DAY OF WORSHIP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23015, 18 April 1938, Page 11

DAY OF WORSHIP

EASTER SERVICES MESSAGES FROM PULPITS ARCHBISHOP AT CATHEDRAL One of the chief days of worship in the calendar of the Christian Church, Easter Sunday, was celebrated with appropriate services at the churches of all denominations in Auckland yesterday. There were large congregations at both morning and evening services, and at most churches special Easter music was made a feature. « The reality of the Resurrection formed the basis of a sermon given by Archbishop Averill at evensong in St. Mary's Cathedral last night. The risen Christ, Archbishop Averill said, had revealed Himself to those who believed —to those whose hearts were filled with loyalty, love and devotion. He did not reveal Himself to those who were not capable of belief. The unbelieving world could not receive proof of spiritual realities, for spiritual things were spiritually discerned. Many people to-day talked of the impossibility of miracles, Archbishop Averill continued, and held that the Resurrection was contrary to the laws of nature. They forgot that there was only one miracle and that was Jesus Christ Himself. He came to reveal truth and His actions were perfectly natural to Him because He transcended the natural order. "Sir James Jeans says that science has left off trying to explain phenomena," Archbishop Averill added, "but that it seeks only to describe simply and accurately. Science does not deal with possible immaterial realities or with their value and meaning. It is not the province of science to deal with the facts of revealed truth —and true science does not presume to do so—but it is the duty of the Church to bear witness to revealed truth—to the fact of Jesus and His Resurrection. "There are enemies to-day who would gladly get rid of the Living Christ. Communism and selfish nationalisrfl are equally opposed to Christianity, because it stands for world brotherhood, co-operation and peace. The selfish materialist would delight as much in getting rid of Christ as did the scribes and pharisees when they had got Him safely on the Cross. But the great truth of the empty tomb and the certainty oi: the Living Christ of Easter Day are eternally true and Christ must and will reign until all enemies are subdued under His feet." Archbishop Averill preached in the morning at St. Matthew's Church, where Holy Communion was celebrated. A special service was held in the evening for the visiting university students, the preacher being the Rev. G. V. Gerard. VICTORY OVER DEATH SERVICE AT TABERNACLE The significance of the Biblical phrase, "He abolished death," was stressed by the Rev. Dr. J. J. North in his Easter sermon at the Baptist Tabernacle last evening. Dr. North spoke of Christ's conquest of death in the Resurrection, and stated that the destruction of deajth in some sense was the marrow of the Gospel. "The Christian Gospel separates itself from spiritualism," Dr. North said. "It makes no attempt at experiments to lift the veil. It believes that spiritualism ha« misread the situation. Nothing can be right until the cause of death is grappled with. It is sin that is man's major problem and the last enemy, not the first, is death. The conquest of sin is the mission of Christ and the meaning of His Cross. "When Christ was raised from the dead He had done something final with the sin of the world. He had exposed it, suffered it and conquered it. The empty grave was the token of the one undying and unforgettable victory. Anzae begins to. fade, Waterloo has faded, but the Cross and the'empty grave are at the centre of all historic reality and of all spiritual power." HOPE OF IMMORTALITY THE CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE A large congregation attended the service at the Pitt Street Methodist Church last evening, when the Rev. W. T. Blight spoke ou " Christ and Immortality." Mr. Blight showed how a belief in immortality had been almost universally held for centuries, not having arisen simply as a Christian belief. However, Christ had made two material differences in the old hope of immortality. In the first place He had given a confidence for what had previously been little more than a subject, for human longing, and, in the second place, He had taught that immortality did not mean simply a continuation of earthly existence, but x-ather the perfection of a life of fellowship with God which might begin here and now. "This secret of the incorruptible life," said Mr. Blight, "is the gift of the risen Christ which justifies Easter gladness." Special Easter music was included in the service. VISITING STUDENTS ATTENDANCE AT ST. DAVID'S Many visiting university students attended divine service yesterday morning at St. David's Presbyterian Church, where they were welcomed by the Rev. W. Bowej- Black. Jhe preacher's theme was the ringing challenge of the Gospel of the Resurrection, and the demand it made upon men to rise into newness of life in the power of the risen Lord. Mr. Black's discourse at the evening service wa& based on the last of the beatitudes, the words spoken by the risen Christ to the doubting Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."