DEDICATION SERVICE

Southland Times, Issue 20002, 16 October 1926, Page 4

DEDICATION SERVICE

NEW CHURCH AT WIIKIWI. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. The service of dedication in connection with the recently completed St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church at Waikiwi was conducted last evening by members of the Southland Presbytery, the Moderator, tho Rev. W. H. Norton, presiding. The parishioners, who first assembled outside the church, were present in large numbers and as an impressive entrance was made to the strains of the hundredth Psalm the seating capacity of the new edifice was taxed to its fullest extent. The doors of the church remained closed while members of the congregation assembled outside. At the- appointed hour the Moderator, supported by ipembe the Presbytery, repaired to the fro ’ the church and called on Mrs W. J. Robertson, wife of the pastor of the church, to unlock the doors. “The Old Hundredth” was then sung during which the congregation, preceded by the members of the Presbytery and office-bearers filed into the church. Following the singing of Psalm xxiv by the choir the Moderator read the opening Scriptural sentences and the Rev. J. Baird offered a prayer of invocation, this being fol- ' lowed by the Rev. E. Gardiner’s reading 1 from Ist Kings viii. The hymn “God of Pity, God of Grace” was sung and the New Testament lesson was read by the Rev. W. J. Robertson, this being followed by the anthem “Rejoice in the Lord,” sung by the choir. The formal ceremony of dedicating the I new church was performed by the Rev. J. Cumming, D.D., who also offered the prayer of dedication. The Rev. J. Lawson Robinson preached the sermon, basing his remarks on the following text from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians: “For above all principality, and jiower, and might, and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” Mr. Robinson stated that he first wished to offer a few words of congratulation to the minister, the office-bearers and the congregation on the fulfilment of their desires. They met that night for the first time to worship in a church the completion of which had long been their ambition, and they were now in a temple completely worthy of the object for which it was built. He trusted that as they worshipped they would feel the solemn hush of the Spirit of God upon them and that they would realise that aven in that house His spirit could dwell. Proceeding, Mr Robinson dealt with the conditions essential to the success of a church—a vital, living relationship with her Lord and Master, and a spirit of real brotherhood among its members. These two essentials must issue in a definite realisation that the church had a mission to the world in general, and that it must make its influence felt in a practical manner. Otherwise she was bound to fail. Following the sermon the Rev. C. J. Tocker, M.A., offered a prayer of intercession, and after the closing hymn, an impressive service was concluded by the pronouncing of the Benediction by the Moderator.