February 1944

We have entered upon what the leaders of the free world have called the most decisive and crucial year of modern times. None of us are likely to quarrel with that description, and many of us will have realised that this year challenges us to intensive spiritual effort.

Plainly, events of great moment are impending. Our leaders have spoken of their reliance on the prayers and support of all at home. We should make every Sunday of this vital year like a national Day of Prayer, when in quiet sincerity we gather in Church to remember those who serve, and to uphold and support them by our prayers. Surely when so much is at stake, we shall never let our witness and our worship be poorer than it ought to be, because we are absent.

Then, as Christian people, we are concerned about the future. We are surely going to see it, this time, that a just world order is established. For that to happen there must be created the right atmosphere of goodwill and determination. It is our job to create that atmosphere and now is the time to do it.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. RICH.

ST MATTHEW'S SCHOOL

This fine school for girls, situated in Pownall Street, Masterton, reopens for the year on Tuesday, 8th February. Last year, in order to provide extra accommodation for this year, the Board purchased a staff residence, but even so it has not been possible to accept all the boarders who desired admittance. Day girls may still be admitted. The remarkable growth of the School is a tribute to its high standard of achievement. Particulars as to fees may be obtained from the secretary, Mr H. R. Boddington, Box 7, Masterton, or from the Principal, Mrs Max Cleghorn.

BIBLE CLASS

When boys and girls have passed through Sunday School they are ready for more advanced study. This is provided for by our Bible Classes, which will begin meetings for the year in the Common Room on Sunday, 6th February, at 10 a.m. Last year the roll of members was a record one. Members are keen and interested, and we look forward to another splendid year.

PARISH NOTES

Our churches were decorated beautifully for the Christmas services. There were 527 communicants that day--a record for Christmas in the Parish.

It was good to see so many parents and friends present at the Sunday School prizegiving functions. All were very happy occasions.

St Matthew's Ladies' Guild wound up their 1943 activities with a very happy social afternoon held at the Vicarage.

It was good to have our old friend the Rev. V. W. Joblin, C.F., helping us at Christmas time--his leave fitted in very well for us. He has now been posted as Chaplain with the R.N.Z.A.F.

KURIPUNI NOTES

The Kuripuni Sunday School will resume for the year at 11 a.m. on Sunday, 6th February, in the Epiphany Hall.

The Epiphany Boys' Club will meet on Monday, 7th February, at 7 p.m.

Harvest festival services will be held at the Church of the Epiphany, on Sunday, 20th February.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

The annual services of thanksgiving for the blessings of the harvest make a wide appeal and have an important lesson for us all. Both at St Matthew's and at Kuripuni these services will be held on Sunday, 20th February. On Saturday, 19th February, before 2.30 p.m., we shall be glad of gifts of produce for the festival and at that hour we want many helpers to arrange the gifts. The harvest gifts symbolise our gratitude to God for many blessings, and, in addition, they represent practical Christian service, for after the festival they are given to Sedgley Home.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS

Never was it more important than it is today that children should be taught the faith of their fathers. Only so can they get a sure foundation on which to build their lives. The Sunday Schools of the parish resume for this year on Sunday, 6th February, and we hope that all children will be present on the opening day and then not miss a Sunday throughout the year. Under the leadership of Capt. H. Sutcliffe, assisted by a splendid band of teachers, a happy and successful is assured.

On the opening day, Sunday, 6th February, the Lansdowne Sunday School will meet at 9.30 a.m. at 23 The Terrace; St Matthew's Kindergarten in the Scout Den, at 10 a.m.; St Matthew's Main School, at 10 a.m. in the temporary Church (Parish Hall); Kuripuni at 11 a.m., and Taueru, at 2 p.m. After the opening day, St Matthew's will be divided, the seniors in the Orange Hall, and the juniors in the Parish Hall.

MAGAZINE DONATIONS

Mrs G. L. Thomas, Mrs C. Geange, 10/- each; Mrs Christian, Miss F. L. Armstrong, 5/- each; A friend, 4/-; Mr J. Snell, 3/6; Mesdames Adcock, Penistone, Heasley, 2/6 each; Mr A. E. Clarke, 2/-

"Church and People": Mr W. E. Vowell, 10/-; Mrs J. Crew, 3/-; Mesdames B. Roberts, W. Penistone, 2/6 each.

REBUILDING CAMPAIGN

Great progress has been made since the last Magazine. The special effort at Christmas saw some £520 added to the fund in a single week. Then early this year we received a gift of £398 2s 6d from the Diocese of Auckland, and other location donations and promises were made, many of them from parishioners who had already given generously. Excellent results were obtained by a band of ladies who carried out a systematic canvass and by members of the Vestry and others.

These collectors all report that they met with a wonderfully sympathetic reception from nearly everybody. Our people realise the difficulties under which we are working, they know that God's work here is being hampered, they want the Parish Hall to be restored as soon as possible for our youth and social work, above all they want to build a House of God which will be an enduring symbol of the fact that, in this war, we are fighting for the survival of those principles of decent life which Christ gave to the world. Real sacrifices have been and are being made.

One parishioner suggested that a special box in which people could put odd coins for the building fund should be placed in the Hall porch. This has been done and has already proved its worth. If we all got into the habit of placing just one penny in the box each Sunday a large total would soon be collected by this means.

