"WHEN HALF-GODS GO, THE GODS ARRIVE"

STREETS OF JERUSALEM DESERTED THAT NIGHT. GUSTY WIND HURRIES THROUGH THE DARKNESS; WAILING AT EVERY STREET ·CORNER LIKE A CHORUS OF GRIEVING SPIRITS. DARK AND STORMY NIGHT IN JERUSALEM.

AND JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES ARE GATHERED TO­GETHER IN THE WARMTH, SECURITY; QUIETNESS AND SE-CLU•SION OF JOHN 1 S HOME • CONTRAST HERE BETWEEN THE QU!IETNESS WITHIN AND THE STORM WITHOUT. THIS IS NO NIGHT FOR ANYONE TO BE ABROAD. BUT SUDDEN­LY, ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE WIND, CAN BE HEARD A SHAR.P, INSISTENT RAPPING AT THE DOOR. AND THEN, INTO THE ROOM COMES AN AGED AND STOOPING MAN.

SYMBOL OF TIRED, AND THEY KNEW HIM. AS MATTER OUTWORN WORLD OF FACT, ANYONE OJil ANY CON-

SEQUENCE IN JERUSALEM KNEW HlM. HE WAS ONE OF THE INFLUENTIAL AND WEALTHY OF THE CITY. ONE OF THE FIRST THRElil. OFFICERS. IN THE SANHEDRIN. THOSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW HIM WERE CERTAINLY NOT OF JERUSALEM. BUT THEY KNEW HIM; WELL THEY KNEW HIM. HIS NAME? NICODEMUS!

AND WHAT. HAD BROUGHT THE VENERABLE TEACHER THROUGH THE WIND~SWEPT STREETS ON SUCH A NIGHT?

• THAT 1 S A GOOD QU!i:S'L'ION. · SURELY NO NIGHT TO BE ABROAD FOR SUCH AS HE. BUT HE IS A MAN WITH A QUESTION BURNING WITHIN HIM - A MAN WITH SOME-THING UPON HIS MIND. PERTURBED. TROUBLED; SO THAT OBLIVIOUS TO STORMY NIGHT. THERE IS A STORM WITHIN - A STORM THAT IMPELS HIM FORTH TO Sli:ARCH.FOR THE YOUNG GALILEAN TEACHER.

HE HAD LISTENED TO JESUS. HAD BEEN DEEFLY IMPRESSED; ATTRACTED ALMOST AGAINST HIS WILL. HE HAD Bli:EN MENTALLY DISTURBED MORE THAN HE CAR!i:S TO ADMIT. SO AN INNER COMPULSION, A SEARCHING FOR THE TRUTH, HAD DRIVEN HIM FORTH INTO WIND-SWE:PT STREETS OF JERUSALEM ON A DARK NIGHT. HE MUST HAVE THE TRUTH. LISTEN TO HIM AS HE SPEAKS TO JESUS; "RABBI, (TEACHER) WE KNOW THOU ART A. TEACHER COME FROM GOD. BUT TELL ME, WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF WHICH YOU SPEAK? AND HOW CAN A MAN ENTER THIS KINGDOM" • A STARTLING QUESTION FROM . SUCH AS HE. AND A MORE STARTLING ANSWER.

11EXCE:PT A MAN BE BORN AGAIN HE CANNOT EVEN SEE THE KINGDOM". "BE BORN AGAIN! BU'r HOW CAN

2 A MAN BE BORN AGAIN WHEN OLD AND FULL OF YEARS?" "NICODEMUS; THERE IS A PHYSICAL WORLD AND THERE IS A SPIRITUAL WORLD. BIRTH IS THE ONLY WAY BY WHICH A MAN CAN ENTER EITHER OF THESE WORLDS -AND THIS WORLD OF THE SPIRIT 1 HAVE CALLED 'THE KINGDOM OF GOD' • MARVEL NOT NICODEMUS. LISTEN! HEAREST THOU NOT THE NIGHT-WIND, MOANING THROUGH THE STREETS - CANST THOU TELL WHENCE IT COMES OR WHITHER IT GOES? SO IT IS WITH BIRTH INTO THIS SPIRITUAL KINGDOM. IT IS VEILED IN MYSTERY AND

