HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1168, 22 April 1884, Page 3

HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICES.

Special ‘ Harvest Home ’ services were held in St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka,and in St. John the Evangelist’s Church, Winchester, on Sunday last. Large congregations assembled to offer their tributes of praise and thanksgiving to the great ‘ Giver ol all. The Easter 1 decorations had been renovated, and also altered by the addition of various ‘ fruits of the earth,’ which were arranged with most pleasing effect. The musical portion of the services were splendidly rendered, especially the anthem “Ye shall G well in the land” (a very beautiful one, the words being taken from Ezekiel xxxvii., 23, 25, 26, 27), it being sung with much feeling, and a correctness which testified to very careful training, and* Iso spoke volumes for the ‘harmony’ existing in the choir in a twofold sense of the word, and the hearty interest taken by each individual member in this their labor of love. [We believe it is the intention of the choir to form themselves into a choral union, and to give a series of small entertainments during the winter in order to get funds to provide themselves with books and music. It is to be hoped that the congregation will accord them that support which they deserve.] The bass and treble solos in the anthem were taken by Mr Rutland and Miss Ladbrooke respectively. The lay reader, Mr S. D. Barker, officiated at St. Saviour’s Church in the morning, and read one of the late Canon Kingsley’s beautiful sermons ; the subject being ‘ God in Nature.’ The Incumbent conducted the morning service at Winchester, and the evening service in the Parish Church, Terauka, taking for his subject on both occasions the parabolic gem contained in Markiv., 26, 29, He pointed out that man is a fellow labourer with God ; that whereas cattle, birds, etc.—“ These all wait upon Thee and Thou girest them their meat in due season ; when 'ihou givest it to them they ‘gather’ it,”—it was far different with man. He being endowed with reason was more ‘ honorable than the beasts, which perish.’ It was his privilege to work for and with God. God supplied man with the skill and knowledge to work for himself. Riches without limit were stored in God’s treasuries, but it was only the diligent worker who could obtain them ; and therefore (since we all acquiesce in the law that I he who will not work should not be allowed to eat’) he who neglects bis fields in spring cannot complain if it yields him no return in autumn. The rev. preacher went on to show that to the worker God gives the increase in the physical world, and the same law also held good in the spiritual world, ‘Growth in Grace ’ being given by God only in the same manner as the increase of the field. Our hearts should be treated like fields, ploughed, fenced, weeded, and then God would give the increase. He then described the three successive stages of the spiritual growth —first the blade, then the ear, and then the full corn in the ear—and concluded with an earnest appeal to commence sowing lest it should be said ‘ The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and ye are not s&ved.’