The fund now (January 24th) stands at £7886 17s 3d in cash or bonds, etc., with promises amounting to a further £1759 17s. The grand total is thus £9646 14s 3d. It is interesting to recall that exactly a year ago the total was £3574 6s, an increase of £6072 for the year.

Now the fund is approaching £10,000, the Plans Committee will be able, with confidence, to proceed with their work. They have a good idea now of what financial resources will be available, and they are meeting on 1st February to consider plans and designs. They hope to reach a decision which will then enable an accurate estimate of cost to be prepared by the architect. As soon as they have a design which is within our means, they will report to the Vestry, who, in turn, will report to a parishioners' meeting which will make the final decision.

As a result of the interest and courtesy of Mr P. J. Borthwick, some members of the Plans Committee were able recently to inspect St Mary's Church, New Plymouth. The visit was well worthwhile and will help us in our planning.

LENT

The season of Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday, 23rd February, is a God-given opportunity for us all to deepen and strengthen our spiritual lives the better to fit us to play a worthy part in the great days which lie ahead. Lent is a time for more frequent communions, more time spent in prayer, meditation and Bible Study, and for the sake of our characters we practice some act of self-discipline in self-denial, and as usual, our self-denial offerings go to missions.

Every Wednesday in Lent, the Holy Communion will be celebrated in St Matthew's at 7 a.m., and at 7.30 p.m. there will be a devotional Mission Service with address. On Sundays also there will be special sermons and intercessions. During this period, in every parish of the Diocese, parishioners will be invited to think of great world-wide movements, the result of mission work in many lands. Lent bids us think of the extension of Christ's Kingdom within the individual--it calls us to deeper devotion and service, but it calls us also to see our fellowship with Christians everywhere and to find in our religion the sure foundation on which, in every land, the new world may be built.

IN MEMORIAM

Late on Sunday, 2nd January, Mr J. L. Murray, an old resident of Masterton, and for many years Vestryman and Churchwarden of St Matthew's, passed to his rest. For sixty years he served this district. His greatest service to the parish was when he acted as secretary for the campaign which resulted in the erection of the brick church. He entered wholeheartedly into that work from its inception until its completion.

On Sunday, 16th January, Mr W. Iggulden, another old resident, passed away. For many years he was one of the most faithful members of our Choir, first in the old wooden church and then in the brick church. It was not until his health began to fail that he gave up this work.

We shall miss them both in our community and in our parish life, and the sympathy of all parishioners will have gone out to the relatives in their bereavements.

COUNTRY CHILDREN

Parents in the country are concerned when, on account of distance, their children cannot attend Sunday School. They should, of course, come with their parents to the country services, but in addition they need, and are entitled to, systematic religious instruction. To help parents in this matter there is a very fine Diocesan organisation--the Mail Bag Sunday School. Lessons are sent regularly by post, and sympathetic teachers in Wellington keep in constant touch with the children. We urge parents not to delay, but to write now to Archdeacon Rich, giving the names and ages of their children, so that they may be enrolled at once, and so have the benefit of the full year's instruction.

BOYS' CLUB

The clubs, formed last year, have proved popular, even beyond expectation. Capt. H. Sutcliffe is in charge, and the numbers are so large that it will probably be necessary to divide the clubs into seniors and juniors. St Matthew's Club will resume its meetings in the Scout Den on Thursday, 10th February, at 7 p.m. At the end of last year the two clubs met for two good cricket matches. The clubs have made a splendid start and, under the leadership of Capt. Sutcliffe, happy and useful programmes will mark this year. All Church boys are welcome.

C.E.M.S.

There are many problems which need study and thought. The C.E.M.S. provides an avenue by which men of goodwill can get together to discuss matters of vital concern to the nation. Our branch has many members on active service, but we had a good year last year and look forward to an even better one in 1944. The first meeting for the new year will be held on Monday, 7th February, at 7.45 p.m., in the Common Room. The subject for discussion "The Great Commandment"--will be introduced by Mr S. F. Taylor. All men interested are invited to be present.

BAPTISMS

December

10 Peter Warren Osborne

11 Judith Amy Lawrence

13 Janice Ann Neighbours

15 Nancy Jane Lewis

18 Helen Caroline Nancy Niscox

Peter Henry Hiscox

Diana Joan Dawn Hiscox

25 Geoffrey John Ninnes

26 Earl Robert Greeks

David John McLean

January

5 Alistair John Davison

14 Dennis Lewis Gamble-Holmes

22 Frances Elizabeth Lane

23 Cynthia Joy Bennett

Jocelyn Mary Williams

MARRIAGES

December

27 Oscar Allen Newton and Ethel May McCann

January

3 Frank William Harrison and Ella Catherine Fawcett

5 Janes Drummond Bolton and Eileen Elspeth Robinson

6 Frederick Horace Sanders and Sheila Crawford Pinkerton

BURIALS

December

2 Raymond Maurice Harman

16 Peter Warren Osborne

22 Herbert William Horne

31 Herbert Waters

January

4 John Lincoln Murray

8 Vivienne Marjory Lee

13 William Moore

15 Martha Webber

18 William Iggulden

19 Douglas Blatchford

24 Mercy Selby

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