, IS KNOWN ONLY · TO GOD • 11

AND NICODEMUS DEPARTED INTO THE NIGHT; NOT UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERY BUT TRYING HARD TO SEE AND APPREHEND THE TRUTH. AND THREE. YEARS LATER, AFTER THERE HAD BEEN A CRUCIFIXION ON A HILL BY NAME OF CALVARY, THAT SAME NICODEMUS CAME TO THE YOUNG GALILEAN'S TOMB, BRINGING FRAGRANT SPICES FOR HIS BURIAL - AND PAYING HIS MOST BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO THE YOUNG TEACHER HE HAD SOUGHT TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW •

APPROl'RIATE TO.BRING THIS SCENE BEFORE YOU ON FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. ADVENT CELEBRATES THE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH - THE PROMISED ONE. AND HERE IN THE PERSON OF NICODEMUS, IS THE SYMBOL OF THE WORLD TO WHICH JESUS CAME. THERE WAS NICODEMUS; LEADER IN THE SCHOOLS OF ISRAEL; PROFESSIONAL THEOLOGIAN AND RELIGIOUS LEADER. WHOLE UNIVERSE Of HIS THINK­ING WAS CAREFULLY CHARTED - HE KNEW ALL. ANSWERS. THOUGHT HIMSELF FAMILIAR WITH ALL THE STARS; BUT ONE DAY THERE APPEARS A NEW STAR IN HIS SKY AND HE IS PERTURBED FOR THE STAR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE. AND LISTENING TO JESUS, NICODEMUS HAS TO ADMIT'TO HIMSELF, THAT JESUS HAS A GRASP ON TRUTH AND REALITY. HIS WORDS SLIP PAST THE MEN­TAL DEFENCES OF THE. OLD MAN'S MIN·D AND STIR HIM TO HIS DEl'THS. .

NICODEMUS SYMBOLIZES A TIRED, OLD WORLD; A DISSATISFIED WORLD; A GROPING WORLD; A WORN-OUT WORLD. AGED AND GREY, HE COMES TO JESUS WITH A BURDEN OF DISILLUSIONMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT. HE IS THE SYMBOL OF A WEARY AND WAITING WORLD; THE REl'RESENTATIVE OF A SOCIETY 1 S DECREPITUDE AND DESPAIR. SOMEHOW, HE FEELS "THAT THIS YOUNG GAL­ILEAN HAS A MESSAGE OF NEW LIFE AND HOPE AND VI­TALITY. HE DIDN 1T UNDERSTAND BUT HE FELT IN HIS SOUL THAT JESUS WAS SPEAKING THE TRUTH. : :

3 THE WORLD TO WHICH SYMBOL OF A WEARY, WAITING JESUS CAME WORLD. LET US LOOK FOR A

MOMENT AT THE KIND OF SOC­IETY AND WORLD IT. WAS TO WHICH JESUS CAME. LOOK AT :PALESTINE FOR EXAMPLE. CONDITIONS VERY BAD. SINCE THE GOVERNMENT HAD PASSED FROM HANDS OF THE

-BRAVE MACABEE.S TO HERODIANS, FORTUNES OF ISRAEL HAD GROWN STEADILY WORSE. FOR FIRST TIME SINCE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY THE NATION WAS UNDER RULE OF FOREIGN POWER. RULE OF ROME WAS NOT GENTLE. THE EMPEROR WAS TIBERIUS - HATED JEWS BITTERLY. "ROME DOES NOT ASK FOR THE LOVE OF HER CONQUERED ENEMlES

. SHE ASKS OBEDIENCE. LET THEM HATE US. 11 THEREFORE WAS A PERIOD OF GRINDING POVERTY; BACK-BREAKING TAXES AND POLITICAL PERSECUTION.

