CHURCH SERMONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 118, 18 April 1934, Page 6

CHURCH SERMONS

“TOO MANY PREACHED." VIEWS OF VICAR. “I will not say much about sermons, except that I think there are tei- too many preached, but people seem to like them, even if they are bad,” said the vicar (Canon G. rt Woodward), in h.s report to the annual meeting of parishioners of All Saints’ Church, last evening. “I firmly believe in what a wit said some „„„ orrri rvVipn a sermon was preached g in the Early Church, 3000 people were converted in one day, but to-day it takes 3000 sermons to convert one person—so that jou see there is a vast number of sermons still to ‘be preached m Palmerston the Church is doing to-day,” Canon Woodward’ added, “is without question what every individual member should try to do. The opportunities are so numerous that no one can throw a stone at the Church and say that she is slack in her ministrations. The only thing that gives us any anxiety is when all these blessings are given to. us, why do we not take advantage of them? Man is at his highest when he is praising God, and the Church, in her daily and Sunday services, gives us a very acceptable and well-pleasing way.” During the year ending March 31 last, added the vicar, 7540 Communions were made in the parish church of All Saints’, compared with 6513 in the preceding 12 months. There were 125 baptisms (111 previously) and 100 candidates confirmed (85 previously), marriages had numbered 63 (45). General offertories had amounted to £557 18s lid (£577 5s 3d), special offertories (£lsl 17s 9d (£124 17s 6d) and money raised for missions had been £205 11s 8d (£207 6s Id). _ Substantial increases in baptisms and marirages, said Canon Woodward, were a good sign that the depression was believed to be passing. The most pleasing feature, however, had been the increased attendance at tlie celebrations of the Holy Communion. Fifty-nine years ago Church of England people in Palmerston North had to be content with a fortnightly service in the Courthouse, and they appreciated those services. To-day there was a very beautiful church with daily services, celebrations of the Holy Communion on all Sundays and Wednesdays, on Saints’ Days and every other Thursday. For over forty years matins and evensong had been said daily in the church and, on an average, three sermons had been given every week. No 'one could say that the people of Palmerston North were spiritually starved, with the activities of the other churches taken into consideration. They were so often told that the church was not alive,, but it was the duty of the church, surely, to lead people to daily prayer, daily' reading of the Scriptures, and inevitably this was what she did every day in the week.