February 1940

Many will be rather glad that Lent comes so early this year. As the months go by the great spiritual issues involved in the war stand out more clearly. There must be a real revival of spiritual power if we are to play a worthy part. Lent comes with a clarion call to us to do just that. We shall fail those who are fighting for liberty and justice if we do not support them and hasten the coming of a just and enduring peace by our faithfulness in prayer and service. So I ask you all to make full use of all the opportunities Lent gives. Every Sunday the Christian Army meets in Church to get the inspiration of Christ our Leader. Be there every Sunday and, if you can, at the week-day services, too. Actions speak louder than words. I believe with all my heart that great spiritual issues are at stake. Christ alone can give us what we need. That belief is widespread, but we have to show our sincerity, and the first step is to show it by faithfulness in worship.

Now just a personal note. I want to say that the sincerity of your goodwill revealed on my appointment by the Bishop as Archdeacon of the Wairarapa has touched me very deeply. Thank you for all your help and all your goodness.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

A SPECIAL DAY

Sunday, 11th February, has been set aside as a day of special intercession for the help and guidance of Almighty God in this time of war. “Men and women of our race, together with their Allies are engaged in a titanic struggle to maintain the Christian foundations of our Western Civilisation.” So writes our Bishop in a message to the Diocese. This call to prayer will not fall on deaf ears. All Christians are urged to take their part. Special services will be held that day, and with the help of all, they will be worthy of the occasion. The offerings at all services will be given to the Military Affairs Committee for spiritual work amongst our New Zealand soldiers. The Bishop finally writes, “Your gift will be in the truest sense an offering to God, for through it many a man may have a new glimpse of the love of God and discover the joy of fellowship in His Church.”

LENT

The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 7th February. This season can be one of the most helpful in the whole year. It is a time for getting into closer relationship with God. We should join more frequently in public worship, spend more time in prayer and meditation, and give more time to Bible study. Then, it is good for us to practise some form of self-denial. It is good for our souls to do that. Naturally, the sacrifices so many of the best are making just now for the cause of Christ will be much in our thoughts this Lent. Again, this is the Centennial year. Here is a glorious opportunity, in this early Lent, to start the second century of our ordered national life in the best possible way.

MISSION SERVICES

Each Wednesday in Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, 7th February, at 7.30 p.m., a devotional service will be held in St. Matthew’s Church. These simple services make a great appeal and can be a source of encouragement and inspiration, and a worthy devotional offering to God. Let us use them to the full, ready, if need be, to inconvenience ourselves so as not to fail our Lord or let our fellows down. The thought of life and its problems is very much with us now and at these Wednesday evening services the Vicar hopes to preach a course of sermons on “Life that is Worth While.” The subjects will be:-

Feb. 7--I. “A Transforming Touch.”

Feb. 14--II. “Circumstances Transformed.”

Feb. 21--III. “A Cry Answered.”

Feb. 28--IV. “Orders and Ordering.”

March 6--V. “Workers with God.”

March 13--VI. “Talents Transformed.”

March 20--VII. “Humble Workers.”

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mesdames Bishop, Penistone, 5/- each; Mrs Lee, 3/-; Mesdames Bull, Coleman, Mr A. Clarke, 2/6; Mrs Emery, 1/6.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS

The Sunday Schools do a great work for the children. We hope to see a full muster on the opening Sunday. There is tremendous need that children should be given a spiritual foundation on which to build their lives. Regular attendance is the children’s right. The Taueru Sunday School reopens for the year on Sunday, 4th February, at 2 p.m. The other Sunday Schools reopen on Sunday, 11th February, as follows:-

St Matthew’s: Parish Hall, 10 a.m.

Kindergarten: Scout Den, 10 a.m.

Lansdowne: Public School, 9.30 a.m.

Upper Plain: Church Room, 10 a.m.

Kuripuni: Epiphany Hall, 11 a.m.

BIBLE CLASS

We can never know too much about the Bible. When Sunday School days are over there is the junior Bible Class, which meets on Sundays, at 10 a.m., in the Chapel of St Matthew’s Church, beginning on Sunday, 11th February. The membership last year was a record, and we look forward to yet greater things this year. If the young people in our Bible Classes are typical of the youth of New Zealand, the future is bright indeed. They are a splendid happy band, keen, sincere and thoughtful. All young people 14 years of age and over are invited to join them.

C.E.M.S.

A splendid address on Social Service work, with particular reference to Sedgley, was given by Mr A. L. Hibbs at the December meeting. This was followed by an interesting discussion. Our Men’s Society begins its activities for 1940 on Monday, 5th February, at 7.45 p.m., in the Parish Hall, and all men are invited to be present. The subject to be discussed is “The Church and the Family,” and this will be introduced by Mr J. F. Jaine.

LANTERN SERVICES

Experience has shown that children love to see and have explained to them beautiful pictures which unfold the Bible Story. During Lent, a series of lantern services will be held and parents are urged to let their children take advantage of these services. As in previous years, special cards are stamps will mark the attendance. The first service will be held in the Parish Hall at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, 16th February; at Kuripuni, in the Epiphany Hall, on Thursday, 15th February; and at Upper Plain on Tuesday, 13th February.

CENTENARY CAMPAIGN

This is going on quietly all the time. The need for the Cathedral is greater than ever. We need that great spiritual centre for our Church. It is to be a symbol of the spirit of our nation, a noble memorial of the first century of our country’s ordered life, an inspiration for the new century just begun. All honour to those who in these days of many calls are fulfilling their promises, carrying on bravely and bringing our goal ever nearer.

