EASTER SERVICES

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15870, 9 April 1917, Page 7

EASTER SERVICES

The ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter havo been carried out with: tho usual solemnities at St. Michael's Church. Besides tho daily celebration of the Eucharist there has been a sermon every evening on the Passion. On Maundy Thursday tho children of the scnool sang" tho Eucharist unaccompanied, ana the altars wero afterwards arrayed in their mourning vestures, and tho ornaments veiled. On Good Friday, at Matins, th© office of the lleproaeiics from the English Hymnal was used. Many children attended the service of tho Way of tho Cross- The Rev. A. L. Cantor conducted the three hours' service, preaching on tho Seven Words from tho Cross, and many witnessed lantern pictures in the evening on tho Life and Passion of our Lord. Many confessions wero heard during the week. Tho altar was ablaze with lights, and decorated with masses of flowers at the first eveusong of the Easter festival. Communicants in large numbers apEroached the altar at the eariy cel&rations. The vicar preached at the Sung Eucharist on the Catholic Church of to-day. and its Easter as evidence for tho Kosurrection of Jesus. In tho afternoon a children's banner, painted in Melbourne, was blessed and used for the first time in the procession of children around the church, which forms part of th 6 festival of tho Catechism. His Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch preached an eloquent sermon at evensong.

There were large congregations at St. Barnabas Church, Fendalton, at the lire services on Easter Day. The floral decorations, especially the windows, chancel, altar rails, and font, were veiy effective. The Rev. Canon. Hamilton officiated throughout the day. There were four celebrations of the Holy Eucharist, with 348 communicants. The Rev. L. G. Whitehead assisted the vicar at two of tho early celebrations. Mr Geo. Turner conducted a children's service at 2.30 p.m. for tho scholars attending tho St. Barnabas and Wroxton Sunday Schools. Tho Good Friday offerings (£l3 18s) were given to St. Saviour's Orphanage. Miss J. Blaek presided at the organ. The choir gave tho spocial music, and sang tho anthem "Lift up your Heads." At Sc.- Paul's, Papanui, yesterday, Holy Communion was celebrated at 6.45 and 7.45 a.m., and Matins and Holy ■Communion at 11 a.m. There were large numbers of communicants. The vicar, the Rev. W. H. Orboll, preached at the 11 o'clock service from St. Luke, xxiv., 34, and in the evening at 7 o'clock from I. Corinthians xv., 22, whilst tho choir rendered the anthem "They have taken away my Lord." The church was nicely decorated with whit© flowers, and there were good congregations. At St. James's, Harcwood, yesterday, Holy Communion was celebrated at 9.30 a.m., there being a largo number of communicants. The vicar, the Rev. W. 11. Orbell, preached the sermon, and the church was tastefully decorated. At St. Albans (Ilugby street) Church yesterday special Easter music wae sung by a largo choir, under the leadership of Mr W. Simpson, Miss E. Smith being the organist. In tho morning tho anthem was "They havo taken away my Lord," and in tho evening "Worthy is tho Lamb." Mrs Stallard ("Easter Hymn") and Mrs Parker ("I Know that my Redeemer Liveth") were tho soloists at the evening service. There wero very largo congregations. The Rev. C. H. Olds, tho Tiewly-appointcd minister of Don street, InvercaTgill, uroached in the morning from "Remember Jesus Christ. Risen from tho Dead, of tho Seed of David." In the evening tho Rev. A. C. Lavrv, ex-president of tho Conference, preached from "In the Garden a Now Tomb. There then laid they Jesus."

Durham street Methodist Church was favoured with large congregations at both morning and evening services yesterday. The Rev. Percy Knight preached both morning and evening. Tlio choir sang Easter anthems, while at the conclusion of the evening service the organist. Mr Ernest Firth, played the "Hallelujah Chorus."