AND THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF NATION WAS MORE TO BE DEPLORED THANPOLITICAL SITUATION. ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS IN POWER; :PRIESTHOOD CORRUPT. Sl?IRITUAL LIFE OF NATION AT LOW EBB. MANY CEREMONIES, TEM­J?LE SACRIFICES AND FAST.S;. BUT IN THE. STREET.S WERE OPPRESSION, FEAR, CRUELTY. "YE DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES. TITHE MINT, ANISE AND CUMMIN; AND NEGLECT WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF LAW 11

• LAND WAS WEARY, HEAVY LADEN; AND NICODEMUS WAS THE SYMBOL OF ALL THAT.

AND WHAT OF ROME?. GREAT EMPIRE. FROM GOLDEN MILESTONE IN FORUM RADIATED ROADS" TO ALL PARTS OF HER VAST EMPIRE. EMPIRE _WAS RIOH; YET DESPAIR. WAS WRITTEN OVER DOOR OF EVERY INSTITUTION. TIMES IM­MORAL, VICIOUS AND CORRUPT. EMPEROR CALIGULA WISH ES ROME HAS BUT ONE NECK TO WRING. FOR A SINGLE BANQUET HE SPENDS EQUIVALENT OF HALF MILLION DOL-LARS. EMPEROR NERO MURDERS OWN MOTHER AND IS ru!<JI•J.I

ILY ACQUITED BY A SUBSERVIENT, FAWNING SENATE. EMPIRE HAS POPULATION OF 120 ¥.ILLI.ONS - HALF

OF THEM SLAVES. SOME NOBLES OWNING MORE THAN 20 THOUSAND. SLAVES WHO WERE THE ABSOLUTE PROPERTY

. OF MASTERS; TO BE MAIMED, TORTU•RED OR KILLED. THE SOLDIERS LEEJT IDLE AFTER ROME 1 S WARS WERE FLOCKING TO THE CITY AND WERE BEING FED FROM PUBLIC TREAS­URY AND AMUSED INi ARENA WITH FREE SPORTS. AS FOR RELIGION; SYNONMMOUS WITH ALL THAT WAS VILE. J?LES WERE SOURCE OF FESTERING IMPURITY. SUCH WAS THE ROMAN WORLD - FULL. OF BLIGHT AND DESPAIR WHEN NICODEMU'S SOUGHT THE YOUNG GALILEAN THAT STORMY NIGHT. WAS A DOOMED AND DECADENT SOCIE'l'Y.

AND WHAT OF GREECE THAT OTHER CENTER OF SO­CALLED CIVILZATION? SOME IDEA CAN BE GAINED FROM BEADING OF LETTER RECENTLY DISCOVERED. WRITTEN BY GREEK WHO HAD GONE TO ALEXANDRIA IN EGYPT ON BUSI­NESS. LEFT HIS WIFE ANTICIPATING BIRTH OF CHILD -SO WRITES: "HILARION TO ALIS; GREETINGS! · KNOW WE ARE STILL. IN ALEXANDRIA. I PRAY AND BESEECH 1'0U TO TAKE CARE OF THE CHILD. AS SOON AS WE HAVE OUR WAGES 1 WILL SEND YOU SOMETHING. IF THE CHILD IS

,,A MALE LET IT LIVEi IF A FEMALE, CAST IT OUT. HOW . CAN I FORGET THEE? 1

·\~i! AS FOR RELIGION - IT HAD NOTHING TO ·DO WITH MORALITY. AT CORINTH IN THE TEMPLE DEDICAT.ED TO GODDESS APHRODITE, WERE A THOUSAND WOMEN SLAVES CONSECRATED TO THE GODDESS WHO OWNED THEM. SAID IT WAS EASIER TO FIND A GOD IN ATHENS THAN A MAN. THOUSANDS OF IMAGES AND GODS. GODS MUST BE PROP IATED; A MAN MUST WATCH HIMSELF CLOSELY LEST HH WITTINGLY OFFEND ONE OF THEM. IT WAS A SOCIETY OF FEAR-RIDDEN, li3EDEV'ILLED, PEOPLE. AND NICODEMUS IS THE SYMBOL OF THAT TIRED-OUT, PLAYED-OUT, DEN WORLD; SO HE COMES ASKING. 11 WHAT IS THIS KING­DOM, OCTE!\CHER?" "AND HOW CAN A MAN BE BORN AGAIN"

