UNITED CHURCH SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2587, 31 May 1923, Page 3

UNITED CHURCH SERVICE.

The weekly United Church Service was held in All Saints’ Church on Tuesday evening. Evidence of the growing interest in these services was shown by the large congregation present. The Rev. W. Walton lead the singing, and read portions of Scriptures. The address was given by the Rev. L. Minifie fi'om the words, “And that day there were added unto them three thousand souls. Some mocked, and others said, We will hear Thee again of this matter.’ ” The speaker said these two verses were the close of two great New Testament sermons. The first described the wondrous success of an address by Peter; the second the failure of an address by Paul. A close examination of the addresses revealed each deep in thought, inspiring, which, said the speaker, evidently retained the hearers’ attention. Why the failure and the success? The reason was in the surroundings. Peter’s case was in Jerusalem, where a short time previously the arrest, death, resurreetion and ascension of Christ had taken place. Peter had just been baptised with the Holy Spirit—the atmosphere was charged with the Spirit, and there could be but one result: thousands • added to the Kingdom of God. Paul’s case was in Athens, and the people were unprepared, and there was no spiritual atmosphere, and the result was failure. The same conditions abided to-day. The preaching of the Gospel of Christ was effective or otherwise according to the atmosphere of the Spirit. This atmosphere it was the duty of Christian people to endeavour to prepare. This could be done by prayer at the family altar, and in private devotion. The next aid was the praying spirit throughout the services. There was also the necessity of being constant in this prayer, and having genuine belief in God’s ability to answer the petitions of men. As men to-dav acted on such suggestions as these, a spiritual atmosphere of - power would be detected in the places of worship. Men would be encouraged, uplifted, transformed. This was a most urgent matter in preparation for the coming mission.

The service next week will be held in the Presbyterian Church, the address to be given by Captain Huston.