CHURCH SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1929, Page 2

CHURCH SERVICE

EXPERIMENT BY CANON JAMES WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, Nov. 25. A new venture at St. Paul’s proCatlicdra.l has been announced by the

vicar, Cqnon Percival James

is a special cariy morning service to !be held every Sunday during the summer months at 9.30 o'clock. It is hoped to see included in the congregation at this special service many who have formed the habit of spend-

ing much of their Sunday j,n open ai

recreation. The hour has been chos. on so that they may come to Qhurcli first. Holiday attire will not be considered out of place and gold clubs, tennis racquets, and such impedi-

menta may be safely left at the Church entrance with the verger. The services will begin early next month. “We mean to make this experiment/’ said Canon James. “Of course, our invitation may find little response, though this has not been the experience elsewhere. After all, there- is nothing particularly sacred about the hours of 8 a.in... and 11 a.m. on Sunday. We have no right to say to people ‘Thou shalt worship then, and then only,’ and complain if they do not come, The-11 o’clock ,'liour Was, most. Suitable for people at tile period in which it became the customary hour of morning service. It is still suitable for a large section, and wo shall continue that service, but it is quite unreasonable to-day in New Zealand to expect others to come at 111 Take the housekeeper, the mother of the family. She has to prepare the midday dinner—a very important occasion—often the only midday -meal of the week which is shared ;by i all the family. How can she prepare the dinner if she is in Church from .11 to 12.15, or even later? Then take those who wish to spend a fine Sunday in open-air recreation. To ask them to attend at 11 o’clock service is to deprive them of their Sunday.

“I am not going to discuss now the 1 difficult question of Sunday recreation, but, I ask this: What right have t We! to'assume that none of those , who Sunday in open-air recreations wish to come-to Church as ’well ? On .-tfig-contrary, I believe that many of these people have a real religion, ; and that they are not unready, to be ( Churchgoers'if we give them'a reas-, lUfiabla-opportunity. I believe that .they would be glad to begin their ~Sunday aright with its primary duty and privilege, -and.,-would- t-be . much .happier, and perhaps better for it. Because of this faith in them, I am making tjie experiment. They shall not starve' their, spiritual nature if we can help' it. “The special service will have certain advantages. It is additional to the regular Prayer Book services, which will be continued at the ‘former times. Consequently, much freedom will ifee possible in framing those ‘special services. I. hope that they will be ‘popular’ in the right sense of the, term., That is, I hope that ! thby will meet the real spiritual ! needs of that large class of people who have not been able bo understand or appreciate religion as it has been presented .to -them. Then again, these services will be short, not much longer than half an hour. For many people our services are too long. They are Unable to concentrate for so long, and they become discouraged and lose interest. Especially for some people our sermons are too long (though this may seem incredible to us preachers). At this service there will be seven minute sermons, never more than ten minutes. Nevertheless, we will try to deal directly with the questions that are exercising the minds of people to-day. I hope to have the help of my brother clergymen as preachers. They may he disengaged at that hour. “I hope, too, that this experiment will lead more of our parishioners to look upon the Church as their spirit--ual home and to feel at home there. In particular, I hope that ‘sportsmen’ will not feel it necessary to don their ‘Sunday ibesf for this service, but, will come in 1 the comfortable flannels in which they mean to spend the rest of this ‘day of joy and gladness,” the only day in which some men can wear rational dress. Of the ladies’ - attire, I may not venture to speak.” ■