CHURCH SERVICES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10958, 26 December 1911, Page 6

CHURCH SERVICES.

COLUMBA. Christmas services were held on Sunday last at Columba Church. In the morning a sermon appropriate to the occasion was preached by the Rev. W. Wright. In the evening the ordinary service was shortened to allow of selections from "The Messiah" being sung by the choir, and, instead of a sermon, the musical items were connected by passages of Scripture, whereby the phases of Christ's life illustrated by Handel were further emphasised. ST. PATRICK'S BASILICA.

Christmas Day was ushered in by the celebration of midnight mass at St. Patrick's Basilica, Monsignor Mackay being the celebrant. There was a largo congregation, despite the somewhat gloomy aspect of the night. The Monsignor preached a short but effective sermon on the subject of the Nativity. The choir, which had been assiduously practising Farmer's Mass for some time under the conductorship of Mr Mountfort. were in strong force, and the manner in which the mass was sung must have recompensed the conductor for his painstaking efforts in bringing the choir to their present state of efficiency. The solos and duets were taken .by" Misses K. Foley, Barry, Magee, ami O'Donnell, and Mr Roxburgh, and, were sung in a manner reflecting credit on their powers as vocalists. Miss K. Hannon presided at the organ. The subsequent masses —at 7, 8.30 and 11 a.m. —were all largely attended. ST. LUKE'S. The Christmas services at St. Liike's were well attended, there being 160 communicants at the three celebrations, at which the vicar was assisted by the Revs. D. Jamieson and E. Edwards. The church was prettily decorated futile ladies of the Decorating Guild'. The Rev. D. Jamieson preached at the midday sennce, taking as his text ''He took a little child and set him in the midst." At the close of the service on Sunday evening Christmas carols and solos and choruses from the "Messiah*' were nicely sung by the choir, theVso'o parts being taken by Mrs Batson, the J Misses Gifford', King, " Williams, and. Jones, and Messrs 3Y. "Williamson, .FWilliams-, and : Woodward. Some of these items.werelalsp "sung by the choir at the hospital on. .Christmas morning. The Christ-mas sermons ..were preached by the vicar on Sunday, his text being "Rejoice in the Lord alway." (morning) and "Unto you is born a Saviour, Jesus" - (evening). The ranks of the choir were somewhat thinned by the. holidays, but nevertheless the musical, parts of the service were well sung. Mr F. C. Burry presided at the organ.