Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-23

sisted by a women's chorus in the music, which was pleasingly given. The following were the singers: Guar tette, Mrs. Nelson T. Crowell soprano; Mrs. Augustus T. Sullivan, alto; George A. Turner, tenor; James L. Case, bass and director: Women's chorus: Mrs. N. T. Crowell, Mrs W. F. Bailey, Mrs. R. F. Potter, Mrs A. c. Pease, Mrs. c. c. Simpson, Miss Grace Parkhurst, Miss Ruth Sullivan, Miss Ruby Vaughn, Mrs. A. T. Sullivan Mrs. A. T. Otis, Mrs. E. '. Messinger, Mrs. F. M. Packer.
 At the UniversaIist Church.
 A Joyful Message was the subject for Rev. Joseph F. Cobbs Christmas sermon at the Universalist church on Sunday morning. His text was taken from Isaiah g: 6, and Luke 2: Il. IL is a joyful message that is told in pTo1h- ecy by Isaiah. as an actual happening by Luke. Christ is in the world in the midst of humanity to flood the world with the light of Gods truth; to give the birthright of joy; to set the discordant wall of humanity to new harmonies; to attune to the music of heavenly hope hearts which for ages had been swept by the wild notes of despair. He is a Universal King, and his message is as universal as it is personal and present.
 This joyful message is a Christmas message, for it tells us of our Gift. It is a permanent gift, an abiding gift, the gift of the Christ. What then does it mean to us? Does Christmas mean anything to us other than an exchange of gifts? Does it mean anything other than at this time of the year? This gift of Son, of Saviour, means gift nf f.,o fn kind q remedy for distress, a shelter from the storms of diversity and dis couragement. It makes this joyous season, because it is a season of the manifestation of love. The Christmas season should mean something and be power to make effective this example of love, so that the message of Christ shall be to all a joyous message. The programme for Christmas was ! beautifully carried out. In the Sunday scool room the Christmas greens were especially attractive, having been ar ranged under the direction of Supt. E. A. Tracy. It was announced that the Sunday school entertainment, includ- ing a cantata, will be held in the church parlors on Friday evening.
 At Trinity M. E. Church.
 The pastor, Rev. Frederick W. Cole man, preached an interesting sermon on The Fullness of Time, at the Trim ity NJ. E. church Sunday morning. l The church was attractively decorated ! for the season of Christmas in holly and hemlock.
 Rev. MT. Coleman's text was When the fullness of time was come God sent 1 forth his son." He said in part: Amid i the outward observanees of Christmas fan II l of them), there Is a real danger of l forgetting the true significance of this l blessed season. Behind all the excite- i ment of Christmas and it's many pleas ! ant customs there lies the divine sig i nificance which gives the event It's per- manence in the hearts of men. Be- cause of the great Christian and eter- 1 nal truth of Christians these observ- ances and customs will be perpetuated unto the end of time. i The incarnation of Christ was not l to correct a blunder of Gods but we believe that the creation was to lay
 the scene for the incarnation. When ] the "fullness of time" had really come
 man was ready for the Christ. AS | we regard the greatness of space and | the millions of other worlds which exist God may seem far removed from us, but the coming of Christ brings 1 the vision of the Lord close to us. Ths
 more we consider this union with God through Christ, the more certain WI
 are to feel the true joy and peace oi Christmas. The incarnation reveals
 Gods true love and feeling to us. Il assures us that our highest aspira-
 tions may be fulfilled and that we art
 not merely the products of nature. Tn all Gods works there is plar and all the world had been prepar- ing for the event of Christ's coming
 which occurred just at the psycholog- teal moment. fin the fuilness of time ! Many of the nations had at that timt
 reached a high state of civilization vel were sadly lacking in moral develop. ment. Man was feeling the truth tha' he needed something outside himself for his existence. There was a spiri of restlessness and of preparation, ana
 though the people did not know wha they looked forward to, the birth ol
 Christ fulfilled their anticipations,
 We have every reason to mak'
 Christmas a time of joy. It is some
 times asked why God allows sin il
 the world; why doesn't He do some
 thing about it? He has done some
 thing. He has sent forth to us Hi Son.
 At the close of the service eacl
 member of the vested choir was pre-
 sented a Christmas gift from tn,
 church.
 The offertory solo was by Mrs W c. Haselden, with violin obligato b, . l Frank Bluson.