FAREWELL SERVICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 April 1938, Page 6

FAREWELL SERVICES

REV. G. F. STOCKWELL'S PARTING SERMON.

Large congregations gathered at Wesley Church yesterday when the Rev G. F. Stockwell took leave of the congregation to whom he has ministered for the past five years. In the morning he took the incident of David preparing for the work of building the Temple, and handing on the task to Solomon, his son, and spoke about the dreams that are unrealised by us which are not lost but are realised in posterity. He referred to the limitation of the individual, and the co-operation that was necessary in all work for God. The Junior Choir sang the Anthem “Marching with Singing.” Mr Stockwell expressed his appreciation of the work of the Junior Choir. There was a fine congregation in the evening. The Choir sang the Anthems, “Rejoice, the Lord is King” and “Conquering Kings Their Titles Take” and a beautiful duet, “Angels Are Watching us” was sung by Miss Doreen Jamieson and Mrs Gordon Milne. The text of the sermon was found in Hebrews, chap XIII., verse 8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and for-, ever.” Mr Stockwell referred to the critical state of the world today and declared his firm conviction that the only hope for civilisation and personal salvation was to be found in the Changeless Christ, who was the same yesterday, today and for ever, and made an effective appeal to the congregation to link their lives with the One who sat high above all change, and whose grace was sufficient for every occasion.

At the conclusion of the sermon Mr Stockwell took the opportunity of thanking all who had laboured with him in the work of the Gospel and commended to them his successor, the Rev F. J. Parker. The singing of the hymn “This, This is the Lord we Adore” brought to a close a memorable service.