EASTER SUNDAY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1165, 15 April 1884, Page 2

EASTER SUNDAY.

Sunday last being Easter Day, special services were held in the various churches in the district in celebration of the day. 1 St. Mary's Church, Geraldine, The decorations were of the simplest character, being confined to festoons of evergreens and flowers in front of the reading desk, lectern, chandeliers and the side lamps. At the back of, and slightly raised above, the Communion Table was a cross composed of oak and other leaves, at tlie foot of which were some splendid specimens of autumnal fruit. It being the close of the harvest season, a harvest thanksgiving service was held in conjunction with the special service of the day. The Rev. J. Preston officiated, and Dr Fish, as lay reader, read the lessons of the day. The sermon (the text being i taken from the 22nd and 23rd verses of the 15th chapter of Ist Corinthians) bore special reference to the two events which the congregation were that day celebrating. In the evening also the Rev. J. Preston again preached. Both services were attended by large congregations. St. Saviour's Church, Temuka. Large congregations attended the Easter Sunday services in St. Saviour's Church. The interior of the Church had been most tastefully decorated by the ladies of the congregation. The musical portion of the service (Jackson's Morning service, Ebdon's Evening Service, with the anthem " Now is Christ risen from the dead" and the Easter hymns) was fairly rendered in the morning, but faultlessly executed in the evening, the congregation joining heartily in the responses, monotoned on F. Sermons on the Resurrection of Our Lord were preached by the rev. the Incumbent in the morning, and Mr S. D. Barker, lay reader, in the evening. Several improvements were noticeable in the Church furniture, viz., new matting in the aisle, provided by the " Ladies' Sewing Bee" ; Communion cushions, paid for by Is subscriptions collected by Mrs Ensor, Mrs Hamilton and Miss Ladbrooke; new book markers, presented by Miis Ladbrooke ; and a handsome frontlet for the lectern, the gift of Mrs O'Halloran. [lt is, we believe, the intention to hold harvest thanksgiving services on next Sunday in St. Saviour's and St. John the Evangelist's Churches,both in the morning and evening.] St. John the Evangelist's, Winchester. This pretty little Church was well filled on Easter Sunday evening. The decorations were simple, but had been beautifully executed by the ladies of the congregation. The Incumbent preached the sermon, which wa3 listened to with marked attention. The opening voluntary, '' The Trumpet shall Sound," from the "Messiah," played by Mr D. L. Inwood, was a rare musical treat. The offerings in both St. Saviour's and St. John's Churches were handed to the Incumbent, in accordance with ancient custom. Roman Catholic Church. The only decorations at this Church at Geraldine were confined to the altar, on which there was a profusion of choice flowers. The Rev. Father Keane was the officiating priest at the morning service, who afterwards delivered an eloquent address, taken from the Gospel of the day, bearing on the Resurrection. In the Temuka Catholic Church three services were held : one at 8 a.m., one at 10.30 a.m., and the usual evening service. At 10.30 a.m. High Mass was celebrated, the Rev. Father Fanvel officiating. The Choir sang Webb's Mass in G very efficiently under the leadership of Miss Gaffney, who presided at the harmonium. There wa» a large attendance at each service. Presbyterian Church. At this Church in Geraldine, the Rev. G. Barclay preached in the morning to a large congregation, taking as his text the 24th chapter of St. Luke's Gospel and the 17th verse. The spirit of the sermon was principally confined to Our Lord's Resurrection, which was dwelt upon by the preacher in a very eloquent manner. There was a large congregation at the Presbyterian Church, Temuka, but no decorations. The Rev. D. Gordon preached a powerful sermon on the Resurrection. Primitive Methodist-Church. The Sunday School anniversary services were held in this Church in Geraldine on rfunday lasc, the Rev. P. Will», Wesleyan Minister stationed at Temuka, conducting the same. The church was crowded in the morning and the rev. gentleman took :is his text a part of the first chapter of Revelations, allusion being made to the event which all Christendom was that day celebrating.