Memorial Pulpit Dedicated At St. Andrew's

Chronicle (Levin), 16 May 1949, Page 5

Memorial Pulpit Dedicated At St. Andrew's

"Just as the spire or tower of a Thristian Church ought to say to ivery passer-by, 'Look upwards tc -od,' so the interior of the Church l ought to sp'eak cleariy to those who worship there," sai4 Rev. A. Sal•.lond in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Levin,- yesterday, on the xccasion of the dedication of the Yilliam Davie memorial pulpit. The late Mr. Davie was clerk of sessions and elder of many years' standing. "Here we have a communion ;able, baptismal font and pulpit. All ought to declare the Gospel of God's grace in Jesus Christ the (xidrd an'd from each a speeial word 'of Jesus ought to be heard." The communion table bore the words "I am the Bread of Life," and gave a siient witness to the centrality of Christ in His Church. 'There is only one essential ministry in the Church," said the preacher. '"mat is the perpetuai ministry of the Risen Lord Himself, ever present where fadthful and sincere souis gather to worship GOd in Christ's Name." The baptismal font presented the congregation with the chal.enge of Christ to go to all nations, co teach and to win men and: women and children into faith and; fellowship and to build a truly (Christian community. The same Gospel, which was enacted in the two sacraments, was declared from the pulpit, the good news of God's salvation in and „ through Jesus Christ., The pulpit was the place of the declared Word. It was not and was never intended to be the place for the uttering of any man's opinions, however keen in intellect or however reiigious that man might be. "What a man thinks and what he believes may well be very important, but what God has done for the whole creation.in and through Jesus Christ che Lord is vastly more important, and a pulpit is set aSlde for the declaration of that. Where the Word is faithfully declared and the sacraments obediently administered, there is the Church."