CHRISTMAS SERVICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 28 December 1926, Page 6

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

AT THE CATHEDRAL

AjiwiESS; isV bisHoi* oi- Nelson

bhfjsthtas services word held ill various fch.urches throughout tin* district on Christmas Dav. The Bishop of Nelson was the preacher at a well-attended Christinas service at the Cathedral. Speaking on the joys of Christmas, the Bishop passed on to speak of the joy which rested on a true foundation. Christ struck the root of all being. “The Word became flesh, and dwelt upon us. The doctrine of the Incarnation was that God took the manhood into Himself. “He became man that we Plight be made Divine.’’ Yet with our knowledge of ourselves in the inmost shrine of our manhood where we se6 ourselves rind know ourselves, we are conscious that our manhood is dishonoured.. It was the irfost helpful of all doctrines to know that, man was a fallen being because liis knowledge ot that 'fact indicated his capacity for better things. He finds those better things in Christ, for in Him alone our humanity lias never been dishonoured. Then there was the joy that overcame circumstances. In the Old Testament God was known as the Shepherd of Israel, who shall feed his flock. David was called from Hie sheepfold and one of the sweetest songs in our literature was “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” When our Lord was born, Israel had forgotten all that. Shepherds were not 1, allowed to bear witness in the courts, they .were not allowed to join in public worship, and help might be given to the Sariiaritans and the heqthen before the shepherds. It was on the poor despised outcasts that the Glory of the Lord shone and the first aPnouncement of the birth of. Christ was made.

Tlife preacher then went on to contrast the distress in the house of David and . the Babe ip the manger with the Idumrien KiPg Herod and Qlaesar Augustus, the first, Roman Emporor.. There was Hie.joy that, finds expression. The Shepherds went to Bethlehem and found and made known the Child. “Joy always makes us generous. It is good to have a festival of joy. We see how in the childlife, freshness and originality affect:. vis. Every joy expressed accumulates ahd increases the happiness, of the world.”

“Not. .what'we give .Brit,what we share, "For the gift without thfe giver is bare. Wh'd.gives himself witli his 1 alms feeds three— .... Himself, his hungering neighbour and life.’.’