WHEN HALF-GODS GO, SO SAID THE ANCIENTS. AND IT THE GODS ARRIVE WAS PAUL WHO SAID THAT 11 IN

THE FULNESS OF THE TI.IIIE JES­US Cm4E". THAT IS, WHEN. THE

WORLD WAS DISILLUSIONED, DISAPPOINTED, HUNGRY FOR THE TRUTH AND AWAITING ITS DELIVERANCE AND REDEMP­TION, JESUS CAME •

MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM AND THE NEW BIRTH WAS TAKEN TO ROME • AND BY THE SHEER POWER OF MORAL AND SPIRITUAL TRUTH, CHRISTIANITY SAVED ROME FROM UTTER DISINTEGRATION AND COU.APSE. CHRIST CAME TO GRIPS WITH THE ROTTEN SPIRIT AND ETHICS OF A ROD THAT DESERVED TO PERISH; AND OUT OF THE FAITH AND SUFFERING OF HIS FOLLOWERS, AROSE A NEW ROME IN WHICH THE ROMAN GODS HAD TO GO.

MESSAGE TAKEN TO GREECE AND PREACHED IN PROUD ATHENS, CITY OF HOMER, SOCRATES AND PLATO. HALF­GODS WERE GOING. PHILOSOPHICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, GREECE WAS .ALMOST BANKRUPT. SUICIDE RATE ALARMING WAS A SOCIETY DEFEATED. AND TIRED-OUT • BUT INTO THAT CRUMBLING SOCIETY THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM', PUT NEW HOPE. FEAR WAS BANISHED AND STALENESS GAVE PLAC.E TO INTELLECTUAL VIGOR AND

AL AND Sl'IRITUAL POWER. THE GOSPEL SAVED GREECE AND ROME • THE. HALF-GODS HAD TO GO •

ALL THIS HAS MEANING FOR US. THE ADVENT SEA· SON COMES TO REMIND US THAT WHAT. GOD HAS DONE IN TIMES PAST, THROUGH CHRIST AND HIS FAITHFUL FOL-LOWERS, HE CAN DO AGAIN. THE HALF-GODS OF WAR, HATRED, SELFISHNESS AND INTOLERANCE WILL GO WHEN WE ARE READY TO LE~ THE TRUE GOD IN. WE CAN HELP TO PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD - TO MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

THAT NEW DAY WILL. DAWN, THAT KINGDOM WILL COME, WHEN ENOUGH PROPHETIC: AND HUNGR~ SOULS ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE - TO LET THE HALF-GODS GO. JESUS SPOKE TRULY TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO TO THE VENERABLE NICODEMUS - "UNLESS A MAN BE BORN, ANEW, BORN OF THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THAT KINGDOM" • THE KINGDOM WILL COME WHEN ENOUGH OF US ARE RE-BORN. "FOR IT IS NOT BY MIGHT NOR BY

' POWER, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, SAITH THE LORD".

