Christmas Services.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxii, Issue 6456, 28 December 1904, Page 2

Christmas Services.

BAPTIST TABERNACLE.

The Rev. W. L. Salter conducted three special services on Sunday having reference to Christmas. He preached in the morning from Matthew I. 11—" And when they were some into tbe house they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him." At the afternoon servics the text was Luke IT,, 10 —"Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy." Mr Salter said ifc was 90 ye;irs ago that day that the first sermon was preached in New Zealand from this text. The preacher was the Roy, Samuel Marsden, Anglican minister, from Sydney. He established the first Mission hero. His friend, the Rev. Samuel Leigh, We3leyan minister, six years afterwurds camo over from Sydney and commenced a Wesley an Mission.

The evening text was—" Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gifts." Mr Sslter had asked the people on the previous Sunday to subscribe the sum of .£2O to clear off tho debt on the church account. The collect;ions:amounted, with a donation of £2 10b, to £14 10s. Mr Salrer said there were yeb 6 days before th« end of the yoar and JE6 might jet come in.

The church was very tastefully decorated for the occasion by Miss Tucker and Miss Saltor, the words " Glory to <-«od in the highest " being artistically arranged on the wall behind the Rostrum, the letters being cut from Ko'd paper by Mr B. J. Ager. The choir Bang special hymns at each service ia their usual style, and Miss Tucker Bang a speoial solo, after the evening sermon.