CHURCH SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22612, 28 December 1936, Page 12

CHURCH SERVICES

Sir, —It is an unfortunate fact that, generally speaking, our churches are neglected the regular at tenders throughout the year being a small staunch group. People have changed so much since the war in taste and outlook that the familiar routine of the church service no longer claims their undivided attention, and for this reason the majority seek light-hearted distractions ou Sunday with little thought far Kaith and Prayer and God. How can we regain the strong claim on people* spare time to bring them back to the churches? It rests in the hands of each vicar, for he has the power to attrac the public and his parishioners to the regular worship of God. It rests wit the vicar to make the service understandable to the modern outlook ° people, whose attention is difficult catch and more difficult to hold, rests with the vicar to see that more young people attend the services a present they are conspicuous by thei absence. The sermon is the most i portant part of the service for should carry a message of inspira J and uplift to reach right into P e °P " minds and hearts. Most sermons 1 days are not strong enough, the\ not vital and living, there is too 1111 , dependence on text books and enough on the lessons of re ,y, c 'i, ie the indifference of people to-day to their, growing waywardness or the Church's message no longer them? 1 am sorry to say so, . .. think the Church has lost touch wi own people for the moment.