Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-29

In the churches of the city on Thurs day. the religious observance of Thanksgiving day was recognized by three services. These were at Trinity Episcopal church and Park Congrega- tional church in the morning at Il o'clock and at Trinity Methodist Epis- copal church at 4.30 o'clock in the aft ernoon.
 Union Service at Methodist Church.
 At Trinity Methodist Episcopal church in the afternoon, which was a union service for a number of the churches of the city, there was con gregation of over 125. Special musi- cal numbers were well rendered by the girls vested choir, which was as sisted by Mrs. Reuben P. Potter, so- prano For the offertory solo, Mrs. W. G. Haselden was heard in excel- lent voice, in the solo, Hold Thou My Hand, with violin obbligato by Frank Benson.
 Seated with the pastor, Rev. F. w. Coleman, upon the platform were Rev. H. J. Wyckoff, Rev. P. c. Wright, Rev. Joseph r. Cobb, Rev. D. S. Worcester, Rev c. H. Ricketts and Rev. c. H. Ewing, ;4laI
 After the opening part of the service prayer was offered by Rev. MT. Wright and after an anthem by the choir the annual collection was taken for the United Workers, which was preceded by the reading of a public note of thanks from the United Workers for the blessings of the year and particu- larly for the support given them by the public in their recent financial campaign
 For the sermon for the day, Rev. H. J. Wyckoff of the Second Congre- gational church spoke upon the topic, The Spirit of Jesus and Thanksgiving, with the text from Matthew 15,36, And he gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples. and the disciples to the multitude.
 The preacher first called attention to Jesus and the words of thanksgiv- ing, saying that it was startling when we came to realize that there were only two such recorded utterances of Jesus in the first person. Beyond these three are two occasions in which Jesus is mentioned as giving thanks. and one of these is in the text used. Even here it was not an expression of in dividual thankfulness. In the teach ings of Jesus, too, there is a notable | absence of instructions along lines of thanksgiving. In hundreds of incl dents where it might have been called for there is no record of a word of gratitude from the lips of Jesus. Yet | it is not conceivable thing to think that he was insensate to this feeling Jesus and the deeds of thanksgiving were next taken up by the speaker Is it possible that Jesus who was constantly ministered unto substituted for the words of thanksgiving the deeds of thankfulness We do not be- ffeve that Jesus substituted the for mality of deeds for the formality ot words.
 In one further fact we shall find the | explanation of the spirit of thankful ness in Jesus. He was thankful that he was an ambassador for God in the world and that he was privileged tC | do what he did and it was under the shadow of the cross that he lifted uI | that psalm of thanksgiving and gave
 up the secret in his own words: q and my Father are one.' Betweer partners there is no misunderstanding | and he interpreted for himself that | phrase All things work together fol | good to them that fear God.' | Shall we find in our hearts today tC | take Jsus as the standard and meas. l ure for the supreme blessings tha | God has showered upon us? There i:
 a place to say thank you to God, bu there must be a ministry of human
 sympathy in good works. Jesus diC
 not let the formal doing supplant tn, | spirit in which the deed was done
 Shall we feel thankful that God ha
 entrusted to us certain talents whicl
 are to be employed for him? Got
 blesses you if he supplies these richl.
 and even out of hardness and sufferin; we can apply the measure of Jesus ani
 be thankful if the things of God ar first in our lives. It comes down t
 one standard of measure, by which t test the spirit of thanksgiving in one
 own heart, when we place in our live
 as one dominating force his Kingdom
 and his righteousness. Then shall eacl life become a channel through whicl his blessing shall flow out to man
 other lives as Jesus ministered unt others.
 The hymn after the sermon, whicI
 was America, was announced by Rev
 MT. Ewing, and the benediction wa by Rev. Mr. RickettS,