Norwich bulletin., 1911-04-17
EASIER SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES
Special Sermons Preached and Interesting Musical Pro-
 grammes Carried Out at all Services

yond the portal itself waits the expect ant Host. according to his promise.
 The welcome for the entering guests will be certain, for the host has given his own word that none coming to him will be turned away. But surely pen itent Pilate might not look for such radiant greeting as awaited the name less friend who joyously gave to Jesus the upper room. The sort of welcome each receives at the door of the house of the many rooms will depend on the genudneness of the hospitality accorded Jesus when he knocks, in person. or bA proxy of human need. at the door of our hearts and homes.
 At the First Baptist Church.
 At the First Baptist church Sunday, the Easter service was impressive. the pastor, Rev. F. o. Cunningham, deliv ering strong sermon from the suD- ject. Easter Echoes, taking his text from Rev. i.1S. T am he that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive for evermore." He said: The resur- rection of Christ is the pivotal fact of the gospel. Preaching. faith and forgiveness of sins all turn on it. No fact of sacred history is better authenticated. Every lock pre-sup poses key. The consecrated lives and the martyr deaths of the apostles; the presence and converting power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost; the rise. development and achievement of the Christian church; the perpetu- ation of the Lords Supper and Chris tian baptism; the observance of the Lords day; all these are wards in the lock of history of which the res urrection of Christ is the key. Roman theology gives us babe, a Madonna and a crucifix. but no symbol of ris- en and triumphant Redeemer; yet this is the real secret of soul liberty and the point of contact for the transmits @f fSv,<r power.
 The keynote of the resurrection of Christ is triumph A careful study of his recorded words in the marvel ous forty days shows that he taught victory over death, tears, discontent, anxiety, perplexity, fck1eness, meddle- someness, carelessness and incidence. He gives us transcendent motives to gird us and impel us to heroic and sincere Christian service. He calls us to seek the things which are above, and to adjust our lives to the higher spiritual altitude.
 Easter lilies and ferns were the dec- orations for the church. the flowers after the service being sent to the sick of the church.
 The evening service was stereopti- con lecture, the last of a series of three upon the life of Christ. The pie lures portrayed a pathetic yet grand story-of Christ's great love and sacri- flee. Solos by Mrs. Louis Wheeler and Stephen A. Peckham, illustrated by slides. as was a cornet solo by Robert Otis, were impressive.
 The cornet duet by Robert Otis and La Rue Bliven, Praise Ye the Father, by Gounod, played as a postlude, was beautifully given. There was one of the largest congregations for 8 long time.
 Trinity M. E. Church.
 There was avery large attendance at Trinity M. E. church Easter morn ing, the chancel being decorated with Easter lilies. there being a cross of green with Easter lilies and white car- nations on the top of the pulpit There were also lilies in the windows. The musical programme was pleasingly carried out. Miss Elsie Brand being the soloist.
 Rev. Frederick W. Coleman took as his text, Acts 2-23. his subject being The Resurrection.
 He said: History records carefully the birth, life and death of it's great men. The influence of what might be called impersonal immortality can not be overestimated. With the Foun- der of our faith something more is re- corded than His birth. life and death His resurrection. A life that begins with the mystery of the virgin birth fittingly ends with the open tomb.
 oAItSt Sdlu, l dlll tIlG ICSQAIeCllOH Ol the life, and He proved the truth of these words by rising from the dead. Christianity is built on this fact. The life-work and character of Jesus Christ can only be rightly understood and interpreted by it. We commence fact-the most stupendous fact of history.
 The early disciples believed this fact and their preaching was largely wit messing to this fact It altered their whole conception of Jesus and His ministry.
 We worship not dead Saviour but a living Saviour. All true Christian worship. means communication with the living Christ. It is our faith in this fundamental fact which makes us sensitive to His presence in the un- seen world. The Christian today can be a witness that he is in living com munion with Jesus. Such witnessing is the worlds chief need today. For it is upon our faith and our convic- tions alone that the world can be freed from pessimism and despair It the light-hearted joy even of the care less and the minimizing can be grown.
 At the Universa!ist Church.
 At the Universalist church services held in Buckingham Memorial Sunday morning Rev. Joseph F. Cobb's subject was The Lesson of the Seasons, his texts being Psalm 75: H. and Song of Songs ?: 11-12. He said: All seasons and all changes in the order of crea- ton are full of interesting and valuable lessons. They all %convey to the ob- serving mind the dearest proofs of divine wisdom and goodness and fur nish forcible illustrations of moral and religious truth.
 l. The first important fact which the return of this season naturally pre- sents to the mind is the constant and unchangeable benevolence of God.
 ?. The second fact is that spring is the resurrection season. The surpris- ing change and transformation which takes place in the outward crea tion on the return of spring has been regarded as d striking illus stration of the resur- fection of man.
 3. A third lesson is very forcibly brought to our attention by the facts already cited and by the return of spring. It is this-that this is the sea son for activity and enterprise.
 This season is the seed time of the soul the period when the seeds of truth and virtue are to be soWn in our in- tellectual and moral nature, when the plants of religious principle are to be cultivated and the germs of a useful, honorable and happy life are to be trained and watched over and nutured with anxious care and unw carried at tention.
 This is the season when we are to prepare for the wants of age. We oueht to eudeavor to inDroye the