Parish News - 1933 - 1934

Last Updated on Thursday, 11 November 2010 10:01 Thursday, 11 November 2010 09:53

St Matthew's Parish Magazine - Feb 1933

Upper Plain - Feb 12
2.30 pm Service and Sermon

The Vicar's Letter
My Dear Parishioners --
Six months have gone since I asked you to co-operate for the deepening and strengthening of the spiritual life of our parish.

The result has been simply splendid, and the increase at [sic] the attendances at the various services, and notably in the number of Communicants present week by week, and the increasing number who are taking greater interest in the spiritual work of the Church, are hopeful signs as we enter another year.  Best of all, we find that in various parts of the world similar campaigns are in progress, and the world is ready for that aggressive evangelistic campaign without which the spiritual revival can never come. Such a campaign demands the active support of all Christian people.

We must share our experiences, and by personal witness and service play an active part in bringing others under the influence of those spiritual forces so much needed today. There are movements of the Holy Spirit at work, and it is possible for each one of us to help in making 1933 a memorable year for our church and parish.  The issue is in our own hands, and the experience of the first six months of our campaign must encourage us all to continue our efforts with renewed vigour.  The world's need is so great that we dare not be content even with the splendid progress already made, but must still go on to win others, and by our own faithfulness and zeal strengthen God's Work in this portion of His Vineyard.

I would commend to your interest and prayers those who are preparing for confirmation.  They are fresh recruits, willing to serve the Church militant in the cause of righteousness.  I hope that all who are eligible will offer themselves for confirmation. They need the help available for them, and the world needs the help they can render as full members of Christ's Church.

It is splended to know that the organ will soon be in a sound state again, ready then for many years of service.

I am grateful to all of you, who by your gifts and work, have made the repairs possible.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

E. J. Rich


From Parish Notes
Starting this month, a Sunday School class will be held at the Upper Plain Church on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, at 2 p.m. It is hoped that all our children in that district will attend and that the splendid record of the similar school at Taueru will be repeated at Upper Plain.

March 1933
The Sunday School at Upper Plain has been started. Twenty-five children have been enrolled, a number which exceeded our expectations. The children are keen and interested. The school will continue to be held on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, at 2 p.m.

Organ Repairs
The builders are making good progress with the work of reconstruction of the organ in our Parish Church. The organist and Choir are carrying on under difficulties but part of the organ is in use and will be all through the period. The dismantling process has revealed how correct the builder was in his report on the organ, and that it was no wonder the organ broke down or that weird and startling noises occasionally came from it.  It will be a great joy to us all when the work is completed and the reconstructed organ is available for use once more. 

The builder has undertaken to have the work completed by Sunday, 26th March when the Bishop will be with us for the re-dedication service at 11 a.m. But before then we want all the money in hand so that when we offer the completed work to God for His service it may be free of debt.

April 1933
Parish Notes

The reconstructed organ was dedicated by the Bishop of Wellington, on Sunday, 29th March. The Bishop preached on the place of music in Christian worship and paid a striking tribute to St. Matthew's Choir for the way they led the musical portion of the services.

On Palm Sunday, 9th April, at 7 p.m. in St Matthew's Church, there wil be shortened Evensong followed by Stainer's "The Crucifixon," to be rendered by the Choir.

On Good Friday, at 6.30 p.m., there will be the usual lantern service showing scenes from Our Lord's Life and especially events leading up to His Crucifixion. This year we have a new set of slides, kindly lent by Canon Sykes, of All Saints' Kilbirnie, and we are sure they will be helpful to us.

May 1933
Parish Notes
The organ blower is now on its way to New Zealand from England and shoud be installed before the end of this month.

July 1933
A determined effort was made to force open the door of the safe at St. Matthew's during the night of Sunday, 4th June. The force of the explosion did considerable damage to the lock and door, but fortunately the thieves were unable to force an entry and so gained nothing. Unfortunately, the damage done was such that a somewhat heavy expense has to be met for repairs.

