September 1941
September 1941 Parish magazine
THE VICAR’S LETTER
My Dear Parishioners,
Behind the widening struggle which this month enters its third year, there stands out the challenge to all to show where they stand. To avoid the challenge is place oneself on the side of evil and aggression. In this fight between good and evil there is a call to all to strengthen those spiritual forces which make possible the free and worthy life.
On Sunday, 7th September, the opportunity comes to all. Our King has called us to prayer. Let there be no single Christian who refuses to respond. Let us all with one heart and mind join in the great services of that day. Let us take our stand with Christ against the evil which would enslave the world and let that day be just the beginning of a revival of spiritual power which will make us worthy of our cause, and enable us to create the conditions which will bring God’s victory.
Your sincere friend and Vicar,
E. J. RICH.
C.E.M.S.
At the August meeting considerable interest was shown in the study of the booklet on “The Christian and War.” At the next meeting, which will be held on Monday, 1st September, at 7.45 p.m., the address given by the Archbishop at the recent Dominion Conference will be studied. On Thursday, 18th September, our Branch goes to Carterton for a combined meeting with the branch there. These combined gatherings are always inspiring occasions, and it is hoped that many will be able to make the trip.
CONFIRMATION SERVICE
Our Bishop will be with us to conduct this great annual service in St Matthew’s Church, at 7 p.m. on Sunday, 28th September. There are many candidates, and we look forward to an inspiring service. On the following Sunday, at 8 a.m., the newly-confirmed members will be making their first Communion and all communicants are asked to join with them on that happy occasion. It is hoped to hold the fellowship breakfast as usual after this service.
PARISH NOTES
The Ladies’ Guild are planning to hold their annual Sale of Work in the Parish Hall, probably on Wednesday, 8th October. Full particulars will be published next month. We shall be glad of the help of everybody in stocking the stalls.
St Matthew’s Girls’ Club Concert was a bright and cheerful occasion. All present were delighted with the excellent programme presented and the girls are to be congratulated on the splendid standard attained.
Additional names of those on active service for the Altar Book may be entered in the exercise book on the table in St Matthew’s or handed to the clergy.
Reports presented to the annual Scout meeting revealed another year of fine service. Our Scout Troop and Cub Packs are doing splendidly. The birthday party was a great success, and tributes were paid to the work of the Scoutmaster.
On Thursday, 25th September, at 2 p.m. in the Common Room there will be a meeting of ladies to make arrangements for the annual Fellowship Breakfast. This a big but worthwhile occasion and we hope for many helpers.
The Bishop has licensed Mr N. W. Ninnes to act as Lay Reader in the Parish. We congratulate him on this honour and shall value his help, which has already been called upon.
Teachers and children are determined to make this year’s Sunday School Concert one of the best yet presented. It is hoped to hold the concert towards the end of September.
We were glad to have the Rev. J. R. Higgs as special preacher at St Matthew’s on Sunday, 24th August. The congregation appreciated his message.
IMPERILLED MISSIONS
Many missions with headquarters in Europe are destitute of supplies. The International Missionary Council appeals to the Empire and America to see that the work is continued. New Zealand in particular is asked to provide for Tahiti and contiguous missions. The Archbishop will broadcast the appeal from all YA stations on Thursday, 4th September, 7.5 p.m., and an opportunity will be given after the services on the following Sunday for help to be given. What a splendid gesture it will be in this war torn world if Christians of our race are able to see to it that the work normally supported by France, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, etc., is continued.
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, until the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands in them that love me, and keep my commandments.
The easy road is not always the right road. It was not easy for Britain in 1939 to stand, unprepared, against the mighty force of Germany. But it was right, and it was just because our Empire refused to take the easy cowardly path and chose rather to stand for all that is best and noblest in world relationships that this is our finest hour.
An easy worship is not necessarily a right worship, for duty has its place in religion as in every worthy human relationship. The first Commandment taught us that the true God must be first: this second Commandment teaches us that we must show that God comes first by our worship and by the rightness of that worship.
It forbids the worship of idols, and remember that no only primitive peoples have idols. The cultured Athenians had their idols, too. It is not likely that any of us will want to carve an idol out of wood or stone and fall down and worship it, but anything which takes the place due to God alone can be an idol. Thus St Paul speaks of people “whose god is their belly,” and we know not only food, but also popularity, power, prejudice--anything almost that we put first in our striving can be an idol.
