CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23331, 25 October 1937, Page 3

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICES In celebration of its seventy-fifth anniversary, special thanksgiving services were held in the Moray Place Congregational Church yesterday, the minister, the Rev. Albert Mead, preaching on both occasions. The services marked the commencement of a programme of events which will extend over several days. The directors and members of the Caledonian Society attended the evening worship, Mr Mead extending a special welcome to them and offering congratulations to a twin organisation. Mr Graham McKinlay rendered the solo, “ Keep Thou My Heart.” and the choir sang the anthem “ Great Is the Lord,” which ended majestically with the paen of thanksgiving, “ Now Thank We All Our God.” ADDRESS TO CHILDREN

At the morning service Mr Mead spoke to the children on the phrase “and others,” from Hebrews xi, 36. Great names, he said, stood out conspicuously on the page of Christion history, but the “ others ” who lived almost obscure and unknown lives also counted. Leaders and directors were necessary, but it was the common people who gave effect to plans and hopes that made the cause triumph. In the church there were many people known to them by name, but there had also been a vast crowd of faithful men and women who had witnessed _ a good confession, who kept the faith, and giving themselves to the ideals and interests of the church in the name of Jesus Christ' had counted in its history. Every one of them might be amongst the “others,” one of the “ also rans,” but the fact that they ran the race set before them in good heart and spirit would be the thing that mattered to the church’s future. “OUR GOODLY HERITAGE The subject of the morning sermon was “ Our Goodly Heritage,’ based on words in Psalms Ixi, 5 and xvi, 6. One of the simple facts about human life, Mr Mead said, was that every child was born into an inheritance. Vast stores of power, wisdom and beauty were inherited at birth. That was also particularly true of themselves as a Christian church, for they had inherited many things, through the vision and labour, the devotion and daring of those who had passed beyond their ken. It was Burke who said that human society was a partnership between the living and dead. They had an inheritance transmitted to them from the past. Accretions had been stored up through the past 75 years through prayer and worship, love and hope, and the fellowship of the saints. They should remember the fact that from them others would receive an inheritance. He wished to acknowledge gratefully that they had with them many in this fellowship who had lived by faith in Jesus Christ for many years and who had made their contribution to the life and labours of the 'church. They had not ■ fallen away, as perhaps many had, but had stood steadfast and were worthy to be subjects of their rejoicing thaf,day. But what of the future? They must look forward with the hope and prayer that the inspiration and influence and instruction of the church would not diminish. EVENING ADDRESS The subject of the evening sermon was “ The Church of the Living God,” from I Timothy, iii: 15. Too often, Mr Mead said, men and women regarded the Christian Church as merely a human concern, conceived and organised by human beings only. If that were so, why had it persisted throughout many centuries, whilst human organisations had risen and fallen, appeared and vanished? The secret of the continuance of the Christian Church was that Christ, its Head and its Heart, was alive; As He was one that liveth ever, so His Church had lived on. enduring and existing through the centuries. The Christian Church was a gift of God to human society for the nurture and help of His children. The Church came into being as souls came into being, for the true Church was composed of souls “born again of the Spirit.” Like all living things, the Church could not be'static, for life was ever changing and adapting itself to varying needs. “ During its existence, Mr Mead continued, ‘this church has undergone many changes. The presentation of the message of its pulpit, the forms of service and worship, the ways and means by which the organisation had been carried on, have varied; but its ideal and hope have been unchanging. It has been a casket in which the glorious treasures of God’s eternal grace have been conveyed to men and women. The casket has been remodelled and redecorated, but the treasure within it has been the same. “These celebrations are a challenge to us. It is very easy to talk of our fathers and mothers, our comrades in the enterprise, our spiritual ancestors who lived and loved and laboured in this place, but what of ourselves? We are their sons and daughters in the faith: what, then, of our faith? Is it as bright and burning as was theirs? It is easy to praise others, but will others praise us? Shall we be spoken of as those who were faithful? These celebrations, like all worthy celebrations, bring to us a challenge to which • we must reply now or in the day of judgment. Through a living, vital relationship with Christ every one of us could be a ‘living stone’ in the Church.”