Parishioners are invited to make some article out of a sugar bag and enter it for the competition at the Guild's Shilling Afternoon, on Thursday, 6th July.


August 1933
Hymn practices in preparation of the Week of Renewal will be held on Sundays from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning on Sunday, 20th August. The evening service will start as usual at 7 p.m., but it is hoped that many will come at 6.30 p.m. for these special hymn practices.

The repairs to the safe on which an attempt at forcing open the door was made recently, cost the Parish £9 9s. Thus, though the attempt fortunately failed, the cost of it to the Parish was considerable.

Grand concert
A particularly good programme has been arranged for the musical concert to be held in the Parish Hall on Monday, 7th August, at 8 p.m. The object of the concert is to provide a splendid evening's entertainment for parishioners and their friends, and also to raise fund to purchase prayer books for the Church.  There is no doubt that these are urgently needed. Many of the present ones are quite worn out and the number we have is quite inadequate for the needs of the congregations.

Week of Renewal
17th to 24th September
There is a very practical way in which all Church workers can help in the preparations of this great week. All will know some people who have grown careless but are at heart such splendid people that they deserve the blessings this week is going to bring to us.  Well, make a mental list of such people, pray for them individually by name, speak to them of the Mission, and get them to come with you to the opening services.  St. Andrew brought his own brother, St Peter, to Jesus, and St. Philip brought his friend Nathaniel.  There is no limit to the power of personal influence of that character. There is not a single individual in Masterton who does not need the help and inspiration discipleship gives.  "Come and see" is the invitation we can extend to all.

September 1933
Vicar's Letter
Nothing is more pathetic than to find people who do not realise the significance of the days in which they are living.  The Church is on the march. The Spirit of God is at work in our world. Everywhere men and women are feeling their need of deeper communion and fellowship with God. Human expedients have proved themselves but broken reeds, and God is waiting to help us all. In some of the darkest days of the Great War, a London newspaper asked Admiral Beatty for a message from the Grand Fleet for the people of England.  They thought he would write of the need for yet greater munitions and for all at Home to strengthen the resources of the Army and Navy. But Beatty was face to face with reality and so his message was: "When God looks down and sees the people of England on their knees in prayer, victory will be in sight."

Country Parishioners
Why should you not have a share in the power and inspiration of the "Week of Renewal"? Come to all the services you can, and when you get out your cars will you please think also of others living near you who perhaps have not got cars, and ask them to come with you. Remember the Renewal is for all and you may be the means God wants to use to help others.

Sedgley Home
The Home has lost a good friend by the passing of Mr. W.A. Andrews.

Church Concert
A splendid programme was presented at the concert held in the Parish Hall on Monday, 7th August, to a most appreciative audience. We are glad to be able to announce that as a result of this effort sufficient funds were raised to purchase the new Prayer Books required for St Matthew's.

October 1933
The Vicar's Letter
Our "Week of Renewal" proved a time of great blessing and inspiration to our Parish.

Baby Show
This will be a feature during the afternoon of the Sale of Work. The show always creates much interest and this year promises to be no exception. There will be two classes. The first will be for babies under the age of six months, and the other for babies from six months to under twelve months. There will be prizes awarded to the best boy or girl in each class.

A beautiful oak chair has been placed in the Sanctuary at St Matthew's Church. This is a gift to the Church from some anonymous donor.

November 1933
November 19 - 22nd Anniversary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Church of the Epiphany.

December 1933
Parish Notes
On Sunday, December 10th, at 7 p.m. following Shortened Evensong the Choir will render a special musical service of praise in St. Matthew's Church.

On Sunday, December 10th, at 11 a.m., the Choir will render a selection of Christmas Carols at St. Matthew's Church.  The Choir will visit also the country centres this month, rendering Christmas Carols.

Parish Sunday School breakup
We are closing the school year with over 420 scholars on the rolls of the Sunday Schools of the Parish, but unfortunately our attendances have suffered lately on account of the prevalence of children's ailments.

