April 1942

In spite of special difficulties and many calls upon people’s time, Lent has been well observed this year. The attendances at the services on both Sundays and week-days have been even better than in previous years, and a blessing must come to us as a result.

Now it only remains for us to make Holy Week and Good Friday a time of yet greater effort. God calls us to watch with Him during that time and we must not fail Him. It wil not be easy in your busy lives to find time to attend the special services, but we are learning today that it is the hard way which brings out character and endurance.

At this season we see how evil seemed to triumph, but our Lord never lost contact with His Father, so He was sustained and strengthened and passed through the dark valley to victory and peace.

So it can prove with us today. The Message of this season can help us all. It can give up courage and strength to endure until the moment comes when evil is overthrown and we, too, pass, to victory and peace.

So I bid you all watch with Christ as the great drama of redemption is once more enacted before your eyes. If you respond, the glory and joy of Easter will be yours.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

EVENING SERVICES

Parishioners have co-operated splendidly in helping us comply with the lighting restrictions by holding our evening services at 6 p.m. There has been no falling-off in the attendance--rather has there been a determination to see that our services are maintained. It will not be long now before the time has to be made earlier still--probably 4 p.m.-- but notice will be given of that later. For the next few weeks we shall continue to hold the service at 6 p.m.

The Rev. T. V. Pearson has returned from service overseas and, much to his regret, has been boarded as medically unfit for further service overseas. He has passed for service in New Zealand and has already been posted as Chaplain to a Military Camp.

GOOD FRIDAY

This sacred day, which falls on 3rd April, can be one of the most helpful and inspiring of the whole year. The invitation comes to us all to watch with Christ as the great drama of redemption is unfolded before our eyes. The Litany and ante-Communion service will be held at St Matthew’s at 8 a.m. Matins and sermon will be at 10 a.m. Then, from 12 (noon) to 3 p.m. the service of the Three Hours’ Devotion will be held. We hope that many will come for the whole of that service and that all will come for at least part of it. The conductor of the service will be the Rev. J. R. Higgs. At 4.30 p.m., in the Parish Hall, there will be a lantern service on the Crucifixion for children and adults. The offerings at all services on Good Friday will be divided between the Jerusalem and the East and the Melanesian Missions.

EASTER DAY

This is one of the days on which the Prayer Book calls upon all Communicants to make their Communion. Parishioners hardly need that injunction, for the glorious festival of the Resurrection makes an appeal that is universal, and to join in our Lord’s own service is the desire of every sincere Christian.

At St Matthew’s the Holy Communion will be celebrated at 6 a.m., 7 a.m, 8 a.m., and 11 a.m. There will be Children’s Service at 10 a.m., and Evensong at 6 p.m.

There will be a celebration at Taueru at 9.15 a.m.,

at Upper Plain at 9.15 a.m., and

at Kuripuni at 9 a.m., with Evensong at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, 4th April, by 2.30 p.m. we shall be glad of gifts of flowers and greenery for the Easter decorations, and at 2.30 p.m. we shall be glad of many helpers to prepare the Church.

Any prevented by sickness from making their Communion in Church on Easter Day are asked to notify the Clergy so that arrangements may be made for them to receive the Sacrament privately at home or in hospital.

PARISH NOTES

This number is being printed early so that parishioners may have particulars of the Holy Week and Easter services.

The re-painting of the Vicarage is now completed and the building looks fresh and well-cared for again.

On Monday and Wednesday in Holy Week the Holy Communion will be celebrated at 7 a.m., and on Tuesday and Thursday at 10.30 a.m. There will be a devotional service from Monday to Thursday inclusive at 6.45 p.m.

Once a year parishioners are asked to attend a general meeting at which financial statements for the past year are presented, and officers elected for the coming year. This is an important occasion and will be held in the Parish Hall on Wednesday, 15th April, at 7.30 p.m.

We are most grateful to all who acted as collectors for Sedgley Home Week, and to all who responded to the call to help the boys. This is certainly practical Christian service. The response is once again going to be excellent from this annual effort but returns are not yet complete.

C.E.M.S.

At the March meeting, the Archdeacon gave an outline of the National Campaign for Christian Order to be held in New Zealand later in the year. Members showed keen interest in the plans and expressed their desire to play a worthy part. The next meeting of our branch will be held in the Common Room on Monday, 13th April, at 7.30 p.m. This is the annual meeting of the branch. The speaker will be the Rev. I. C. Edwards. All men are invited.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mr S. W. Smith, £1; Canon Turner, Mrs Davis, Mrs W. G. Lamb, 2/6 each; Mrs R. Pinhey 6/-; Mrs F. Norris, Mrs G. Elliott, Mrs J. D. O’Connor. Mrs Moss 5/- each; Mrs A. J. Welch, Mrs Dalrymple, Mrs S. L. Jenkins 3/- each; Mrs W. Hope, Mrs A. Friend, Miss Ashwell, Miss Pearce 2/6 each; Mrs McEwen, 2/-; Mrs Darvill, Mrs Lewis, Mrs G. Oliver, 2/6 each; Mrs Polson, Mrs Hatch, 3/- each.

