Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 15, 15 October 1943, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

Laymen's, Ministry,

A CHRISTIAN ORDER WEEK pART of the programme for the Campaign for Christian Order during this year is the holding of Christian Order Weeks, similar to the Religion and Life Weeks which have been so successful in Britain. The first has just been held in Rangiora and was a great success, a definite impression having been made on the town. Brilliant, weather favoured the project, although the previous week brought a snowstorm, and rain began immediately after the last meeting had come to its splendid conclusion. Earlier in the year the Rangiora Church Council was formed, to be an organ of common action by the churches, and the first thing they undertook to do together was the holding of a Christian Order Week, July 4 to 11. A series of three simple leaflets, was prepared and distributed to the whole: community. Everyone knew what was going to pen,, and when and where. The programme for the week was drawn up so that several district occupational groups each had a meeting for itself. Committees were organised to j arrange details about the meetings for these groups and. did their work very effectively. Speakers were obtained from the larger centres —one coming from as far as Hawke's Bay, and another from Dunedin. Some came from Wellington and some from Cliristchurch. In addition the Director of the Campaign, the Rev. F. H. Robertson, was; present, along with the Rev. H. W. Newell who conducted, devotional meetings fo; the ministers and. speakers, members of the Council and other workers. Mr Newell's meetings proyed to be among the most profitable and enjoyable of the. whole week. The week began with special services on Sunday, July 4, the Director preaching at different churches morning and evening. On the Monday there was a dinner to which about 90 per cent of the business, and professional men of the towi> came. The address was given by the Rev. L. A. North who outlined thp meaning of Christian Order in relation to our situation to-day. Tlw Mayor pre.sid.ed and the whole function was .spontaneously voted a suecess- There was a strong murium of approval when it was announced that there would be a united service for all the churches on the following Sunday evening. On Tuesday, market day, there was a meeting for farmers at. 2 p.m. in the Town Hall where proceedings began with a film on "Our Daily Bread" and one on "The LinerFlax Industry." Thereafter an ad dress was given by Mr Athol Wil-

(Supplied by the Whakatnnt Ministers' Association).

liams of Pukeliou, Hawke's Bay, on Christian Order in relation to the land. On Wednesday afternoon St. John' u Church was filled with women to hear Mrs A. K. Warren speaking on Christian Order and the Home. Babies were minded by volunteers in a creche organised for the purpose. That evening a good gathering of young people listened to Dr. Enid Cook and a team of "witnesses" who illustrated the points in h«r talk out of their own experience. The theme was "Friendship, Love and Marriage." Thursday was a busy day. In the morning the Rev. R. Thornley, Chaplain at Victoria University Church, spoke to the High. School pupils. In the evening Dr.; J. D. Salmond addressed the teachers from the High School and the various primary schools in and around Rangiora on the Christian Ordering of Educatioii. Later he went on to give an extra address to a men's meeting at which the principal speaker was Mr H. V. Horlor, a hiember of Knox Session, Lower Hutt, who has taken a leading part in public affairs in his' own community. All these meetings, except the farmers', were pretty Avell attended, and there was plenty of good discussion. The climax came with the united service in the Anglican Church on Sunday evening. The church was packed, the singing was splendid and the address given by the Director was impressive and inspiring. More than one person considered it was the best sermon they had ever listened to. It has been obvious that a deep impression was made. Afterwards those who desired to were invited to repair to the neighbouring hall where the next step was discussed and copies of the Campaigners' enrolment form were distributed. As a result of this meeting it is proposed to set up study groups which will eventually spend their time on the manifesto being prepared by the National Campaign Committee. The community seems to be havfe been impressed by the spectacle of the churches, acting together, and definite requests have been made for more of it. One reflection out of many prompted by the Week is that there is a great need for men who have intelligent and informed Christian convictions and at the same time, have practical experience of some occupation by which they earn their living. Ministers are generally not in a position to know the day to day working of a business or profession so as to know in detail what Christian Order would mean in that sphere. Obviously someone ought to know. There is a clear call for a