Upper Plain prizegiving: Sunday, 10th December, at 2.30 p.m

February, 1934
Vicar's Letter
All who care for the highest well-being of their fellows cannot but rejoice at the signs of spiritual progress which are manifest in our parish.

But there is a hindrance to God's Work here in Masterton, which must be faced and removed before the highest can be ours. On our parish there has grown up over a large number of years a debt. The debt, indeed, is some £300 less than it was a few years ago. But the bulk of it is still there - £1100 on the Parish Hall and about £600 on the General Accounts of the parish.

The Vestry have faced this matter. They feel with me that this debt must be wiped out, and the reproach of it removed from the Church. After careful consideration and prayer it has been decided to make the venture of faith and ask you all to prepare for a special "Day of Giving" to be held on the last Sunday in April that the debt of £600 on the General Accounts may be wiped out by the direct free-will offerings of the faithful made on that day.

Am I asking too much? Is my faith in God and in your love for your Church too strong? I do not think so. But such an effort as this requires careful preparation. The season of Lent on which we are about to enter provides a wonderful opportunity for such preparation. Three things are essential. First of all we must realise that this is a spiritual effort. We must bring all we can with us to share the services of their Church. Secondly, we must pray.  Prayer cards are being issued. Will you get a copy and pray every day? Three months may seem a long time, but it will all be needed for preparation. Thirdly, the power of corporate intercession in public worship must be utilised to the full.

A Prayer for God's Blessing on This Spiritual Effort
O God Who callest us to seek first Thy Kingdom and Thy righteousness, help us as a Church and in our own lives to respond to Thy Call. Help us to spread abroad the knowledge of Thy Love and Power and to know increasingly the joy and splendour of Thy Service. Grant us Thy Grace that out of full and grateful hearts for the inestimable gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, we may go forward boldly to destroy all that hinders thy work. Grant us so to dedicate and present our gifts that they may be offerings of love for the strengthening of Thy Kingdom in this portion of Thy Vineyard, through Him Who gave all for us, Thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Vicar preached a series of sermons on Christ's Standards during Lent at the Wednesday evening Mission Services - "Listening to God," "First Things First," "God's Team," "Self Control," "Self Discipline," "Self-respect," "Absolute Unselfishness."

Parish Notes
The action of the Choir in going out to the country centres to render Christmas carols was greatly appreciated by parishioners there.

March 1934
Garden Party
This annual function, held under the auspices of our Ladies' Guild, takes place on Saturday, 10th March, from 2.30 pm to 5 pm. By the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Perry, the Garden Party will be held in the spacious and attractive grounds of "Ngaruru," Essex Street Extension.  Proceeds of the Garden Party will be given to the Vicarage Painting fund

Boys' Bible Class Prayer
O God, our Father, Who hast called us to the fellowship of Thy Holy Church and hast drawn us together in the Bible Class Union, grant to us the gift of Thy Holy Spirit that He may be our teacher in Thy Holy Word, and inspire us in all things to do Thy Will, to the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Girls' Bible Class Prayer
God of power and love, invigorate our Bible Class, its work, its members. May we each live strongly in the power of Thy Spirit.  Behold our difficulties, and all that makes us ashamed. We plead with Thee for those who are careless and indifferent, and for our own slackness and lack of faith. Help us to know that our service means sacrifice. Let nothing keep us from regular and earnest prayer. Grant that each life that is given to Thy service may be a quiet and powerful influence for good. May we never cease from a constant effort to establish in this community a centre of Christian womanhood, through which Thy Spirit may work and speak, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

Holy Week and Easter Services

Upper Plain Church
Palm Sunday, March 25.
2 pm, Sunday School
2.30 pm - Evensong and Sermon. "Where are we going?" The Vicar.
Easter Day, April 1st
9 a.m. - Holy Communion

Spiritual Revival
Very impressive has been the way in which leading men in every walk of life - great statesmen and scientists as well as as religious leaders - have stressed the importance of 1934 as a critical year in modern history.  And one and all of them see a great revival of spiritual power the only hope for our civilisation.

