TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2446, 15 March 1888, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Uaiiviwt FicsTivAf. at S. John's.—The annual harvest thanksgiving service was held in S. John's Church, on Sunday. In the evening, the Rev. Mr Bole'r, who has sufficiently recovered from his recent illness to attend, preached a sermon suitable to the occasion. The decorations were, by some, considered hotter than those of last year, as they were not quite so florid. Last year the service was held after the Horticultural Show, and the large donations of fruit and vegetables gave some little difficulty in arranging, so that all could be displayed. The service was partly choral, the anthem being "Sing Praises to God," the solo being taken by Mrs Long, who rendered it beautifully. The special Psalms (>"> and 07 were exceedingly well sung by the choir, who deserve great praise for their singing, more especially when it is to be romembered that they had only one practice for the Psalms The text was from Ruth, 2 chapter, 15 verse, " And when Ruth was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men saying, let her glean even among the sheaves." Before beginning the sermon, Mr Boler expressed his pleasure at being back among his parishioners again, and it was a coincidence that his return should be on the occasion of a thanksgiving. Like Ruth we would glean among the sheaves and find some grains of practical use for a Christian life. He sketched the harvest from the breaking up of the soil to the gathering in of the sheaves, and pointed out how each had a special teaching with regard to our every day life as Christian. At the close of the sermon, the preacher wound up with an appeal to bo working and not talking Christians. The sermon was listened to with the greatest attention by a large congregation. Farkwkll Soiiiee to Rkv. Mh Mather. —The soiree which is to be held on Wednesday, promises to be a success, all the local singers as well as some from other districts are to assist. Some of tho pieces on the programmo will be well worth eoing to hear. Miss Allen will sing " David singing before Saul," which in itself should be sufficient to attract people. Some singers from Cambridge have promised to come.