CHURCH SERVICES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19502, 26 December 1928, Page 8

CHURCH SERVICES.

THE CATHEDRAL. Choral Eucharist was celebrated at the Cathedral yesterday morning, when there was a large congregation. "There were Shepherds abiding in the Field" was sung by the choir. The preacher for the occasion was Bishop West-Wat-son. Using the parable of the Prodigal Son as an illustration, the Bishop said that God was trying to win men to Him, to get them to draw near to Him. The same message was urged by the Lord Jesus Christ in hi 3 life and ministry. The pathos of it lay in the fact that although men glimpsed the truth while He was on earth, they hardly dared to believe it. Surely to-day, they could draw near, and in drawing near,'learn to trust the Heavenly Father. His kindness went to men and women who were even outcast, for He knew howbad they felt about it. The Bishop reminded the congregation of the Divine rebuke: "Fear not, only believe, 0 ye o£ little faith. ..." Men's knowledge and discoveries had shown some ancient beliefs to be baseless, but the_ faith of Jesus Christ would stand against any oncoming tide of research and scientific discovery. The relationship of God was the relationship of a person to a person, of a father to a son, of a family to a family, and to those He calls his brothers and His sisters. That was the religion that was shown by the parable of the Prodigal Son. Memorial Tablet Unveiled. A memorial tablet to the lato Mr Charles Edmund Bevan-Brown, late headmaster of the Christchurch Boys High School, was unveiled in the Cathedral in the evening by Archbishop Julius. The service was fully choral, special Christmas music being sung The inscription on the tablet reads as follows: — _ "In loving memory of Charles i2amund Bevan-Brown, M.A., sometime scholar of Lincoln College, Oxford, died June 14th, 1926. Headmaster B.H.S. 1884-1920. For many years a member of the Chapter of this Cathedral." CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. The Holy Season of Christmas, was observed with customary solemnity by the Catholic communities of Christchurch, when, at the Cathedral and St Mary's, Manchester street, midnight Mass was celebrated in the presence o very large congregations. The Cathedral was crowded long Defore midnight by a huge concourse ot people, and by the time the bells h»Q finished their carols of joy, the. spacious gallery was lined two deep by the overflow of the congregation. ,o° le ?"} Pontifical High Mass was 'celebrated by his Lordship Bishop Brodie, attended by his priests. Seldom has such an enormous congregation been observed within the Cathedral, and the Deaivtiful service, with a full choral setting, made a deep impression upon everyone. Previous to ■ his sermon, the Bishop took occasion to congratulate his priests upon their fidelity to duty, the Brothers and the religious communities upon their zealous endeavours, the Altar Society, the Sacristan, and the members of the Cathedral Parish Committee upon their devotion to the work they had so. ably fulfilled during the year. . "Glory be to God in the highest, and upon earth, peace to men of goodwill," was the text chosen by his Lordship, 'for his sermon, and he reverently and eloquently traced thef Nativity of our Lord, His birth in the manger of Bethlehem, and His # life upon earth. He expressed his delight at such a splendid congregation as was present at the Mass, and expressed to one and all his felicitations for a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. The Rev. F. JB. Lawrence Was the. preacher at the Woolston- Methodist Church on Sunday evening, when a special musical service. was held. The text'was "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Mr Lawrence also sang Guonod's "Nazareth." A large choir, with Mr D. McHarg as organist, sang "Hail to the Christ," Gounod's "Bethlehem," and the carol "Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep." Mr D. McHarg played "Pastoral Synrohony" and also 'And the Glory of the Lord" from Handel's "Messiah." A retiring collection was taken up in aid of the Methodist Orphanage. Yesterday Masses were celebrated from 6 o'clock to 11 o'clock, Father MoDonnell, 6.M., of Highden, and Dr. Kennedy being the celebrants. The evening devotions brought the festival to a close. His Lordship occupied the pulpit and took for his text "For the gracp of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; instructing us that denying ungodliness and worldly desires. we should live soberly ana justly and godly in this world," Titus-2.i1. His Lordship said that in the Epistle read in two of the Masses of that day, St. Paul had given his disciple material for the instruction of nis people. It was in the mystery of the incarnation which they were recalling. The incarnation must be the morn of the Christian's life. He must live by this faith; and his conduct must be characterised by it. His Lordship then outlined the circumstances of Christ's birth as supplied by the Evangelists. Whilst the incarnation was a mystery of- abasement on the part of God's Son. still even at. his birth there were not wanting proof that He Who w&s born in the manger was the Eternal AH wise Son of God by Whom, all things were made. The fulfillment of the prophecies as to the time and the place of his birt.h was amongst such nroofs, .whilst the coming of the shepherds was entirely supernatural. The Church 4 advisedly chose as the Gospel of the last Mass the first 14 verses of the Gospel of St. John: "In'the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God. and the Word was God. The Word was made flesh arid dwelt amongst us." The Divinity of the Child of Bethlehem was the cardinal truth of their religion. "This is eternal life to know Thee, the onlv true God and' Jesus Christ whom He has sent." Condescension was measured by the dignity of he who performed it. What must be said of the condescension of God's Son in all the circumstances of His birth and life on earth? Corresponding love, loyalty, and service were demanded on our part. The fruit which the Church hopefl from the celebration of Christmas was a renewal of fervour in the lives of her children. His Lordship concluded by offering his Christ* mas greetings to the congregation and his congratulations to all who had contributed to the success of the celebrations.

Masses were celebrated at St. Anne's, Woolstoti, at 8 and 9.30 a m. and attended hv large con erection Th? Oev Father Tirnoney officiated A very largo congregation which filled the beautiful church of Our Lady Star of the Sea attended Mass celebrated at Sumner at 8 o'clock. The Rev. Father Magiiire officiated. Midnight Mass was cele* brate'd at the Convent, Ferry road, and at Nazareth House, Mount Magdala, and St. Joseph's Home, Middleton. MILD WEATHER IN BRITAIN. (deceived December 25th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. Reversing conditions in 1927 when a great blizzard began, Christmas ia Great Britain ia encountering extraordinary mildness. Warm winds usljered in a green Christmas. _ There is no sign of snow anywhere in the British Isles, even in Scotland.—Australian' Press Association.