Marton News

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 December 1949, Page 2

Marton News

“GLORIA IN EXCELSIS” CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM METHODIST CHURCH “We all love and take a great pleasure in singing the Christmas carols,” said the Rev. H. Prowse, preaching in the Marton Methodist Church on Christmas Day. “We believe that untold blessings go forth from them to benefit the world even as they did that night when the angel chorus sounded ‘Gloria in Excelsis.’ ” These words, said the speaker, were first sung to the shepherds and it is of value to note that they received this wonderful visitation while performing their ordinary work, proving that there is no place or time where we may not receive the heavenly vision. But it was not the song of just a few angels, but, as Moffett puts it: “Then a host of Heaven's army suddenly appeared beside the angel, extolling God and saying, Glory to God in high heaven, and peace on earth for men whom He favours.” The whole host of heaven was praising God, not merely that portion visible to the shepherds, said Mr. Prowse. "What did the song mean and did it have a message for our age,” asked the preacher. The coming of Jesus was the highest expression of God’s Glory, the fulness of His nature, His love and His goodness, which passed before Moses, when he asked to see God’s glory. God is the glory, for He is the source of all the good that Jesus brought to men, and the hearts that worship God and live to praise them, are the ones which both receive and carry to men peace and goodwill. “We get peace with God and with nature by a life of harmony with Its laws, peace with other men and peace with the individual soul; all its faculties working together in perfect harmony, said Mr. Prowse. “We also get peace with conscience by forgiveness of sin and perfect victory over sin, which is the destroyer of peace. It includes all the blessings, happiness and prosperity which perfect peace makes possible. This peace is the fruit of the gospel in each soul that receives it, and it is the ultimate result in all the world. “Let us pray,” said Mr. Prowse, that this peace will today illuminate all human experience.” “The angels sang this song of peace, a peace which only comes to those who serve God truly. Our world still needs to learn that God has goodwill and a gracious purpose toward all men, that He still loves thie _ sinful, rebellious, unworthy world, which still lies in darkness and the shadow of death, that He still seeks His loved, wandering children. He still wants to bring this message to the world, to publish the glad tidings that 'He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ This is the message that the angels still bring to man. Here we have the message for today. But some hear the angelic song and then rush off to a good dinner. They never attempt, like the shepherds, to seek the King, their saviour. The shepherds had so much faith in the angels’ message they started to investigate and see for themselves. They showed zeal in their haste as well as faith and they found the message true—the saviour had come. Not content with seeing they made it known abroad, and when a person becomes a Christian he wants to tell others. He wants to proclaim to all what a wonderful saviour he has found. It was marvellous news they told, too good to be true, but it was true. Mary, we are told, treasured all these things in her heart. There are two ways of receiving the ‘Good news, Mary’s way and the shepherd’s way—both are good. We, like Mary, should ponder it in' our hearts, letting it grow like the good weeds until its fragrance fills our heart and life. Then like the shepherds we should publish it abroad. Like them we too can go back to our daily duty with a new life and an eternal blessing. When Christ comes in, work takes on a new look and we glorify God for the greatness of His love. “Let us then lift up our praises to Him,” concluded the preacher, “and pray that 'the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts will be acceptable in the sight of the Lord, who is our strength and our redeemer." CHRISTMAS MAIL FROM MARTON. Although on one day last week the outward mail from Marton was believed to be a record for the town, postings of packet mail this year was slightly less than last year, according to Marton Post Office officials. The slight drop in packet mail, however, was made up both in outward and inward postings of cards and letters. On December 19, the Marton Post Office despatched 77 bags of outward mail, an increase of eight bags over last Christmas' busiest day. People apparently took notice of requests to "post early" for the bulk of the mail traffic, was dealt with earlier in the week.