St. Mark's Church.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2066, 8 January 1898, Page 2

St. Mark's Church .

The Christmas season, which is associated in the minds of people with rejoicing and merry-making, was not passed by unnoticed by the church ; because it was felt that the songs of men could at that time be fittingly ' joined with the songs of the Angels, who heralded the Birth of Him, who came to bring * Peace on earth, goodwill to men.’ On Christmas Eve a few willing hands decorated the church with greenery and flowers, bringing them into the House of God, as it were, to make nature add its adoration to its God. Holy Communion was celebrated at 8 o'clock on Christmas morning, the Rev J. Campbell being celebrant. There was service at 11 o’clock, and again, Holy Communion, the whole being taken by the Yicar. The',number of communicants was about the game as last year, but all too small for a place of the size of Te Aroha. Evensong was sung at half-past seven, the Rev Mr Campbell saying prayers and the Vicar preaching. The service was entirely choral, the choir taking the responses well for a first attempt. During the day the congregations were good, as were also the offertories. During the sis months ending 31st December the offertories have been L 69, an increase on the previous six months. The accounts of the late sale of work have not been quite made up, but as far as can be seen about LIOO was realised—L7s of this will be clear, which, added to the subscriptions already in hand or promised, makes the balance in hand Ll2O. If the arrangements with reference to obtaining aloan are successful, we hope to see the walls of the viearage rising before long.