November 1941

There is always something attractive about new beginnings. They can promise better things, they can afford an opportunity for breaking with evil things, they can serve as a challenge to all that is best in us. With Advent Sunday, which falls on 30th November, a new Christian year begins. Will it be a new year of blessing and service for you, and through you, for your parish and community? It would be splendid if all communicants would join in the Holy Communion on Advent Sunday and there resolve that, God helping them, it shall be so with them.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

SALE OF WORK

Splendid success crowned the efforts of the Ladies’ Guild in their annual effort. The stalls were beautifully decorated and were well laden. Parishioners gave the support and a very happy spirit of fellowship in service permeated the whole day. It is not surprising that with all helping, the sale proved one of the most successful ever held. The receipts totalled £122 0s 9d, and a considerable increase over the figures for previous years.

C.E.M.S.

At the October meeting, Mr J. K. Jaine read the paper on “The Christian and Education,” given at the last Conference. The importance of the subject gave rise to a discussion in which many members took part. The next meeting of the Branch will be held in the Common Room, at 7.45 p.m. At the request of members, this meeting will take the form of a Bible study on our Lord’s Temptations, as given in St Matthew iv., 1 to 11. The Archdeacon will lead the study and all interested are invited to be present.

PARISH NOTES

St Matthew’s Tennis Club opened its new season on Saturday, 11th October. There was an excellent attendance and the club looks forward to a successful season. Miss Betty Judd is the secretary and Mr Ken Chapman the Club Captain.

Nearly 300 people sat down for the Fellowship Breakfast in the Parish Hall following the inspiring service when the newly-confirmed members made their first communion. The ladies very quickly served everyone, and appreciated items were rendered by Mrs Moss and Miss Robinson, and by Mr S. Taylor, Mr A. Miller Hope acting as accompanist. An excellent talk was given by Mr J. F. Jaine.

The Right Reverend F. A. Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, will preach in St Matthew’s at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 30th November. Several years have gone since Bishop Bennett last preached at St Matthew’s and parishioners will be delighted to heav him with us once again.

During the winter months a small committee organised a series of quiet card evenings. The committee has raised £13 for the Guild and £3 for the leper work of the Melanesian Mission. We thank those responsible for this fine result. In addition, we thank another parishioner who had an evening at her home to help the Mission.

The Badminton Club ended the most successful season of its history with a tournament and supper, on Monday, 13th October.

Another memorial pew is being given to St Matthew’s Church. It is to be in memory of Mrs Pinkerton, and parishioners will be glad to know that her long life of service is to be commemorated in the Church she loved.

The annual Lay Readers’ Festival Service, held on Wednesday, 22nd October, was most inspiring. The Lay Readers took the service very beautifully, and the Rev. J. R. Higgs, of Featherston, gave a great address. After the service, the Clergy and Lay Readers had a conference in the Parish Hall.

Our Fireside Circle have for sale from their Overseas Stall an air force sleeveless pullover, mittens and balaclava. They may be obtained from Miss M. McEwen, 180 Renall Street, telephone 2372.

FOURTH COMMANDMENT[1]

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. Six days shalt thou labour and do all that thou hast to do: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no manner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

Human nature is such that what can be done anywhere is often done nowhere; what can be done at any time is done at no time. So wise people make appointments and have set times for the doing of things which are important. Experience has taught the wisdom of such a course.

Well, religion and life are and should be all mixed up together, and what is true of our work and sport is no less true of our religious duties. We want a time and we want a place for them to be done.

So this fourth commandment lays down the principle that a definite part of our time is to be devoted to God and the development of an individual’s spiritual life. They do not say, “I shall never pray. I shall never read my Bible.” They just set about living and find their lives so filled that, without meaning it, God is shut out.

But God comes first. Time, therefore, must be organised with that fact in mind so that our service, both in worship and in labour, may be done as in God’s sight and secondary things never allowed to usurp the place which belongs to things which are primary.

The commandment is not grievous. Indeed it is for our advantage. For the sake of health we need one day’s rest each week from our ordinary work.

We know something of how wonderfully the workers in the factories of Britain have responded to the call for extra effort to see that nothing is lacking which will ultimately bring the overthrow of evil. The workers in British industries under the pressure of war needs were called upon the seven days’ labour a week. They responded nobly, determined to put every ounce they possessed into their war effort, and yet, after a few months, production began to fall off, and now the British Ministry of Labour has decreed that every worker must have one day off in seven, with the result that obedience to God’s decree has again brought greater effort.