April 1934
Vicar's Letter
The great "Day of Giving" on Sunday, 29th April, will soon be here.  We are sure that it is God's Will that the debt of £600 on our Parish accounts should be wiped out. No longer can this hindrance be allowed to stand in the way of God's work.

Parish Notes
A tender has been let for repainting of the Vicarage.

Children's Lent Offerings
Upper Plain Sunday School offerings received from Gwen Finlayson, Joyce Mulvaney, Mary and Alan James, Yula Wilson, Fernandez Children.

Garden Party
"Ngaruru," the residence and grounds of Mr. and Mrs J. P. Perry, proved an ideal situation for the annual Garden Party organised by the Ladies' Guild. The function was most successful in every way. There was a large attendance and the many helpers received splendid support.

May 1934
Vicar's Letter
The response on the "Day of Giving" for the wiping out of the debt on our parish accounts wil mean a considerable reduction of the debt. Parishioners entered wholeheartedly into this great effort and the crowded congregation revealed the interest that was taken in it.  So far the total amount given in response to the appeal stands at £391 6s 0d., and there were many contributors.

Sunday School
Reference to the Sunday School picnic was omitted from the last Magazine, and so we report it now. it was held in ideal surroundings at Mr. Payton's bush at Matahiwi on a Saturday early in March. Although the weather was threatening, the scholars and parents thoroughly enjoyed the day's outing, and the various games and races.

June 1934
Death of Mrs A. M. Johnson, wife of Archdeacon Johnson, who was Vicar of this parish from 1905-1908.

Bible Study Circle
Reports that the study of the First Epistle to the Corinthians is proving most helpful.

Day of Giving
We have made an excellent start in the new financial year and there is no reason why before the end of the year the balance of the debt should not be wiped out.

The true Spirit of Evangelism is working in our parish. More and more people are taking an active share in our worship and work. Now we can continue to work for the idea of a parish free of debt.

July 1934 (format changes to octavo size)
____

Parish Notes
Thanks to the energetic work of the Committee, the courts were cleared sufficiently of silt deposited by the storm to enable the official opening of the Tennis Club's season to be held on Saturday, 6th October. The attendance was a record and a very happy time was spent by all present.

Armistice Day falls this year on Sunday, 11th November. So that the two minutes' silence may be observed as part of the service, we shall begin the morning service at 10.45 o'clock on that day. It is expected that members of all local bodies will be present at this service.

The Rev. E. M. McLevie [formerly priest at Epiphany] was welcomed to Roseneath at a social gathering on 18th October.

Sale of Work
This annual event, held on Wednesday, 24th October, was, as usual, a very happy and successful function. The Ladies' Guild and stall holders had worked hard and there was a great variety of useful articles on sale. All the arrangements had been carefully plnned and the experiment of confining the effort to the morning and afternoon only proved quite successful.

The Baby Show was an attraction and Lady Perry opened the Sale of Work with a delightful speech. We thank all parishioners for their willing help in making the Guild's effort a pronounced success. The takings amounted to £76 9s 8d.

Mrs J. Aikman, as secretary, attended to all the details of organisation and the following were the stall-holders:

Cakes, Mesdames Denbee, Judd and Staniforth;
Afternoon tea, Mesdames Coleman, Armitage, Ross, Penistone, Goodhue, Sutherland, Henderson, Gray, Wagg, Burke and Richards, Misses Briscoe, McEwen, Braggins, Penistone, Harrison and Olliver;
Dinner competition, Mrs. Gerrand;
Fruit salad, Mesdames Heath and Alexander;
Sweets, Mesdames Ramsay and Emery, Misses Brown and Robieson;
Flowers, Mesdames Skeet and Moser and Miss Perry;
Produce, Mesdames Birch, L. B. Maunsell, H. Mawley and R. Beetham
Jumble and books, Mesdames Betteridge, Carlson and Polson;
Work, Mesdames Hope, Liddle, Andrew, Hatch and Ewart, Misses Cresswell and Mackay;
Sunday School stall, Sunday School teachers;
Hoop-la, Girls' Club.