IN THE CHURCHES

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXI, Issue 2779, 24 November 1931, Page 8

IN THE CHURCHES

SUNDAY'S SERVICES. •VISITING CLERGYMEN. . After a very wet Saturday the weather cleared during the night and Sunday was fme, there being fairly good congregations at the local churches. -There were visiting clergymen at the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist Churches. Ordinary services were held at. the Parish Church, the Rev. C. W. Clark preaching in the morning and the Vicar, Archdeacon G. Gordon Bell, at night.

!jf Homo Mission Sunday was observed I at St. Paul's Methodist Church. In the i morning the service was very well at- | tended, being conducted by Sister Nicholls and members of the Maori Party now touring the Dominion. The preacher at the evening service was Mr J. B. Webster. At Leamington Mr H. Ibbotson took the evening service, " while at the Fencourt Church there were larger congregations than usual, Mr J. C. Tietjens preaching in the morning and the Kcv. J. W. Parker at night, the occasion being the church anniversary. Church rally month was continued at Trinity Presbyterian Church, the Eev. Jas. Hay exchanging pulpits for the. day with the Eev. William McDonald, of Epsom. Mr Ben. Jones, of Hamilton, was the preacher, both morning and evening, at the Baptist Church. The Parish Church. Preaching .from the text '' Looking Unto Jesus," in the evening, Archdeacon Bell took as his theme the fact that the following Sunday, Advent Sunday, would be the' beginning of a new church year. Many people would,, he said, be making new resolutions and ho wished to warn his people of the Ganger of making good resolutions Most of thorn were conceived in human pride (albeit with all good intention), and most of them came to grief because they involved too much dependence upon oneself. People loved to pride themselves upon their strength of mind. Those who considered themselves strong-minded were most in danger of collapse. Eather, we all need to recognise and admit our weakness—and turn to Him, our Lord, who alone had strength enough to enable all of us to live rightly. Jesus was different from all other great world teachers in seeking to make Himself the object of attention and devotion. Other teachers tried to sink themselves and so emphasise their message—the ideals for which they stand, the truths they wish to impart. Jesus, however, sought to draw all men to look to Him Himself. "Come unto Me," Ho says to all men. When people had really let Jesus draw their eyes to Him, their whole lives had been changed for good. The ; Magdalene saw His love for her, in all her sin, when she looked at Jesus, and

that love purified her and made a new woman of her. That same look made all the difference in the world to S. Peter, even in the moment of his denial of our Lord. What must that "looking unto Jesus" have meant to S. John, leaning on Jesus 'a breast? asked the preacher. "What we need to realise is that Jesus is still seeking to get us to see 'Him who is invisible/ " continued the Vicar. '' The whole practice of religion has this behind it. All that the Church does—her progress, her sermons, her sacraments —all have this as their great object, to get people to 'sec Jesus' Who is the very life of the Church, and Who is making His appeal in and through •all these things. "Tho only safe resolution to make — and tli-' one which all Christians need to make —'s to 'look to Jesus' more and more in the days ahead. That resolu-

tion is safe because it docs not depend upon any effort of ours. It just means letting Jesus do what He is longing to do—to make us all people 'looking unto Jesus'," concluded Archdeacon Bell. St. Paul's Church. Sunday was devoted to Home Missions at St. Paul's Methodist Church. In the morning the service was conducted djy Sister Nicholls, Deaconess to the Maoris, assisted by the touring Maori Concert Party. During the service the Maori Party rendered a number of hymns and chants, sacred songs, sclos and ducts. Sister Nicholls in her address outlined tho progress of Methodist Mission work in New Zealand since its inception 109 years ago. She said that in the early days there were more native members of the Methodist Church than the total number now existant in New Zealand. In the days of the Avar all the Mission, stations were destroyed and the Maori completely lost faith in the white man and his government so that for the decade following, from .1870—1SS0, the doors were closed to the Church and to all Missionary enterprise and tho Maori went right back to (lie days of dark superstition and strango religions. Since then to all the Church, it has been a case of re-finding lest paths, building again, and regain-

ing the lost confidence and trust of the Maori people. "To-day is the day of opportunity, for doors are open on every side." said Sister Nicholls, "and as one old chief put it recently, the older people know that they have missed the best in life and they want their children to have the benefits of Christian teaching and instruction in the best ways of clean living." The speaker went on to give details of the extent of Missionary and Deaconess work in New Zealand to-day, of the numbers of Sunday Schools established and workers engaged. In conclusion, tho Deaconess asked, "Is the work worth while?" In answering the question she showed that only thus was the Christian Church fulfilling its purpose, when it stretched out its arms to help and uplift others, to render willing service to those in need, and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all mankind.

THEi FENCOTJRT CHURCH. ANNIVERSARY SERVICES. The Fen court Methodist Church held its 23rd anniversary on Sunday, -both morning and evening services being well attended. The morning service was conducted by Mr Teitjens, of Hamilton, and was a source of inspiration to all. The evening service was conducted by Rev. J. W. Parker, who gave a very forceful and interesting address. Mr F. Norman sang solos at each service and Mr and Mrs Beer a duet at the evening service. Last evening the anniversary social was held and the Church was filled. The ladies provided a dainty supper, and altogether the anniversary celebrations were voted a great success. Mr W. R-. Beer submitted the annual report which showed that the Church spiritually and financially was improved. The balance sheet showed that the Trust held a credit balance. The programme was as follows: —Organ solo, Mrs Vinall; recitation, Joan Bartlctt; songs, Mr Norman; duct, Mr and Mrs Vinall; violin solo, Miss Tripp. All received encores, each item being much appreciated.

Trinity Presbyterian. At the evening service at Trinity Presbyterian Church Mr McDonald took his text from the epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, and the theme oi' his address was Service. The

preacher said he regarded St. Paul as' the most outstanding figure in history,, r.nd as the result of the vision he hadi «*it Calvary, he had gone forth and given; the greatest service possible, that of:' dedicating his whole life to Jesus : Christ. The preacher, in the course of: a forceful, yet simply-worded address,, made a powerful appeal for his congregation and people generally to get closer to Jesus Christ, and all the activities of tho Christian Church. He contended that nothing was more essential' to-day than a greater appreciation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The Rev. McDonald also stressed the need for people to bo more tolerant .of their neighbour. It was a service to Jesus Christ that prompted people to also endeavour to do their utmost to alleviate the trials and sufferings of their fellowmen. The preacher concluded with an earnest appeal to Christians for added support of all the works of their church.