YOUNG PEOPLE’S DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 13, 13 December 1932, Page 2

YOUNG PEOPLE’S DAY

EMMANUEL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Sunday was special Young People’s Day in Emmanual Congregational Church, Broadway, when tlio work among the various organisations among the young people was brought to a close for tho year. Tho service in the morning was a. special one for children, the whole of tho Sunday school and Bible classes being in attendance. Anniversary hymns were sung by tho children, also a duet by Arolitt Kelly and Mary Laing and. a solo by Miss Grace Cox. Mr J. Arthur AVilkinson, of Dunedin, chairman of tho Congregational Union of New Zealand, gave a very interesting address on “Difficulties” to the children, after which the prizes won in tho Sunday School were distributed. Pastor Byoroft, on calling upon Mrs AVilkinson to prosont tho prizes, stated that they were specially honoured this year in having tlio chairman of tho union to speak to them, and also tho Dominion president of the New Zealand Federation of Congregational Women to present the prizes. Pastor Bycroft also made reference to the fact that Mrs Page w r as with them for the last time as secretary of the school, having decided to vacate that office at the end of the year, Mrs Page had been connected with tho school ever since its beginning over thirty years ago.

Tho evening service was a great young people’s consecration service, when members of the Christian Endeavour Society took part. Special choruses were sung by the young people and the anthem rendered by- the choir. Pastor Bycroft spoke on tlio prayer that Jesus refused to pray, basing his remarks on John 17:15: ‘H pray not that tliou shonldest take them out 'of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” He said the 17th of John was a wonderful chapter. “Of all the chapters of Scripture it is the easiest in regard to the Words, the most profound in regard to the ideas meant. Plain and artless as is the language, it is so deep, rich and wide that no one can find its bottom or extent. This is one of the chapters of which Baxter in his Saints’ Rest says, ‘lt is of more value than nil the other books in the world.’ It is tho great prayer of Jesus Christ, and in some respects it is the most precious relic of the post. It contains the w'ords of Christ addressed to God in the critical hour of His life when He prayed for His disciples, prayed for the unity of His people, that they may be sanctified through the truth, that they may be kept evermore in the safe keeping of the Eternal Father; that they may faithfully carry out the mission that He gave them while they are in the flesh.” Then Pastor Bycroft pointed out that this great prayer was remarkable not only for what Christ asks, but also for what he refuses to ask, and what he refuses to ask was found in the text: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world.” “This is what Christ refused to pray. If Christ had prayed for His disciples ito have been removed, there would have been little to wonder at, for the times in which Christ and His disciples lived were bad and evil times. The night of Paganism was at its darkest; the corruptions of the Great Roman Empire were at their worst. The picture of society, as given by heathen writers, is too revolting to look upon, and yet Christ refused to pray that His disciples be taken out of the world. He refuses to-day to listen to and to answer our prayers that we may be taken away from our appointed burdens and warfare. Many an individual iu distress has prayed to be removed from life’s troubles. But God does not remove any until their task is finished, but while He will not remove us, He will give us strength and. succor to bear the heat and burden of the day. Furthermore, it is not His design that His disciples should retire into solitude, and live a hermit’s life; nothing is more opposite to the teaching of Christ. Christ by His example taught us that if we would live Christian lives, we must live useful ones, if we would follow Him, we must not take ourselves out of the world, but do our duty in the world. Christ desired His disciples to remain because the world needed them. They were the only ones who had hope, and could bring a message of hope and light into the darkness of the worldj and Christ was depending upon His disciples to bring that message to the world.” The preacher then said: “If ever there was a time in the history of the world when it needed Christ’s people and Christ’s message it is to-day.” The only remedy for the troubles of the world was Jesus Christ and His people. He was the great balm and physician of Gilead, and the world needed Christ’s true iconsecrated people to bring that message to them to-day. Christ desired His disciples to remain for their own sake; a season in the world would discipline and fit them for higher service. “The world is our training ground, our place of learning where we are disciplined and fitted for higher service. It is our battlefield. There must be service done, there must be toil before rest, warfare before the crown, faithfulness before the well done. “AVe need this world to be up and doing for the sake of others and for our own sake, remembering that the Cross of Christ challenges every piece of service we do, every relationship we have in iife. It challenges us to do our highest and holiest and noblest and best, so tlia.t the name of God may be glorified.” ‘ The service concluded with twenty young people coming forward and reconsecrating their lives to Christ.

PRIZE-LIST

The Sunday School prize-list was as follows:

Intermediate Boys.—Dick Ozanne, 100 per cent., Ist prize and diploma ; Clarie Ludlow, 100 per cent., Ist prize and diploma; Arthur Fitch, 811 per cent., 3rd prize; Jim Fitch, 80 per cent., 3rd prize; Harvey Teulon, 80 per cent., 3rd prize. Intermediate girls: Mary Laing, 99J per cent., Ist prize and diploma; Aroha Kelly, 99K Ist prize and diploma; Nesta Bradfield, 81 1-3, 3rd prize. Junior boys: Gordon Bycroft, 992, Ist prize' and diploma; Jack Arthur, 90i, 2nd prizo. Junior girls: Doreen Bycroft, 100, Ist prize and diploma; June Dennan, 97 1-3, Ist prize a.nd diploma; Alma Fitch, 83J, 3rd prize; Margaret Teulon, 80, 3rd prize; Phylis Tobin, 80, 3rd prize. Primary hoys: Jimmy Keily, 73 1-3, 3rd prize. Primary girls: Joyce Singh, 100, Ist prize and diplcuna. Kindergarten, boys: Keith Bycroft, 95J, Ist prize and diploma; Trevor Singh, 761, 3rd prize; Tommy Kelly, 71J, 4th prize; Bernie Kelly, Desmond Clark, Ken Brown, Bob Johnson. Kindergarten, girls: Elaine Bycroft, 100, Ist prize and diploma; Valina Singh, 971, Ist prize and diploma; Daphne Page, 84J, 2nd prize; Eunice Teulon, 80, 3rd prize; Janet Teulon 80, 3rd prize; Joan Seal, 75, 4th prize; Mabel Downie, Patty Seal. Young Worshippers’ League, girls: Aroha Kelly, 100; Doreen Bycroft, 100; Margaret Toulon, 100; Eunice Teulon, 100; Janet Teulon, 100; Mary Laing, 95f; Nesta Bradfield, 95|; Lilia McKinnon, 841, Young Worshipers’ League, hoys; Harvey Teulon, 100; Gordon Bycroft, 100; Keith Bycroft, 100. ’Seniors; Enid Petrie, Don

Bradfield, Bruce Teulon. Junior Bible Classes, completing diplomas: Annie Edwards, campleted and framed; Jean Edwards, completed and framed; Nellie 4th seal; Enid Bycroft, 4th seal; George Laing, 4th seal. Specials: Murray Pago, homework; Harvey Teulon, homework; Doreen Bycroft, highest amount on Ship Card, girls; Gordon Bycroft, highest amount on Ship Card, boys; Grace Downie. London Missionary Society’s prizes: Doreen Bycroft, Gordon Bycroft, Mary Laing, Alma Fitch, Phylis Tobin,