FREMONT STREET METHODIST CHURCH Gloversville, New York

November 28, 1943 Fred Clarke, Minister

Dorothy E. Mellick Grace L. Gifford Church Secretary Minister of Music

Lewis Cunning, Sexton

ORGAN PRELUDE "Negro Spiritual" CALL , T ~ WORSHIP

Lorenz By the minister

Jesus' Name" HTI 'T.N 164 "All hail the power of PRAYER FOR A DEVOUT MIND

Almighty God, from whom every good prayer cometh, and who pourest out on all who desire it, the spi­rit of grace and supplication; deliver us, when we draw nigh to Thee, from coldness of heart and wan­derings of mind; th~t with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, we rrlfj.y worship Thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

THE LORD'S PR!~YER

* RESPONSIVE RPJ .. DDJG 48th Sunday - 1st Reading GLORii .. Pl .. TRI THE APOSTLES• CREED

* SCRIPTURE LESSON John 3:1-17 iJ JTHEii 11 Still, Still With Thee"

The Youth Choir Pi~STOR.i~L PRJ.YER J~ND CHORJ,L RF.SPONSE

* ORGJ.N OFFERTORY "0 Gentle Sa. vi our" PRESENT1:,.TION OF OFFERINGS OFFERTORY SOLO 11 Tho Publican11

Mr. Gr ay N. Taylor HYMN 81 "Let us with u gladsome mind 11

SERMON "WHEN Hi~,LF-GODS GO ••• "

IM,lN 182 11 0 Spirit of the Living God" BENEDICTION i~ND DOXOLOGY ORGAN POSTLUDE "J.,rioso" * Intervu.l for Ushering

Oley Speaks

Thompson

Van de Water

Frey

CALENDAR FOR TODAY

10:30 A. M; ll :00 A. M. ll:OOA. M. 11:45 A.M.

Morning Worship and Sermon. Primary Church - grades 1, 2 and 3. Junior Church - grades 4, 5 and 6 . Church School with classes for all ages. Youth Fellowship; leader, Dick Brooks. Union Evening Service at First Methodist Church. Preacher, Rev. Arthur Jennings of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Albany, New York.

6:00 P. M. 7s00 P. M.

MONDJS

TUESDi S

APPOINUJEN'i'S b.ND l~NNOUNCE~iliNTS

3:45 The Jtmior Choir will r ehGa.rse . 7:30 The Boy Scouts meet; ~t the church.

7:00 The Youth Choir will r ehearse . 7:30 W. S. C. s. Executive Board meeting . 7:30 Finance Committee mooting .

VffiDNESDAY 2:30 Weekday School of Religion.

THURSD..iS

FRIDi..Y

4 :00 1'he Girl Scouts meet at tho church. 7:30 The l1lid-week Service.

7:30 Senior Choir rehearsal. 8':00 Tho Winning Six Class will meet.

3:00 Opening of tho Annual Bazaar under tho auspices of the Woman's Society. 6:00 .4:.nnuul R·uaar Supper will be served by the Womants Society. Tickets now on sale . Plan to att end those enjoyable events. Many ideal Christn~s presents will be on sa le.

--- ·---J~,ltar flowers arc given today by 111r. and lvirs. William E. Dovey in loving mamory of their daughter, Ruth.

The J..nnual Institute of the if. c. '1' . u. will ts:1.kc place on Mondo.y at First Methodist Church. Cover ed dish sup­per at 6:30. Three sto.t e speakers; program of music.

Christ in Foreign Lands

STRANGE as it may seem, Jesus' first journey was into a

foreign land. While He was still a Babe in arms God directed Joseph to take "the young child and his mother

and flee into Egypt." A foreign country with its Gentile­population received Him; and foreign hospitality was ac­corded Him until God again spake to Joseph, "They are dead which sought the young child's life."

Again and again through the Christian centuries Christ in His Church has been persecuted. His life, the life of His fol­lowers, has been sought; He has been harried out of the land.

Always other doors have opened, other lands have extended to Him a welcome. Once more this is happening. Tyrants in lands long known as Christian are again "breathing out threatenings and slaughter" against the Christian Church, persecuting Christ.

As in the past foreign lands open their doors to receive Him. Most conspicuous example today is the eagerness with which China is receiving the messengers of Jesus Christ. Nor is this a silent welcome. With their brilliant ruler, Chiang Kai Shek, and his noble wife unreservedly confessing their allegiance to our Lord, the doors of China have been opened wide, the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, "the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy n stng."

