The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-12-28
ANNIVERSARY SERMON.
Rev. j. l.. Grove Completes His
Fifteenth Year as Pastor OF the
u. =. Congregation in this
Place.


Last Sabbath completed Rev. j. l..
Groves fifteenth year as pastor of the
United Presbyterian congregation of
this place; and in his sermon in the
morning he took occasion to refer to
the work done in that time in connec-
tion with his pastorate here. On ac-
count of the inclemency of the weather
the attendance at the service was not
so large as usual The following
synopsis of his sermon, and the lead
ing facts in connection with his work
will be interesting TO those who know
something of the field;
~ thank my God upon every remem-
brance of you. Always in every prayer
of mine for you all making request
with joy, for your fellowship in the
gospel from the first day until now"
Phil. 1876.
The discourse exhibited, by way of
Introduction, the relation of the Apos-
tie to the Philippian and his fellow
snip III ViiC SbSpcl Nltu uilclh, uViuCliS
therefrom the theme Christian Eel
fowship.
|. Oneness with Christ was shown to
be the only true basis of all Christian
fellowship and embraces the fellowship
of God. "'That which we have seen
and heard declare we unto you that ye
also may have fellowship with us: and
truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with the Son Jesus Christ. ~
John 3.
IL. Some OF the particulars wherein
we have fellowship with God and with
one another were detailed.
III. The present pastorate began
fifteen years ago from this Sabbath
day. "l thank my God upon every
remembrance of you-for your fellow
ship in the gospel from the first day
until now." The fellowship of these
years cannot be expressed by pen or
words, but brief retrospect in con.
densed outline of what they embrace
may help us in mutual gratitude and
encouragement to Il renewed and Wig
orous effort in promoting the fellow
snip of God among men. The pasto-
rate of these years embraces the preach
ing of 1853 sermon, 725 miscellaneous
addresses, 1879 pastoral visits in the
fellowship of the gospel at your home
alters. The administration of Is bap-
tisms. The dispensation of the Lord S
Supper on ~ occasions. The conduct
of So funeral services. officiating at
30 marriage ceremonies, During this
period II members have been admitted
There have been dismissed to other
congregations -. IL communing MEM
bers and & children have passed over
from the earthly fellowship. OF the 80
members when the pastorate began, %
only remain. The present member
ship is II. The congregation has con-
tributed for the various Boards of the
church and benevolent objects abroad,
81, ,005. 90; and for congregational ex-
penses including the building of a new
CiluICll' puSVoTS SdldTy anu CuITtllJ tA-
penses $l2, 2,749,00. A total of &c.,
| 754.00.
What the whole of the fruits of this
fellowship are, only He knows who
| has said-when ''they that feared the
| Lord spake often one to another and
the Lord hearkened and heard it and
book of remembrance was written be-
fore him for them that feared the Lord
and thought upon his name.
81 thank my God upon every re-
membrance of you-for your fellow
ship in the gospel from the first day
until now.n My beloved in the gospel
we have much today to encourage and
for which to be grateful. We have
grown from "A membership of 30 to II.
We are in possession of a new location
with commodious and comfortable
new church building We have grown
into self sustaining pastoral charge,
what the congregation had never at
tanned in all its past history. Let us,
forgetting those things which are be-
hind and reaching forth unto those
things which are before, press toward
the mark for the prize of the high call
ing of God in Christ Jesus
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