OLD PEOPLE ATTEND CHURCH SERVICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 11

OLD PEOPLE ATTEND CHURCH SERVICE.

SOCIAL HOUR FOLLOWS WITH AFTERNOON TEA. This year's special service arranged by the Christchurch Ministers’ Association for the benefit of aged and infirm people, who find it difficult to attend the usual Sunday services, was held in the Durham Street Methodist Church this afternoon. The extent to which these services are appreciated was shown by the fact that there were nearly 200 elderly people present. The Rev D. Gardner Miller, president of the Ministers’ Association, conducted the service, and the address was given by the Rev B. Metson. The old hymns sung were ”Jesu, Lover of My Soul,” “Rock of Ages,” “Lead Kindly Light” and “Abide With Me.” A special prayer was offered by the Rev Gardner Miller, and in place of the usual formal reading of the lesson the congregation repeated together Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd” and several verses from St John xiv. In the course of the address Mr Metson said he was surprised to find in Christchurch so many people who permitted themselves to be called old. Like Oliver Mendell Holmes he knew there were many people present who were 85 years young. He brought to them an old and beautiful text from the Book of Genesis v 24, “And Enoch walked with God.” Out of a comparatively dull chapter rose this remarkable tribute to Enoch, for what finer thing could be said of a man or a woman at the end of a long life. It seemed to the speaker that this tribute to Enoch was put into the inspired Book to indicate that a fellowship with Gqd was possible throughout life. Bad people and bad times did not deter Enoch from a consistent walking with his Creator. It might be said that it was not possible nowadays to do as Enoch did, but the speaker did not think that that was so. It was still possible to walk with God. Two things were necessary, faith and agreement. When our thoughts and plans were not the thoughts and plans of the Lord then we could not walk with Him. How many business partnerships and marriages had been rent asunder because of a lack of agreement on fundamental things. Enoch did not begin to walk with God until children came into His home trailing clouds of glory. Was it possible that any of those present had had children come into their homes and go out again and had not yet commenced to walk with God? Dealing with the continuance with this fellowship, Mr Metson said that Enoch enjoyed it day in and day out without abandoning his ordinary life and association with men. The eventual spiritual crowning of such a life depended not on the length of that life but upon its quality. “To enter Heaven a man must take it with him. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you,” said Mr Metson. Following the service, a delightful social hour was held in the schoolroom. Musical items were given and afternoon tea was provided by the ladies of the various city congregations. A brief address was given by the Rev J. Takle. During the social hour Mrs Ernest Firth sang “Darby and Joan” and “Sunshine and Rain”; Miss Twose sang “When the Heart is Young,” and finally both vocalists sang “The Perfect Day” as a duet. Transport for the old people requiring it was provided by private car owners in answer to an appeal made to the various Christchurch congregations. _________