The Penn's Grove record., 1921-02-11
Emmanuel Church
18th Anniversary
Large Attendance To Hear Ser
mons And To Renew Old
Memories and Friendship

-
D. D., District Superintendent, preach
ed a most enngntening sermon on
hat Is the Church z" He took his
lesson from the frst chapter OF Acts
and text from Epheslans, 5:z5:
Christ loved the Church and gave
Himself for it." He said in part:
We are here today TO celebrate the
10th anniversary OIL the erection Of
this Church edlfice. We call it the
Church. 1t is not the Church, only a
meeting place for the spiritual body,
the material home of those who con-
stitute the Church OF the living God.
What is the Church Let US turn
to our Methodist catechism and there
learn our definition of the Church as
defined in Scripture.
The Church OF God exists in two
forms, the visible and invisible. The
visible Church OF Christ is congre-
CATION of faithful men, in which the
pure word of God is preached and the
sacraments duly administered accord
ing to Christ's ordinance (See Acts
Pap, Matthew 1918, Ephesians 5:27;
All, 1921 1:22:23.)
The invisible Church is the whole
body of God S true people in every
period OF time. All people who be-
ieve in Christ should be members of
the visible Church in order to have a
union with Christ, the spiritual head
OF the Church John 1921; Eph. 5:23;
John 1921; l Cor. 1920.
All should partake of the two sacra-
ments, baptism and the Lords Sup
per.
Here is building with walls, reof,
tower and bell to call people to for
get their worldly cares and woes and
meet God in spiritual communion of
heavenly things. Is that the Church?
Is a house the home? A house does
not become a home until there be a
living personal spirit in that house to
furnish it, to adorn it and giving it
the living touches of a spirit in man
which makes it household of faith
and good works. There are many
buildings with men and women in
them, but they are not homes. There
is no love there. God is love.
st. Paul tells US of the household
of faith. The faith of Abraham was
the beginning of Gods work thru his
chosen people.
AS Jesus loved the Church and gave
His life for it, we founded the Church
on our faith in Jesus, the Christ.
Our Church is built on Peters confess
sion that Jesus was the Christ and
not on Peter, the man disciple.
| understand the love of people for
the old spiritual home of their fathers
and grandfathers who gave their time,
money and devotion to it. Where
there is something invested there our
heart lies. Let us not rest on the
good work of others but make our own
Investment and have an interest in it.
Some forget the value of Christian
Church society. How much would
your property be worth 'witlo she
security of good faith and conduct of
people around you? Even those who
belong to no Church appreciate the
benefits derived from influence of
Christian Churches and it pays to in
vest in them from a business stand
point for the security of society. But
much more value is the Church for the
moral teachings and spiritual enlight-
enment and uplift of humanity to have
fellowship with God.
AS Christ gave Himself for the
Church, may we give ourselves to
Christ, the spirit Of Jehovah in man,
and make Him a part of our life work.
There may be fine edifice and a big
organization, but there must be the
power of the Holy Spirit to make
Gods Kingdom on earth a heaven here
below.
Sunday evening a large audience
was present to hear the Historc SER
mon by the pastor, Rev. Ralph S. Car
isle. and the special music by the
large choir. The sermon and anniver-
sary appear ON page 3.
Tuesday evening was Former Pas
tors Night. The many happy remi-
niscences told by them in their joyful
humorous vein refreshed fond me-
mories and made an occasion long
to be remembered.
Rev. Edgar A. Miller, of Camden,
during his six years pastorate from
19O8-13, had many events to relate.
The Church had been enlarged the
year previous and he proved a good
financial manager. In his first year
the pipe organ was put in. He hav-
ing been a leader in college sports, he
arranged a gymnasium for the boys in
the social room which played havoc
with the plastering below. The woods
meetings in the auditorium on High
land Park, begun by Rev. Joseph II
Rovd in 1904, were continued with
happy results until the auditorium
burned down. The Sunday School pic
MICS and Harvest Homes with luscious
cots were social events with many
happv remembrances.
During Rev. Millers pastorate not
only did he manage the financial bur
den of finishing the payment OF en-
larging the Church in 1907 at the ex-
nense of $4,000, but also the parson-
age was moved back and rebuilt at an
aSnense of about $4,000. It is to his
excellent financing that nearly all Che
debts were paid and membership en-
1arged.
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