INTERCESSORY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16030, 23 September 1915, Page 4

INTERCESSORY SERVICE.

» : ADDRESS BY BISHOP AVERILL. A special intercessory service in connection with the war, the first of a weekly series, was held at St. Matthew's Church, i between 12.20 p.m. and 12.50 p.m. yester- ! day. Worshippers attended in large numbers. Dr. Averill, Bishop of Auckland, explained that it was his desire to hold inter-! cessory services every week during the i war. He hoped and trusted that all who' attended would do their best to make the I services a real offering of prayer to God in the time of trouble through which we were passing. It was desirable that the people should organise and mobilise their spiritual forces. "The reason I have asked you to attend," proceeded His Lordship, "is because I am absolutely convinced that it is God, and God alone, who is going to bring this war to its final issue. Therefore, I want the people to think that it is not a question whether God is on our side. The real question is : Are we on God's side? lam perfectly sure it is ctfcefly in and through prayer that we may fit ourselves to be on God's side. It is no use praying or hoping unless we have an absolute belief in God himself.' We do not! pray to try and change God's will to the level of our own short-sightedness. We I are perfectlv certain that God will do' j* ** right, **** God's -will must be- ' done. We want to bring our own wills , "i*? harmony with God's will. If we are ' self-will-d we can hinder God's work The ; more Christian prayer there is the more ! we can help God.*' ] Prayers were offered for the allies, for! the New Zealand troops in caino and in I oVd?r^r o ns. for *"" Wh ° helped fa 1