WOODBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2399, 23 August 1892, Page 2

WOODBURY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The opening of the new Presbyterian Church, Woodbury, took place on Sunday last under very favorable circumstances. The weather was bright and beautiful, and consequently the little church, although now double the size of the old one, was well filled both in the afternoon and the evening. The church within was tastefully decorated with ferns and native bush, which gave it quite a cheerful appearance, and for this the lady members of the church are to be commended. The building itself is a great improvement on the old one. The dimension of the latter was 27 x 17, and to this 27 x 14 has been added, which gives the building a more symmetrical appearance, and increases its length to 40 feet. With regard to the seating capacity it will now comfortably seat 120 persons, but, with more seats, at a crush, 140 persons could easily find room. The architect was Mr A. White, Geraldine, and the contractor Mr Higgins, Temuka. The Rev. A. R. Todd occupied the pulpit on Sunday afternoon and evening, and some of the Geraldine choir, with Mr T. Sherratt at the instrument, assisted in the singing. The P.ev. Mi Todd at the afternoon service chose for his text Psalm xxvi., 8, “ Lord I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where Thin© honor dwelleth.” He commenced by pointing out that there were a great many passages iu Scripture which expressed the very great love which David the Psalmist had for the House of God. He then divided his subject under throe heads. Ist, The Motive of Worship ; 2nd, The Idea of Worship ; 3rd, Why w Worship. He showed that man naturally was religious and depended upon a higher being. Man was also a social being, and God had ordained public worsdip as a means of grace, for religion could not thrive in solitude. The idea of worship was the thankful acknowledgment of man’s dependence upon God for life and its enjoyments, and also the contemplation of God by man. Church-going was only a means to an end. Religion was a life, and church- going helped towards that life ; as the body could not live without food so the soul could, not live without the means of grace—the Sanctuary. This was the reason why they met for public worship. In conclusion ho hoped the church they that day dedicated to God’s service would be a means of grace to many souls. The collections taken up during the day amounted to £3 12s 3d.

On Pi’iclay evening next a parish gathering in connection with the opening of this chm-eh will take place in the schoolroom, when addi esses will b$ delivered by Ministers a pci others,