“Church and People”: Mr A. Robinson, 3/-; Misses Vallance, Creswell, Robins, Mrs Beban, Mrs King, Messrs J. Ninnes, W. A. Clarke, 2/6 each.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

Once a year, special services are held to thank God for the blessings of the harvest. These services make a wide appeal and it is right that they should. The day selected, is Sunday, 12th April, the Sunday after Easter. We shall be glad of gifts of produce and fruit of all kinds for the festival and should like them by 2.30 p.m. at the Church on Saturday, 11th April. All who can, are asked to come them and help prepare the Church. The Harvest gifts, after the services, will be given to Sedgley Home.

MEMORIAL PEWS

Three pews are now being made and will be ready for dedication at 11 a.m. on Sunday, 19th April. Two are being given by the Misses Smith in memory of their parents and grandparents, who were very closely identified with early Church and community life in Masterton. The third pew is being given by the C.E.M.S. Everyone is delighted with the pews already in position and we look forward to the day when all the old pews have been replaced.

‘CHURCH AND PEOPLE’

That is the new name of the Diocesan Church paper. It is a paper which deserves a wide circulation. It is a paper which deserves a wide circulation. The first numbers have been welcomed and appreciated by the many new subscribers, and we have now passed the number of 50 this parish was asked to take. Would you not like to keep in touch through this paper with the wider life of the Church? The subscription for this monthly paper is only 2/6 per annum. Mr R. W. Brooks, 18 McKenna St., is the local secretary. Give him your name and he will see to it that you receive your copy promptly each month.

ALTAR LINEN

St Matthew’s is very fortunate in the quality of its Altar linen and in the care that is taken of it. But even the best wears out in time. We are very grateful, therefore, to four members of the Ladies’ Guild who have given two new cloths for the Altar. One is now finished and is in use. Hem-stitched by hand by Mrs R. Hatch and the embroidery work done by Mrs F. W. Joblin, it is a beautiful piece of work. We thank them very sincerely for their work.

PALM SUNDAY

On this Sunday, special services will be held at St Matthew’s Church. The date is March 29th. At 11 a.m., there will be the annual children’s procession of palms which is always a very beautiful ceremony, and then at 6 p.m., the Choir will render the cantata, “Olivet to Calvary[1].” This beautiful work will help us as we enter Holy Week and begin the special observances of that sacred week.

BIBLE CLASS

New records for membership are being made by the Bible Classes this year. The Chapel is filled each Sunday and the class overflows into the Church. Some day we hope it will be possible to provide a proper Bible Class room fo these keen young people. At a recent business meeting, the classes elected their officers for the year. There was plenty of competition for the various positions. The elections resulted in Derek Shouler being elected secretary of the Boys’ Class and Miss Marie Blatchford secretary of the Girls’ Class. The Committees elected were:

Boys:

Roy Voss,

Peter Alexander,

David Parsons,

David Baird,

Ray Abbott and

Graham Donald.

Girls:

Misses Shirley Russell,

Betty Grey,

Lesley Pilmer,

Audrey Cameron,

Margaret Fly and

Brenda Jaine.

KURIPUNI NOTES

The Epiphany Guild and Knitting Circle held its first meeting for the year on Thursday, 12th March, and now meets fortnightly. Splendid work is being done.

There will be a service at the Church of the Epiphany on Good Friday at 9 a.m. The Holy Communion will be celebrated on Easter Day at 9 a.m., and Evensong at 6 p.m.

BAPTISMS

March

1 Jillian Ann Candy

7 Judith Ann Watson

8 Theresa Anne Wardell

Gary Russell Kenny

11 Wayne Sydney Mein Smith

14 Terence Ralph Morris

15 Joan Helen Goodhue

Desmond Athol Dean.

MARRIAGE

March

14 John Graham Heasley and Mary Lydia Pither

BURIALS

February

28 James Nicholas Wilder

March

7 Silvia Rose Deverill

16 Alice Mary Beetham.

[1] Olivet to Calvary, by John Henry Maunder (1904) is a cantata which starts with Christ’s jubilant arrival in Jerusalem, till his death on the cross a few days later. It is interspersed with congregational hymns.

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