May 1941

The various parish organisations are now beginning another season’s activities. They all have but one objective, namely to strengthen and extend God’s Kingdom. So they should be supported by all parishioners. Indeed, all should link up with one or other of the organisations of their parish and so make their contribution to the work of their Church.

Today the Christian Church has a great work to do. It keeps our ideals high, it is the guardian and strengthener of the soul of the nation. Thus the stronger the Church is, the nobler is the life of the nation. That is why those who seek to destroy all that is noblest and best in life persecute and seek to destroy the Church. They know that where the Church is strong, there personality is respected and law and justice and freedom flourish.

Nor should we ever forget the power of corporate prayer. Many men overseas have written of the power of prayer and of how they look to us at home to remember them in prayer and worship.

Thank God, then, for those faithful ones whose service and devotion is an example to us. They carry on, doing what they can. Let us all play our part, strengthen our Church, and by our faithfulness in worship set free the spiritual power so greatly needed today.

I want to thank you very sincerely for your generous Easter offerings.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH

RESPONSES

Recently the Bishop wrote in the “Church Chronicle” of the inspiring way in which the congregation joined in the services in Nelson Cathedral. At a wedding celebrated in St Matthew’s last month, the whole congregation joined magnificently in all the responses, and in the psalm. It was wonderful what a difference that made. Our services are so arranged that the congregation have an active part in the worship we offer to God, and in a large Church such as our’s people do not always realise how important it is that the responses should be said aloud. Let the grand words ring out. Join in the singing when they are sung and when, as at the early service, they are said, let the responses ring out. Our services will be even more helpful if we do that.

LADIES’ GUILD

This is the ladies’ own organisation. Throughout the years the Guild has been a tower of strength. The Guild has now begun its activities for another year and all ladies are invited to join up with this, their own organisation. The Guild meets every Thursday afternoon at 2.30 p.m., in the Common Room, and new members are always welcome. Those unable to attend regularly are invited to become honorary members and so help in the great work the Guild does.

C.E.M.S.

On Palm Sunday, at the evening service, members joined with their brethren throughout the Dominion in a renewal service. It was a most impressive service. The next evening the branch met and considered the important question, “The Christian Man and Education.” The next meeting of the branch will be held at 7.45 p.m. on Monday, 5th May, in the Common Room. This will be the annual meeting of the branch and all members and others interested are invited to be present. Members are reminded also of the Empire-wide C.E.M.S corporate Communion always held on Ascension Day. The service at St Matthew’s will be at 6 a.m. on Thursday, 22nd May.

HALE MEMORIAL

There has been a ready response to the suggestion made last month that a memorial pew should be given to St Matthew’s Church by parishioners and friends in memory of the late Mr E[benezer]. Hale. It is felt that we should have some memorial to such a splendid Christian. All who wish to be associated with this gift are asked to send their contribution to the Vicar before May 21st, the date of the next Vestry meeting.

PARISH NOTES

Our Churches were decorated beautifully for Easter. There were 538 Communicants on Easter Day--a record for the Parish.

The Bible Classes had a very happy dance on 18th April, and the Committee are to be congratulated on the excellence of the arrangements. Miss P. Ramsay is the secretary of the Girls’ Class, and Peter Alexander secretary of the Boys’ Class.

Parishioners were very grateful to the Rev. H.S.I. Kenney, of Petone, for the helpful message he gave in St Matthew’s on Good Friday.

Very inspiring was the adult confirmation service held in St Matthew’s on Monday, 31st March. Eighteen candidates were confirmed, 11 being from this parish. The Bishop’s inspiring talk will long be remembered. Very impressive, too, was a service held at the Public Hospital on the morning of the same day, when the Bishop confirmed a patient. All in the ward joined in the service. We are grateful to the Matron and Nursing Staff for the splendid arrangements made for the service.

Special reference was made at the Annual Meeting by various speakers to the splendid work of our Hon. Secretary, Mr A. Owen Jones, and our Hon. Treasurer, Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, and also to the fine work of our Choir, and to the beautiful Easter decorations.

Our Hon. Auditors, Messrs N. H. James and G. W. Sellar were specially thanked at the annual meeting for their work, done so willingly for many years. The parish is indeed fortunate in having leading professional men carrying out that important work.

A pleasing feature of the annual balance sheet was the fact that collections for parish purposes showed an increase of £174 over last year’s record figures, which were £98 higher than the previous year.

St Matthew’s Badminton Club held its annual meeting on the 23rd April. A successful year was recorded and prospects for the new season are very bright.

Inspiring services marked Palm Sunday. In the morning the children’s procession of palms was most impressive, and the musical service in the evening was a real help in creating the spirit of Holy Week.

