A GOOD YEAR

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3261, 10 May 1943, Page 5

A GOOD YEAR

P AERO A ANGLICAN CHURCH

VICAR’S REVIEW OF YEAR

IMPROVEMENT IN FINANCES “It is with a gladsome heart and mind I sit down to write this report of church activities during the past year ending March 31. 1943. Placing ■first things first which is our response to our Lord’s command “Do this in remembrance of Me” and the centre •of our spiritual life, the number of receptions of' Holy Communion throughout the whole parochial district were 1562 (1621) made up as follows, those in parenthesis being last year’s figures. Paeroa 1211 (1294), Hikutaia 152 (149), Netherton 102 (95), Karangahake 52 (79), (i.e. for eight services against thirteen the previous year), Tirohia 47 (services did not start there befoie July, 1942)” stated the report presented by Canon W. G. H. Weadon co the annual meeting of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Paeroa, held on Monday night.

The report continued: — ’ “Considering the number of young men and women who have left the , district for various fields of war work the figures are very ■ encouraging. •'Other statistics are confirmation candidates 10 (26), baptisms 32 (22), •(this is the largest number in any one year during my incombency as Vicar of Paeroa), weddings 9 (6), •burials 21. Gifts To Church “Among the -gifts to the church are , one. pair of brass candlesticks from a late parishioner, hymn book for the organ from the confirmation candidates and a folding credence table from ;a family in Nethertontfor the church services there.

“The Lord Bishop of the diocese visited the Parish on November 30 when the Vicar presented the confirmation candidates including three Maoris for the Sacrament of Laying on of Hands. “Unfortunately we have no lay readers to help us in the church services, those we had being in the Army. “We are very grateful to the following persons for their willing help at the organ—Mesdames W. Aston, R. Cleary, Wild and H. Wylde, also Miss M. Whitmore and Mr W. Forrest.

Juvenile Choir “The juvenile choir is still making ■ progress and rendering good service 'at. the Choral Eucharist. They are the nucleus of a strong adult choir in the future. The present adult members with the exception of two or three do not give of their time and voices in leading the Worship of Almighty God as often as the privilege demands. “Since last year several boys have come forward and are assisting the Vicar at the celebrations. They are willing and keen. 'From the lanks of altar servers candidates for the Sacred Ministry are often recruited, while others become very devout and regular communicants of the church. I would like to retain the services of the older boys, there is no reason why a boy should cease to be a server be cause he goes to High School. In many church men assist the clergy at' the altar as servers.

Flowers For Church “During the past year we have had but one sidesman, Mr C. Pascoe who has taken his turn on the rota of duties regularly. This is a work some of the youth should take up. Who will- volunteer to help? / “To the following ladies who decorate the altar with flowers each month in their turn we are grateful:—Mesdames C. N. O’Neill, R. S. Carden. S. J. Hedge, Roberts and Weadon. We must also thank Miss Joan Matheson who comes along every Saturday to clean some of the church brass work. Who will assist her' in this good work ? “The number on our Sunday School roll is about the same as last year which was the largest for years. Miss M. Whitmore is still carrying on duties of superintendent assisted by Sergeant D. Southwick and Miss B. Masters. Parents Taken To Task “The Bible Class is the largest since we started and is still carried on by the Vicar on a Sunday morning. Both here and in the Sunday School parents can be of great assistance in persuading their children to attend for instruction. Remember both at

the .Sunday .School and Bible Class-the , instruction given is church teaching for churches children. I* do not expect children nor parents of the Anglican community to attend places of instruction or classes that claim to be undenominational. There is much talk about the young people not at ending places of worship. Let me remind you of the duty of parents ?nd trodparents to their children according to

the exhortation to them in the baptismal office: “Ye shall call upon them to hear sermons.” The empty church problems is directly due to modern parents’ neglect and bad example. Vicar have to prepare in a year if he

“How many sermons would the depended upon certain members of his flock for a congregation* There are some parishioners who have not heard me preach a dozen times all the years I have been here. Coming to communion is one part of our duty but it is not the occasion one receives instruction. Is it any wonder ignorance of 'Bible, prayer book, church history and doctrine should prevail? 1 All the teaching that schism shops and sheep stealing sects can give is to foe obtained in our Mother Church if people will seek it without running here and there for it. Mothers’ Union “Regular monthly services , have been held by the Mothers’ Union in the church when addresses of instruction have been given. The attendances have been good and new. members have been admitted. A corporate communion service was held on March 25 when members from other branches paid us a visit. Our branch has also visited neighbouring towns during the year. The Mothers’ Union has also contributed more to missions. Work Of Ladies’ Guild

