This year's White Sunday celebrations was markedly different from the last two years, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions lifted giving churchgoers more freedom.

From the Vaimoso Methodist Church to the Worship Centre Christian Church Apia at Mulinu'u, the script was the same for all the celebrations with the children playing a central role to take part in drama, skits, prayers as well as singing and dancing to gospel music.

The children, who were all clad in their white attire, took on the responsibilities which would normally be the domain of the church's senior pastors and elders. These included reading of the gospel, prayers as well as doing the introductions to the tithes and offerings.

For two churches in Apia, the White Sunday celebration was special as the churches were only opened this year and the annual event focusing on children was being marked for the first time on the new premises. This is the Ekalesia Metotisi at Vaimoso and the Worship Centre Christian Church Apia at Mulinu'u with the latter opening in June this year and the former a month earlier in May.

The Ekalesia Metotisi had a family program as part of the evening service on Sunday as well as the Worship Centre Christian Church Apia.

Besides the Ekalesia Metotisi and the Worship Centre Christian Church Apia which the Samoa Observer visited, this newspaper also took photos of the praise and worship services at the Ekalesia Faapotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa, and the Ekalesia Katoliko also in Vaimoso.