KURIPUNI NOTES

That important event, the annual meeting of parishioners of the Church of the Epiphany will be held in the Epiphany Hall on Wednesday, 7th May, at 7.30 p.m. All members of the little Church are invited to be present. The work of the past year will be reviewed, plans discussed and the committee elected.

ANNUAL MEETING

This was a very happy gathering and we were able to rejoice together over a year of real progress and blessing. The financial position was very satisfactory and there was manifest a deep determination to make our parish as effective as ever we could so that it would play a worthy part in the life of the community. One hard task was presented to the meeting--that of electing a Vestry. Twelve good men were nominated and only ten could be elected. The voting was as close as it could be. The names of those elected to the various offices will be found on the front page [listed below].

Churchwardens:

Messrs R. E. Maunsell and J. Ninnes

Vestrymen:

Messrs W. R. Brooks

V. H. Heath

W. L. Hunter

G. Hyde

J. F. Jaine

A. O. Jones

C. R. Mabson

P. G. Ramsay

R. G. Russell and

W. E. Vowell.

Hon. Secretary

Mr A. O. Jones

Hon. Treasurer

Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, Perry Street

GIRLS’ CLUB

This popular Club will hold its annual meeting, marking the beginning of a new season on Tuesday, 27th May, at 7.30 p.m., in the Common Room. The Club promotes fellowship and also works for an annual concert which is always one of the most popular events in the parish year. New members as well as old, are invited to attend the opening meeting.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Anonymous, 17/6; Mr W. N. Cameron, 10/-; Mesdames Ashworth, Allen, G. Elliott, Reeves, 5/- each; Mesdames Yalden, W. Dalrymple, Senr., E. Creed, E. Chalmers, Renner, 3/- each; J. W., Mr F. H. Dunderdale, Mrs Skeet, 2/6 each; Miss M. Boddington, 2/-.

EMPIRE DAY

By old tradition in this parish, the Sunday following Empire Day is marked by a special Empire Day evening service in St Matthew’s Church. The committee of the Returned Soldiers’ Association has already notified its intention to attend the special service this year. It is good to find the R.S.A. taking the initiative in this way and parishioners will be quick to respond to their lead. We can look forward to a great service that night. Remember the date--Sunday, 25th May, at 7 p.m.

WHITSUNDAY

This is the festival of God the Holy Spirit and ranks with Easter and Christmas as the third great festival of the Christian year. It falls this year on Sunday, 1st June, and all communicants should make their Communion that day. Tremendous tasks await us all, and we need the Spirit of power if we are to perform them as we should. Guidance and strength can come to us through the Holy Spirit.

FIRESIDE CIRCLE

This organisation, which is really the senior branch of the Girls’ Club, is holding its first meeting for the year in the Common Room of the Parish Hall, on Monday, 12th May, at 7.45 p.m. The Club exists to promote fellowship combined with service. Members meet regularly each Monday throughout the winter months, and work for a stall at the annual Sale of Work. New members will be welcomed. Miss G. Hale will be glad to give further particulars to any who may be interested.

SEDGLEY HOME

We want to say “Thank you” to the parishioners of Masterton for the splendid response to the recent annual appeal for Sedgley. The amount given was £72 5s 10d., about £10 more than last year. We are grateful to the collectors and donors. In spite of many calls upon them, parishioners have not allowed the work of the Home to suffer. Sedgley is grateful, too, for the gifts in kind which are continually being made. These are a real help in supplying the needs of the boys. Practical Christian service such as is done in places like Sedgley is tremendously worthwhile.

MISSION HOSPITALS

Splendid news has come of the great work being done by Dr. and Mrs Thomson and the nursing sisters in the Melanesian Mission. Literally thousands of patients have been cured of their diseases, the infant death rate has been decreased and happiness brought to many. Of special interest was the fact that last year four patients were discharged from the Leper Hospital, able to return, fit and well, to their homes. In another hospital a young man was admitted desperately ill. No doctor was available, but it was plain that nothing but an immediate operation could give relief. The sister-in-charge, after prayers for God’s guidance, performed the delicate operation, the chaplain giving the anaesthetic. The young man’s life was saved. No wonder Sir Harry Luke, after a tour of the Islands recently paid a remarkable tribute to the great work of our medical missions.

BAPTISMS

March

30 Norma Frances Hunt

April

3 Patricia Dawn Ewington

19 Lionel James Arthur Braggins

Herbert George Stewart

MARRIAGES

April

12 John Arthur Brader and Doris May Lefort

12 Henry Albert Charles Davidson and Edith May Lock Stidolph

14 Gilfred Remington Brisco and Constance Freda Polson

14 William Robert Browning Watson and Mary Leslie Maunsell

14 Selwyn David Thompson and Edna Dorothy Brockett

26 Arthur Maxwell Braggins and Una Kathleen Selby

BURIALS

April

12 Evan Richard Neal Magrach

29 Martha Ball.

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