Again, though we may not make a graven image, yet we may have a mental picture of God altogether wrong and unworthy. Unworthy thoughts about God do a lot of harm and to keep this second Commandment we must guard against that. We must study the Bible and particularly the life of Jesus, so that the true picture of God, thus gained, may banish from our minds conceptions of God which are unworthy.
Thus, in the Commandment itself we read of God as “jealous,” and jealousy is not a very beautiful thing, but there is another kind--a godly jealousy which hates to see the object of its love debasing itself by unworthy action. Faculties given by God for high purposes must not be used for ignoble ends.
Or, consider another phrase in the Commandment, “visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children.” Is that unfair? It is the simple enunciation of a universal law. Idol worship--whether it be the crude worship of graven images by savages, or the cultural worship of wrong ideas by a civilised people--has a debasing effect upon national life, the results of which are felt for generations. Germany did not suddenly become debased in 1939.
Then this Commandment teaches that we are to worship God in the right way--that is, in His way. Some people say they can worship God anywhere. But do they?
God’s Way is the Way for us. Get right and noble thoughts of God. Seek fellowship and communion with Him, using every portion of your being in worship for the attitude of the body, the thoughts which fill or which colour the mind, the yearnings of the soul--all can have their place in true and worthy worship.
MAGAZINE DONATIONS
Anonymous, 10/-; Miss Morrison, 8/-; Mrs Liddle, 5/-; Mrs F. S. Harrington, 3/6; Mrs Bell, 3/-; Mrs Jaine, Miss Edge, 2/6 each; Mrs Horne, 5/-.
DAY OF PRAYER
His Majesty the King has called us all to observe Sunday, 7th September, as a National Day of Prayer. Many have been waiting for this call and in every part of the Empire there will be a great response. This parish will have a worthy share in the observance of this day as we commend our cause to God and pray for His guidance and strength for our men overseas and for ourselves at this critical moment in our history. The services that day will be:
St Matthew’s, Masterton: 8 a.m., Holy Communion; 11 a.m., Special Service, 7 p.m., Special Service.
Church of the Epiphany: 7 p.m., Special Service
St Alban’s, Taueru: 2.30 p.m., Special Service
Upper Plain: 7 p.m., Special Service
Bideford Hall: 9. 45 a.m., Special Service.
PATRONAL FESTIVAL
St Matthew’s Day falls this year on Sunday, 21st September. It is always a happy occasion when our Patronal Festival falls on a Sunday. It is the great parish festival when all parishioners meet in the Church they love and think not only of their patron saint but of all for which St Matthew’s stands. There will be celebrations of the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. that day, and all communicants are asked to make their Communion. At 7 p.m. we shall remember those of our parishioners who are serving overseas, and the Choir will lead us in a special musical service.
IN MEMORIAM
The passing of Mrs F. Dixon[2], after only a brief illness, came as a great shock. She was a communicant member of the Church and her assuming nature and her thoughtfulness for others endeared her to all who knew her. The sincere sympathy of all goes out to her husband and daughter in their great loss.
OVERSEAS STALL
The Fireside Circle are making their stall at the Sale of Work an Overseas Parcels Stall, stocked with articles suitable for parcels for our men who are on active service. The Circle is prepared to take orders now and already orders for cakes have been received. Articles ordered will be supplied at once if desired, and Miss M. McEwen, telephone 2272 will give full particulars to those interested.
BAPTISMS
August
9 David Hayford Ashdown
10 Valerie Clare Ryan
16 Peter Ian Ramsden
17 Kevin Anzac Wickens
23 Janette Elizabeth Hargood
24 Jennifer Anne Latham
MARRIAGES
August
11 Albert Sampson McWhinnie and Nancy Boyer Snowsill
23 Gordon David Caldwell and Nola Lottie Smith
BURIALS
8 Charlotte Dixon
9 Walter James Fitzwater
11 Amelia Jane Doherty
18 John Edward Broadbent
[1] Second sermon in a series on the first four Commandments, preached by the Vicar, Archdeacon E. J. Rich.
[2] Charlotte Dixon
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