“A perusal of the accounts show the wonderful efforts the Ladies’ Guild has made during the year. A bazaar, two flower shows and a 'social evening from which the vestry received about £l3O. Considering the rationing restrictions and the demands upon the public purse the work of the guild calls forth our praise and admiration. The annual meeting of the guild has been held when' again the outgoing officers were re-elected. Difficulties may lie ahead in obtaining materials etc., for future efforts but I think' we may leave it to the ingenuity of the members of the guild to meet the same, with the hearty co-operation of church members and public. We are extremely indebted to the ladies and wish them every blessing in the future. Welfare of the Maoris “The Vicar is more or less responsible for the church’s ministrations to the Maori people in the district. To assist in this work Mrs Brigham has recently come amongst us, after doing good work among the natives in Taranaki. We trust the pakehas will assist by their prayers, sympathy and co-operation. “Our contributions to mission work has increased again. Last year we had done better than previously while this year we have done better still, although not yet reached our quota. We sincerely hope those who pray “Thy Kingdom Come” will show they mean what they pray by more contributing to further the work. Parochial Finances “I have always contended the more we give to missions the healthier our parochial finances would be. The last two years have proved this to be true. Two years ago we had an overdraft at the bank of over £2OO, this being reduced to £B6 with an increase to missions. This year we can claim at March 31 a small credit balance and a still further increase to missions in an addition to increased local expenditure through extra in stipend to the Vicar. To some this may sound paradoxical but the facts produced prove such to be true.

x “This meeting for the first time in its history so far as we can find out has not to consider ways and means for reducing the overdraft but it must face up to some new methods for keeping it down. Once again I commend the envelope system especially as we may have to depend upon more direct giving in the future. There are only 40 subscribers to this excellent system of church finance throughout the district. From this source £93 Os 6d to general fund and £25 Os 0d to missions has been given. The previous year’s figures being £93 Ils lOd general fund and £22 19s lid to missions, a little over £3 per member per year, increase this to £2OO i.e., 40 from subscribers and you have the solution to church finance in this district. Miss Lewis, our secretary, will assist you. Golden Offering Sunday “The Golden Offering Sunday was also considerably better this year. Considering the times in which we are living and the drains upon the public purse we have every reason to be grateful and should go forth with renewed hope and vigour. All church organisations show a credit balance, also deposits in the Post Office Savings Bank.

“I regret io report the loss of your secretary to the vestry, Mr Waher Fathers, owing to his joining the Army. He has been secretary for some ten or twelve years and we shall miss his services. I would like to suggest that a letter of appreciation and

thanks be tendered to him from this meeting also placed on record in the

minutes. Services In Country “All our districts have ’ received regular services. Holy Communion once a month at Hikutaia and Netherton. Karangahake and Tirohia (where services were started last July) once every two months. A drawing room service has been held every month in various homes in Wharepoa on a week day evening. This has been very successful. Hikutaia once again has more than met its quota to the vestry largely due to the efforts of Mr R. Lowry, who, a busy farmer working on his own, yet willingly gave two and a-half days to canvassing for donations. If one can do this others should be able to do so. He did not get a single refusal either in Hikutaia, Wharepoa or Omahu and these are the only districts that have met their quotas to the Vestry. “Netherton is still improving, being a little better than previously but still some £7 down. Tirohia is responding very well. This is a new field of operations. Jubilee Year 1945

“Karangahake struggles on, although with only an assessment of £l2 per year, which is ridiculously low, and yet they have not contributed £7. It means of little <organisation, ten persons at fid a week and there is their £l2 pc-r year. “In conclusion I would like to remind you that 1945 will be your jubilee year. We should begin to think of ways and means of celebratnig it.

“To the church wardens, treasurer, secretary and members of the Vestry as well as church workers and supporters we say thank you. “May we go forward with renewed hope and courage remembering the work is Christ’s Who has called us into His Service with the means accomplish it.”