CAR PRESENTED

There was a marvellous response to the suggestion that we should show our sympathy with our new Maori Curate in a practical way by presenting to him a suitable light car for his work. No personal canvass was made, but in a few days our goal was reached and this presentation was made to the Rev. Hepa Taepa by the people’s churchwarden just before Christmas. The car is economical to run and is standing up to the work well. We thank all who helped so promptly and generously.

PARISH NOTES

All the Sunday School prize givings were happy occasions. Many adults were present and learned of the great work being done by our splendid band of teachers.

In December the Choir helped in our preparation for Christmas by special music and carols which were appreciated greatly. For Christmas our churches were decorated beautifully and there were 448 communicants.

During Lent, the Holy Communion will be celebrated at St Matthew’s on Wednesdays at 7 a.m., and on Thursdays at 10.30 a.m.

Memorable services marked the last Sunday of 1939. The Bible Class campers attended and the Church was crowded to the doors. The Bishop of Waiapu was the preacher at Evensong and he gave a stirring message. Inspiring, too, were the early morning services for the Girls’ Camp held daily during the camp.

No collections will be made at the week-day services at St. Matthew’s during Lent. Self-denial offerings may be placed in the boxes at the Church door and as usual these will be given to the missionary work of the Church.

BAPTISMS

October

29 Barbara Iris Mouldey

November

4 Judith Cecilia Gray

9 Betty Margaret Willoughby

Douglas Allan Willoughby

11 John Gordon Harold Pike

12 Jennifer Mary Jackson

14 Barry Joseph Cadwallader

Graham Arthur Cadwallader

Warren Peter Cadwallader

19 Yvonne Gladys Hale

Graham John Hale

December

3 Raymond Wallis

Violet Ann Dunwoodie

7 Emily Alice May Richter

Willie Karl Gustav Richter

9 Yvonne Margaret Malmo

10 Helena Alice May Richter

Thomas Charles Jack Richter

Maureen Gladys Richter

Maureen Nancy Thomas

16 Lyall Barry Thornton

Patricia Marie Percy

17 Robert Alexander Simes

19 Kenneth Norman Gyde

Cedric Errol Clarke

21 Max McKenzie

24 Aileen May Dean

28 Lorna Marion Hunt

29 Francis John Berney Dunderdale

30 Dawn Marion Griffith

Jacqueline Lorna Griffith

Mary Elizabeth Griffith

John Rex Griffith

Roderick James Griffith

31 Frederick Bruce Benfell

January

2 Frederick Thomas Philpot

14 Annette Marion Williams

Elizabeth Mona Alderson

19 Fay Yvonne Butcher

21 Warren Harvey Taylor

Enid Helen Winhall

BURIALS

November

3 Orengard Horsley Beetham

10 Constance Emily Hessey

24 Annie Bourke

29 Dora August

December

15 Samuel Smith

20 Harold Mace Thompson

23 William Simpson Webster

Charles Holmwood

January

5 Lillian Percy

6 William Henry Nagel

Frederick William Joblin.

KURIPUNI NOTES

The weather was not the best for the Epiphany Garden Party, held in Sedgley grounds, but there was a good attendance and the function was most successful. We thank all who helped to make possible that happy result.

Important dates this month are:

Sunday, 11 February, Day of Intercession, 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., and opening of Sunday School at 11 a.m.;

Thursday, 15 February, Lantern Services begin, 7.30 p.m.

All of us need to pray more and better--it is by realising the power that is released in our lives by the practice of prayer that we can see the events of life in their right proportion and find the guidance of God for the overthrow of sin and evil in us and in the world. At Evensong during Lent, at the Church of the Epiphany, the Rev. T. V. Pearson will preach a series of addresses on the vital subject of “Prayer.”

ST MATTHEW’S SCHOOL

This fine school for girls aims at giving a complete education--spiritual, mental and physical. Boarders and day girls are admitted from the beginning of their school life to the post-matriculation stage. The school resumes for 1940 on Tuesday, 6th February. Fees are kept as low as possible. Full particulars are available in the prospectus, which may be obtained from Mr H. M. Boddington, Box 7, Masterton.

STAFF AND OFFICE HOLDERS

Clergy--The Rev. E. J. Rich (Vicar), Church Street, Telephone 1096

The Rev. T. V. Pearson, 18 Wrigley Street. Telephone 1502

Student-Assistant, Mr V. W. Joblin, 31 Worksop Road. Telephone 2231

Churchwardens--Messrs R. E. Maunsell and J. Ninnes

Vestrymen--Messrs E. J. Coleman, E. Hale, W. L. Hunter, G. Hyde, A. O. Jones, C. R. Mabson, T. C. H. Miller, P. G. Ramsay, R. G. Russell and W. E. Vowell.

Lay Readers--Messrs F. H. Dunderdale, V. W. Joblin and J. F. Jaine

Organist--Mr A. Miller Hope

Choirmaster--Mr Wm. C. Mann

Synodsmen--Messrs A. O. Jones and P. G. Ramsay

Hon. Secretary--Mr A. O. Jones

Sec. of Envelope System of Giving--Mr V. H. Heath, 183 Dixon Street

Sec. Magazine--Miss R. Robinson, 66 Essex Street

Verger--Mr G. F. Knapp, 79 Pine St.

St. Matthew’s School for Girls--Principal, Mrs Max Cleghorn, B.A.

Hon. Treasurer--Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, Perry Street

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