TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2598, 7 March 1889, Page 3

TE AWAMUTU.

Harvest Festival at S. Jokx's. —Tho annual Harvest Thanksgiving service was held inS. John's church (in Sunday evening, the liov. Mr Boler being the officiating clergyman. The decorations woro not on as large a scale as on former years, there buing few vegetables and only a moderate quantity of fruit; but this was not a drawback, as on some occasions it was a matter of difficulty to arrange the offerings in such ft manner as not to bo in the way. Uio Communion table and rails were decorated with small sheaves of grain, fruit and flowers. The choir seats and screen were decorated with evergreens and festoons of fruit and flowers. There was a very large congregation and though extra seats were provided many had to stand, tho baptistry and porch being tilled with people who had to stand. Tho service was choral, the Psalms(24th and 65th) and all the responses being chanted by a full choir who, by the excellence of their singing, reflected credit upon the choirmaster, Mr Burgess. Hymns 353, 355, and 381 as a recessional hymn were sung. The anthem was "Oh Lord how manifold are Thy works, in wisdom Thou hast made them nil," Miss Maud Mandeuo who was organist deserves great praise for the excellence of her playing. Fur a child —she is but a child —the playing was unusally good, and with practice she will become a really good organist, and a credit to her teacher, Mr Patterson. Mr Boler preached an excellent sermon, taking for his text the 2lith verse of the 12th chapter of Exodus, " What mean ye by this service." "In the olden days Moses was instructed by God that when the children of Israel asked the question, " What mean ye by this service '' he was to give them an answer explaining why the service was rendered. Although this question applied to tho Passover it now applies to this evening's service. It was right and proper that men should come and offer up a thanksgiving of prayer and praise to Almighty God for His mercy and goodness in having given a bountiful harvest, Some people thought, or appeared to think, that there was something superstitious about a thanksgiving service There was nothing superstitious in giving thanks for our blessings. Men were enjoined by God to give thanks to Him for His mercies to them, and if that were enjoined in the old Jewish law it equally applies to the present time. Christ said, "I canrie not to destroy tho law, but to fulfil the law," The bringing before God the first fruits of the field_ as a thanksgiving i 3 a duty we owe Him, and shows that we desire to thank Him for His ever mindful mercy and love to his children. Some people did not approve of the singing at these services, but whon the children of Israel were delivered from Pharoah in the Rod Sea, they sang a hymn of thanksgiving, Moses leading the men, and Miriam the women. This year our service seems especially appropriate, as this year the harvest is especially bountiful. Some people say natural laws would give us a good harvest if the season was good. Did anyone know of a law without ft law-giver? God is our lawgiver, and He it was who gave us the rain and the sunshine that gave us the plentiful harvest, and to Him our offering of prayer and praise was due. "He that goeth forth weeping and bearing good seed, doubtless shall return and bring his sheaves with liiin." Our Lord Jesus Christ sowed good seed, and yet at the close of His life on earth, He was called'a devil, and was killed. It would appear as if the prophecy fell to the ground, for turn to the Revelation and there we read of a countless multitude who sing, " Worthy is tho Lamb that was slain to receive honour, and power, and glory." there is tho fulfilment of that prophecy and also of another. "He shall see the travail of his soul and be satisfied." "He that soweth of the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption," As we sow so shall we reap, if we sow of the Spirit we shall have our reward in God's everlasting kingdom. Many who sow good seed appear not to have got golden sheaves for their harvest, but their reward is to come. Christ went forth weeping and sowing good seed, wo read of His tears, but not of his mirth, but He shall come again and bring his sheaves with him. Ho shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied. Let us now bring before God a thanksgiving of our prayer, praise, and our substance, and in our thankfulness remember the words of our Liturgy, "Show forth praise not only with our lips, but in pur lives, by giving up ourselves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days." Let us do so us a tribute to Him who gave us all things.