THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 4

THE SUNDAY CIRCLE

RELIGIOUS READING IN THE HOME A PRAYER FOR PALM SUNDAY. Almighty Father, we most humbly thank Thee for the unspeakable mercy which we commemorate at this season in the redemption of the world by the Blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanseth from all sin; and heartily we pray Thee so to shed abroad Thy love in our hearts that we may joyfully follow Thy blessed Son in His wondrous patience and humility. As He has trodden the way of death before us. so let us not fear death; and whensoever the time of our departure shall come, may we in faith commend our spirits into Tby hands, and so be_ with our Lord in Paradise until the glorious consummation of the last day; through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord. Amen. (Bishop Walsham How.) A PRAYER FOR GOOD FRIDAY MORNING. 0 Lord, we have been calling to mind what Thy Son endured for us on the day of His death. He was without sin, yet somehow the burden of the world’s sin was laid upon Him. He was the Lamb of God, bearing the sin of the world. Our hearts are penitent this day, for we know that we have sinned. We would, that Thou shouldst cleanse us from all sin by His blood, and that henceforth we may be able to show our love by our obedience. Amen. SIMON THE CYRENIAN SPEAKS. He never spoke a word to me, And yet He called my name; He never gave a sign to me, And yet I knew and came. At first I said, “ I will not bear His Cross upon my back; He only tries to place it there Because my skin is black.” But He was dying for a dream, And He was very meek, And in His eyes there shone a gleam Men journey far to seek. It was Himself my pity bought; I did for Christ alone What all of Rome could not have wrought With bruise of lash or stone, (Countee Cullen.) UNASSAILABLE PEACE. “ Let not your heart be troubled.” Jesus loves us dearly, so He does not say, “ Let not your life he troubled.” Our peculiar privilege as His friends is not the remission of irksome duties, nor is it exemption from the normal cares and worries of life.

It is that at the core and centre of our being there shall be found a haven of unassailable peace. The prerogative of the Christian is the untroubled heart. LEAN ON GOD. Fear is probably the commonest trouble with men and women to-day. People are afraid of unpopularity, of poverty, of loneliness, of pain to body or mind, of failure, of open spaces, of closed spaces, of other people, of life itself, and of death. Worst of all, many are afraid of they know not what. These fears rob us of true life. But is there any way of escape? The Bible is sure that there is. But there is only one. It consists in learning to lean on God. Nothing can take us out of our Father’s hands. —A. Herbert Gray. THE ROAD TO CHARACTER. “To feel the spell of Jesus' matchless character is to be lifted out of our ness into something at least of the breadth of vision and strength of purpose of those with whom we have been communing. The great road to character and influence and happiness is the contagion of great lives and the sharing of their visions, ine Bible holds its supreme place as a factor in the building ox character just because it brings us into contact with the most significant personalities in human history.” A MOTTO FOR EACH DAY’S MEDITATION. REDEMPTION. Sunday.—“ There is no difference. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Being justified _ freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” —Romans iii, 22-23. Monday.—“ But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption. That according as it is written He that clorieth, let Him glory in the Lord.” —1 Cor, xxx, 31. Tuesday.—“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Whom we have redemtpion through His blood, the forgiveness ot sin, according to the riches of His grace.’—Ephesians i, J and 7. “ Quench not the Spirit. 1 Thess., v, 20. / ~ . h Wednesday.—" How much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God. Without shedding of blood there is no remission.”—Hebrews ix, 14-22. Thursday.—“ Forasmuch as that ye were not redeemed with cor ruptible things such asmlver gold. But with the precious blood of , C of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” —1 Peter i, 18 and 19. GOOD FRIDAY. Friday.—“ Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniqufties, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes w are healed.”—lsaiah lui, 4 and 6. Saturday—“ All we like sheep have gone astrav we have turned every one to his own wayT and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted; yet He opened not His mouth. He is brought as a lamb to “ TWO DAYS WITH GOD.” The Salvation Army’s two days of devotional meetings in Westminster Central Hall were attended by large crowds which indicated the sustained interest in the “ Two Days With God.” General Higgins was present at all six meetings and spoke at each. General Higgins made it known fb-if some 7000 new members had been added to the rolls , of SMvation Army at the beginning of the New Year. These members represent the fruit of the Army s recent winter campaign. The afternoon meeting on both days was a missionary meeting, when stones were related of pro gress and of the increasing interest in the Gospel message in heathen lands. Commissioner Blowers, an. officer who has spent 37 years in missionary service, spoke of his recent tour in Kenya, where he had found people eager for work to be started in their midst. At one place where Commissioner Blowers passed through. 15 natives met him. all the converts of one who was brought to Christ in Nairobi. These 15 brought with them a petition from another 25, pleading that a hall might be erected and definite work commenced. A WINNER. Now once upon a time there was a man, and he was in terrible need, but he knocked so loudly at Heavens Gates that he made the angels start. . M., m C. W. BISHOP GORE. The Bishop of Birmingham (Dr Barnes), presiding in Birmingham Cathedral at a memorial service to Dr Charles Gore, the first bishop of the diocese, said Gore was Catholic by mental constitution. As one read his theological works one could see how his religious emotion shaped his arguments and compelled his conclusion's So his books were somewhat pathetic, like sand-castles, powerless before the advancing tide. But the social enthusiasms which Gore retained to the end had yielded much fruit, and it would always be remembered to his honour that he established within the Church of England the ideals which animated earlier Christian Socialists, such as Kingsley and Maurice. “ For the rest,” Dr Barnes concluded, “ there remain the example of his splendid generosity with money, his indifference to the honours which most men prize, his courage, simplicity, and personal piety. He lived for large causes, unselfishly. He fought fairly, if fiercely. In old age he had honour, love, obedience from troops of friends. May his ashes rest in peace.”