The Church of Jesus Christ is invited by the people of China to bring their persecuted Lord to them. Today the call goes out to the Christian Church of America to send to China alone a hundred thousand missionaries.

Not in a dream but in stark reality God calls upon us to "take the young child ," the persecuted Savior, and bring Him to foreign lands. The doors are open. A welcome awaits Him.

WILL we bring Him? Will WE bring Him?

(:A •.H ••f·• \1 \ 4 ~ • \

ORDER OF MORN ING WORSHIP - DECEMBER 26, 1943

ORGAN PRELUDE "Harmonies du Ma. tin" Karg-Elert Cl.LL TO WORSHIP - By the minister HYI..m 96 "O come , all ye faithful 11 18th century PRb.YER FOR J,. DEVOUT MIND

Almighty God, from whom every good prayer cometh, and who pourest out on all who desire it, the spi­rit of gr a ce and supplication; deliver us, when we draw nigh to Thee , from coldness of heart and wan­deri n t; s of mind; that wi th steadfa st thoughts and kindled affecti ons, we my worshi p Thee in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

THE LORD 1 S PRi..YER

* / .. HTHEM " J.. Medl ey of Christmas Ca rols"

The Junior Choir Se l ected

* RESPONSIVE REi.DING GLORE P:SR I I.POSTLES I CREED

51st Sunday - 3rd Reading

* SCRIPTURE LESSON l-ID. tthew 2: l-12

i .. NTHEM "Sing, 0 Hoa vons 1"

Pi.STOR: .. L PRJ..YER i .. ND CHORi·~L RESPONSE

* ORGlo.N OFFERTORY "Scena 11

PRESENTi..TION OF OFFERINGS

HYMN 102 "We three kings of Orient are"

SERMON 11 CROWDED OUT l"

HYMN 95 "Thou didst l eavo Thy throne" BENEDICTION DOXOLOGY ORG1 .. N POSTLlJDE "Pilc; rims 1 Chorus" * Interval for Ushering

Berthold Tours

Gounod

Hopkins

Matthews

We. e;ner-DuBois

WE 1NELCOHE L.LL VISITORS WH O VTOP.SHIP HERE TO-DJ..Y.

10:30 J.... M. 11 : 00 ' · • hl . 11:00 1~. M. ll :45 J •• M.

7:00 P. M.

MOND.l..Y

TUESD.t:..Y

THE C.b.LEND~ .. R FOR TO-D:..Y

Morning Worship and Sermon. Primary Church; Huth Foster, Director. Junior Church; Helene Hemenway, Director. Church School; s. W. Fear, Superintendent. 'l.'he Youth I<'e llowship will me et at the par­sonage . The mi n i ste r Yvill talk on "Some Inter esting Christmas Customs".

THROUGH THE VffiEK i ..T FREHONT

7:.30 Boy Scouts meet in the church • .

6 :30 Junior Hi ~h Department Cover ed Dish and Christma s Pa rty .·

VffiDNESDi.Y 4: 00 Girl Scouts meet in the church.

7: 30 The lwiid-wcek Servic e .

THURSDL.Y 8: 00 Youth Choir rehearsal.

.~·~mromJCEr:ENTs

THE LLT.~·.n FLO'lffiRS to-day a r e given by Mrs. Wesley Jones i n memory of her husband, Wesley Jones, and daughter, Je ssie ; and by Mr. and Mrs. John Hager in memory of their daughter, 1-:Jary Licinda , j' Jr. and Iv!rs. Webster Hager, and Mrs • .L .. nna Hager Billings.

CHRIST IL-..N J.DVOC:.TE subscribers are r equested to r enew their subscriptions now. Please call Mrs. Gifford at tho church office and indicate your desire in this mat­t er. You need this paper for this General Confer enc e Year - 1944. New subscribers are also being sought.

THE Si .. CR ... MENT OF HOLY COMMUNION will be obs erved in this church next Sunday mornine; at 10:30. Sure ly ther e is no better way of starting the now year than this.