Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-07
UNION sERvIcE AT
 TRINITY N. E. CHURCH.
Seven Words from the Cross Was the |
 Theme ef the Sermons.

It is not often that in the busy rush Of fife many of us take the time, or seek the occasion. to consider the deeper things of life or muse upon cred Ldfe lived centuries ago in far away Galflee. To consider and com memorate Christ's closing hours up-
 on earth was the purpose of the union Episccpal church Friday from twelve to three. The service was continuous
 and besides the devotional addresses
 there was ssssDtnre .,rst ,rsadins; prayer
 gan n1.r,nl1 music by % Aired Bruci5sch,
 Moves. together with choir or solo work
 by members of the choirs of the Trim
 ity Methodist church, Broadway
 church and Universaiist church.
 The oevsn Werds.
 The Seven Words from the Cross
 was the theme of the meeting and
 the first to speak was the Rev. Ed
 yard s; worcester on Father. forgive do." Quoting from St Catherine of
 Siena. Mails could not hold the Son of God fast to the cross. if love had
 not held him there" we find here at as the interpreter and the ruling note of all these hours Love so infinite that 1t includes those who brought him to this agony. 'Peradventure for good man someone would even dare to die; but God comnnandeth his love to- ward us in that while we are yet sim ners Christ died for us"
 Chrfst's love was not blind, but see- ing He understood that the soldiers did not understand. It was a love not at variance with justice, but was the highest justice. Unlike anger or pre- judice or hate it could be fair to it's tormentors and compassionate to the heartless.
 0rseneviiis Pastor Speaks.
 Rev. Charles R. Ricketts spoke on the next words-"Today thou shalt be dressed to the dying thief hanging be- side Him. who timidly and with tre- pidat1on asked to be remembered in His Kingdom. doubtless believing it to been his thought at Jesus answer
 This passage has always been diffi- cult Of interpretation. Today and l Paradise must seem to be the words | lfeve paradise to mean the grave. oth- CTS that it means the kingdom of hea- ven. It scarcely seems as if 1t could | mean either as He was not that day | in the grave or the kingdom of heaven. |
 Paradise, of Persian origin, means | something surprisingly beautiful, | whether a garden or a state or condi l ton. It was used to desisnate the | Garden of Ede nand later, the place | between the grave and | the resurrection. If the latter be the | case two conclusions are important. l There is at the moment of physical | death a place between the grave and | the resurrection The grave is not the | end Second. the dying Christ was the | Redeemer of the dying thief. It teaches | us that at the eleventh hour we may | repent and receive forgiveness. We | may feel springing up in us a new life | and rejoice that we may join our Lord | in paradise.
 Behold Thy Son.
 The Rev. Joseph F. Cobb took the words of thirst spoken to His mother and to John: Behold, thy soni Be hold, thy mother" Touching in its thou ghtfuIness, Christ did not allow the needs of those he loved. The pie ture of One who had done so much Tor the world. blessing it in all its l phases of life and love, hang Ing apparently defeated in it's life and purpose, has however a different side Jesus spoke in love first for His ene- mics. then for those who had been ene- nies but were so no longer, then of 1omely ties. Natural affection found his tender utterance. He thus ex- pressed His appreciation of the low ng care and guidance which had pre- pared him for this supreme hour And n all lands where the teachings and -eligion of Christ is followed. the life 'f woman has been deeply affected.
 Into Depths of Suffering.
 The Rev. Arthur VarIey spoke on My God. my God. why hast Thou for 'aken n1e?' Never since the world ;an1e into being has man ever heard ;uch cry of distress. It is utterly after such a lapse of time o measure it's depth of pain. If Christ was to be the Savior he must leeds go down into the very depths of uffering, physical.s mental and spirit lal; and out of the depths came fe1is ;ry- His soul had reached the limits If it's endurance From the very be- 1 sinning of his life of ministry He I must have felt Himself to be alone, even by those who owed Him, followed timidly. scorned md rejected and with the knowledge hat the future generations would as yell refuse to accept His great atone nent. No one could share His burden. 1 Sor could He see beyond it. His cry l vas that of the high priest whose soul vas darkened by the consciousness of 1 UT sin. These words are not with ut hope. however. It teaches us that n the souls periods of loneliness and I repression 1t does not mean that we re alone and deserted by God. If we rust He will bring us forth into light nd hope. and peace.
 Jesus Self Forsetfulness.
 Rev. Herbert J. Wyckoff spoke on I thirst That which characterized life Was nf hiS