SUNDAY SERVICES.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15115, 28 December 1921, Page 4

SUNDAY SERVICES.

CHRISTMAS IN THE CHURCHES. Christmas Day was. duly observed at tho various and the congregations throughout were large, especially at tho evening services. At St. George’s Church on Christmas morning itSho Rev.. A. J. Beck preached a special sermon, taking 1 his text from the gospel For tho day: “And tho word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and wo beheld His glory, tho ’ glory as of tho only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.’' In tho evening there was a_ short addresa in place of the usual sermon, tho text being: “That Christ may dweM in your hearts by faith." There , was a very good attendance at both services. At evensong, there was special Christmas musio by the choir, and during the day Christmas hymns were sung. At the Rom'an Catholic Church Mass was celebrated in the morning at an early hour, and there were largo congregations. Father Dignan was tho celebrant. Mass was also celebrated at Hikutaia a-t 11 o’clock. Father O’Doughert-y celebrated Mas* at Ngatea, Kopuarahi and at Turua. The Christmas festival wa* honoured in accordance with tho custom s>f the Church. At Thames tho Adesto Fideles was sung by " the choir, which, with an orchestra, effectively led the choral portion of the service. On New Year’s Day there will bo special observances. At the Baptist and Congregational CSurch Christmas Day was.also tho farewell Sunday of the Rev. Dr. J. F. Jones at Thames. In th e morning the preacher eho§e Matthew ii 5 for his subject, and preached a seasonable sermon on the Lord" Having come as Governor as -well as Shepherd of His people. In the evening Dr. Jones chose John iii 16 for his subject, remarking that this was the subject of his first Sunday evening sermon nearly five years ago, and that ho wished them all to feel that the gospel ther e contained had been the keynote of hia ministry. The resident minister, the Dev. Milne, M.A., was the preacher both morning and evening at th e Presbyterian Church, and the services were Th 0 Dev. A. Mitchell conducted the services at the Methodist Church: In tho evening he cliose for his text the words: “Lord, to whom shall we go ? hast tho word of eternal life,” and said that "the answer of each heart! to tho question, at this time of joy and gladness that Christ was born, y must bo the same as that of the apostle. Th 0 world jpioeded the personal Christ to succour and sustain. The singing was led by the choir, and hymns suitable to the occasion were chosen. At the Church of Christ in the evening tho - resident minister preached a sermon suitable to tho occasion and the hymns chosen were .all in keeping with the Ohristmia season. A special song service had been prepared by Captain Atherfold for the .Salvation Army service on Sunday evening, but the serious indisposition of a member of Eis family made/ it impossible for tho captain, to tako charge of the meotin.