.

St Joseph Cathedral Parish, Abu Dhabi

Today: 3pm and 5:15pm: main services (later services in Malayalam, French and Arabic); Tomorrow: 10pm: "The Solemn Celebration of the Resurrection" Sunday: 19 masses in 13 languages from 7am to 8pm for other languages (English, French, Arabic, Tagalog, Malayalam, Konkani, Tamil, Sinhala, Urdu, Italian Spanish, German, Polish).

Christ Church, Jebel Ali

Today: English 9:30am; Malayalam CSI 10am; Kannada 10am; Spanish 1:30pm; German 3pm; Tamil 6:30pm. Sunday: English and Afrikaans 5:30am; English 9:30am; Korean 10am; German 3pm; English 7:30pm; Urdu 8pm

Holy Trinity Church, Dubai

Today: Service at 9:30am, 2pm Tomorrow: Service at 10pm Sunday: Services at 5:30am, 9:30am and 7:30pm (Prayer and Praise)

Evangelical Community Church, Abu Dhabi

Today: 8:30am and 10:15am: Worship services; 3:00pm: family Easter picnic at Khaladia Park with games and Easter egg hunt. Sunday: 6am sunrise service and fellowship meal; 6pm: children will sing at the Millennium Hotel.

St Gregorious Orthodox Church, Sharjah

Today: 7:30am to 7:30pm : Good Friday Services (Malayalam); 8:30pm onwards: Bible Reading Tomorrow: 9am to 10:30am: Morning Prayer and Holy Qurbana (Malayalam); 6:30pm to 10:30pm: Easter Service and Holy Qurbana (Malayalam)

St George Orthodox Cathedral, Abu Dhabi

Today: 8am to 7:30pm: Good Friday Service (Malayalam); 8:30pm onwards: Recitation of Psalms and Vigil Prayer Tomorrow: 9am to 10am: Morning Prayer (Malayalam); 10am to 11:15am: Holy Qurbana (Malayalam); 6pm to 7:30pm: Evening Prayer (Malayalam); 7:30pm to 10:30pm: Easter Service and Holy Qurbana (Malayalam)

Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Jebel Ali, Dubai

Today: 9am onwards: Good Friday Service (Malayalam); From 6pm: Good Friday Service (English) Tomorrow: From 9pm: Easter Service (Malayalam)

Mar Thoma Church, Abu Dhabi

Today: 9am onwards: Good Friday Service (Malayalam) Tomorrow: 10pm: Easter Service (Malayalam) Sunday: 745pm: Prayer (Malayalam)