ST. JAMES’ CHURCH.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 661, 23 August 1921, Page 6

ST. JAMES’ CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING GF PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. James’ Presbyterian Church was held last Tuesday night, there being a large attendance. Rev. S. ; Nixon presided. ! Proceedings commenced' by singing the KXlth Psalm and prayer. ■ Reports acid Balance Sheet. The following repotts and' the balance sheet, showing’ a large credit balance, were read and adopted:— Session Report. In. submitting its annual report the season gratefully acknowledges the providence and guidance of Almighty God in another year’s life and work within His Church upon earth. The Sabbath services have been conducted regularly and the session is gratified to know that tne attendance at divine service has been steadily improving and that at tr.c present time the average of attendance. throughout the charge is perhaps the highest on record. v The Communion services have been well attended. The .Lords’ Supper has been dispensed on three occasions during the year in St. James’ Church’ and at regular intervals in

the other churches. There were 22 baptisms during the year. In this connection the session would cordially exhort all parents, whenever circumstances permit, to bring their little ones into the House of Prayer for baptism. There were three funerals during the year, and the session desires to extend its condolence and sympathy to all who have suffered bereavement. The various Sunday Schools, of which there are four, have been carried on with regularity and with signal success. - The session wishes to put on record its sincere appreciation of the work among the young. A noble.band of teachers from week to week carry on this self-denying labour of love, devoting to it, ungrudgingly and voluntarily, much time and labour. The superintendents of the various Sunday' Schools are:-—St. James’ (morning), Mr J. Hunniford, (afternoon) Mrs Feist; Bombay, Mrs Geo, Ingram; Pukekohe East, Mrs W. Robinson. There are altogether 170 teachers in connection with our charge. The session wishes to express its appreciation of the institution of the Bible Study Circle in St. James’ Church. It rejoices to know that t the leader, Mrs Feist, has gathered ' around her a number of members of our Church, and to know also that 1 good, work is being accomplished. The I session believes that such an institution augurs well for the future of cur Church. The fact that a prayer meeting has been begun in connection with St. James’ Church is highly gratifying, and the session would exhort members and adherents to make an effort to attend these meetings,for it sincerely believes that the spiritual welfare of a church depends very largely, if not entirely, upon the prayers of the people. During the year 16 new names have been added to the communion

roll. We rejoice to know that a number of these have become communi-

cant members Py confession of faith. The communion roll now caff rigs 127 names. Tiie session wishes to recognise with thankfulness the services of the various organists in the several churches, also the leaders of praise. It once more expresses its debt ot~ gratitude to those who have helped to carry out the pulpit work during the year, namely:—Mr E. Allan, who for many years has been the. mainstay of the Churches’ work in this direction; and also Mr J. • Burrow and Mr J. Rcutly, both of whom have freely given themselves to this all-import-ant work. The session looks into the corning year with the brightest hope and expectation and the earnest prayer that there may be a spiritual revival, among the people. It commends all the sorrowing and sick into the healing care of the Great Physician, who alone can restore to strength and bind up the broken-hearted. Finally, the session would exhort all members and- adherents of the charge to be faithful, in all Christian duty, to pray on behalf of the work of God in His Church, to be regular ard faithfu in attendance at worship, ever strengthening the hands of the ministry by Christian activity and. a consistent life. The balance of the reports will be published on Friday).