The spirit in which work is done also matters tremendously. It is good to know that the duty to work is part of God’s plan for us. “Our service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on this earth.” But the spirit comes from God and, if it is to live and develop it must keep in touch with the source of its life.

So this fourth Commandment makes that our first duty--to worship, and, in order that it may be done, sets aside a day for that purpose. To forget that, to use the day for purposes other than that for which it is given, is a breach of trust.

Every day we must pray, but a solitary Christian is a contradiction in terms. If we are really Christians we must join in fellowship and prayer with the other members of God’s family. We do that on Sunday in God’s Church--Sunday which is the Lord’s Day, observed as such from New Testament times.

How, then, shall we keep Sunday? First of all by allowing nothing, saved sickness, keep us from our appointment with God for public worship on that day. That is first and everything else centres on that, and anything and everything which interferes with that is wrong. Then we must rest so that we may be refreshed and invigorated mentally and physically. Rest may take many different forms. Then we should be prepared to do acts of mercy, like visiting the sick, and so on.

Sunday should be a happy day and in those three ways--by worship, by rest, by acts of mercy--you make it so for others as well as for yourselves.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mr W. Candy £1, Mrs F. Groves 10s, Mesdames E. Wrigley, W. Andrew, 5s each; Mrs McWhinnie, 4s; Miss Armstrong 3s; Mesdames Gerrand, H. Loader, 2s 6d each; Mrs Smith, 2s; Mrs J. Crew, 3s 6d; Mrs R. C. Falloon, 3s; Miss Baird, 3s; Mr J. L. Murray, 5s. Chronicle (1942), Mrs Andrew, 2s 6d.

“SEDGLEY”

HOME FOR BOYS.

High Street, Masterton.

ANNUAL GIFT DAY.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1941.

2.30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

AT THE HOME

The Committee ask for your presence and support at this annual function. There are now 27 boys being cared for at the Home. This is double the number we had in the old Home. The new building is splendid, but the increased number of boys means that our daily needs for food and clothing are greater than ever before.

Take just one item. The boys love jam. A great number of jars were given and, in addition, the Home made well over half a ton of jam last year. It was all needed, but think of the sugar required!

The work is worthwhile. Sedgley boys have won a good name for themselves. When they are old enough to go out we could place three or four times the number available. The old boys are proving good citizens and the people of the Wairarapa who have helped the Home have given them their chance in life. The present boys are just as good. On Gift Day they will render items. Come and see them for yourselves.

Please do what you can to help. Flour, Sugar, Oatmeal, Rice, Dried Fruits, Jams, Tea and Cocoa will be welcome gifts. They may be left at the Vicarage, Masterton, or at Sedgley. Gifts in money should be sent to the hon. secretary, Mr H. A. R. Dunderdale, Perry Street, Masterton.

E. J. RICH, Chairman

H. A. R. DUNDERDALE, Hon. Sec.

KURIPUNI NOTES

A very successful social afternoon was held in the Epiphany Hall on Wednesday, 22nd October. An excellent musical programme was presented, a talk was given by the Archdeacon, and a very happy time was enjoyed by all.

The great annual function, the Kuripuni Garden Party will be held in the Sedgley grounds on Saturday, 20th November, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. All the usual stalls will be there, laden with produce of all kinds, sweets, cakes, flowers, plain and fancy work and the various games and competitions will provide all the fun of the fair. Everyone is asked to help in stocking the stalls and then we want everyone to come and help make the Garden Party record success. Afternoon tea be available.

Everyone looks forward to the Sunday School at Kuripuni. This year’s should be as good as ever, and will be held in the Epiphany Hall on Saturday, 22nd November, at 8 p.m. All are invited.

The monthly celebration of the Holy Communion at Kuripuni will be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday, 9th November.

BAPTISMS

August

28 Leslie Peter Davey

30 Juanita Helen Speedy

September

1 David Douglas Williams

15 Pamela Dorothea Thelwall

27 David William Joblin.

October

10 Michael Fabian Blundell

12 Winston William Wrigley

18 Jocelyn Hazel Maureen Richter

18 Terence Graeme Barclay

MARRIAGES

August

30 Evan Leonard de Berry and Nancy Joan Spiers

September

20 Douglas Henry Richard Askew and Ivelenah May Bell

23 Norman Gee Dong and Chewlun Mok.

25 Arthur Richard Todd and Myra Joyce Armstrong.

BURIALS

September

16 Wyvern George Moore

October

13 Ernest Samuel Vonnell

Original scanned image --120918-0046

[1] This is the fourth in a series of sermons preached by Archdeacon E. J. Rich on the first four Commandments.

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