KNOX CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22654, 20 August 1935, Page 13

KNOX CHURCH

ANNUAL REPORTS I ! The annual meeting of the Knox Church congregation will be held to-mor-row evening, when reports of the work of the various branches during the past year will be presented. PASTORAL LETTER. In his annual pastoral letter to the congregation the Rev. D. C. Herron states: — “ This has been a year of unusual interest. We have been looking back not live but 75 years and rejoicing in all the way the Lord our God has led Knox Church. 1 The present generation of worshippers I and “workers with genuine pleasure wel- I coined back and rejoiced together with i those who in earlier years had carried the burdens in the heat of the day. We 1 have been looking over the past and, I cheered by the realisation of what has ' been achieved, we look to the future. God has given us a wonderful field for work ’ and a not less wonderful band of workers. | When I try to envisage the amount of i glad and willing service represented by ( the annual reports of the many organise- ! tions I am filled with thankfulness. The i work of so many ‘ labourers together with | God ’ must be making a steady contribu- ! tion to the building of the unseen Kingdom. The past and the future are linked by those who in the present so faithfully accept the responsibilities of leadership and service. I feel that this has been a good year in the life of our congregation. May our experiences strengthen our devotion and spur us on to ever more faithful service to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” KIRK SESSION. The report of the Kirk Session states; — “ Our minister has continued during another year to lead with increasing efficiency and success our large congregation in all matters relating to their spiritual welfare. As in the years that are past, Mr Herron has not spared himself in the carrying out of his arduous duties, but has at all times whole-heartedly served his people. Our most hearty thanks are due, as in former years, to Mrs Herron for the large share of the work of the church which she willingly undertakes and for which she is eo well fitted.” After referring to the death of three members of the session, Mr Richard Jack, Sir John Roberta and Mr Alexander Burns, the report continues:— The year was fittingly closed by celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the church, the celebrations beginning on June 22 and closing on July 2. The additions to the membership of the churchy during the year numbered 86, 60 by certificate and 26 by profession of faith. There were 103 disjunctions, 82 by certificate and 21 by death. The present membership is 1028. The attendances at communion were: September 743, December 656, March 771, June 693, average 716. DEACONS’ COURT. After recording changes in its nel, including the death of Mr William Cunningham, the report of the Deacons 1 Court states: — Finance.—The church accounts for the past 12 months reflect a general improvement in the financial position, ' The revenue for general purposes totalled £2BOI I6s Bd, and the expenditure, which included provision for anniversary expenses and the balance of the purchase money of the new oar for our own missionary, totalled £2795 5s 3d, leaving a net credit of £6 11s sd. Plate offerings show an improvement, and, while they have been _ helped by special circumstances, it is evident that the tendency to fall off has now been arrested. The total amount received for assembly schemes and all benevolent purposes was 11762 7s sd. Assembly enterprises, including “our own missionary,” received £1443 I3s 7d; P.S.S.A., £9l 18s 4d; Patients and Prisoners 1 Aid, £l7 Is 4d; and Christmas boxes to home missionaries, £3B 8s Bd. The total amount contributed for relief work was £152, of which £135 16s was disbursed, mainly through our own social workers. This was largely supplemented by money and goods sent direct to the deaconess and nurse by individual members and church oiganisations. The Endowment Fund now amounts to £215 13s 6d. A generous response was made to the appeal for a special thank offering in connection .with -the seventy-fifth anniversary. The sum aimed at was £IOOO, but the offering amounted to £1330 18s 7d; £250 has been allocated to new heating system, the installation of which was decided on during the year, and the remainder to debt' reduction. When the whole amount is icceived the debt will be reduced to £lOl3 4a 5.d. The balance in “ Our Own Missionary" Fund now stands at £207 5b 7d. Bequests.—The court received notice of two bequests in addition to the one of £IOO made by Mr Alexander Burns for the Endowment Fund. Mr M. S. Holmes bequeathed the sum of £125,. this including £IOO for the relief of the poor of ’be church and £25 for the general purposes of the Sunday school; and Lady Ross left £IOO to the court for its youth work. The Ladies’ Association also received advice of a bequest of £IOOO by Sir John Roberts. YOUTH WORK.

The following extract is taken from the preface to the reports of the various youth organisations:— Since last report the work in the various departments of the Sunday school has gone otti smoothly. The numbers are slightly lower this year, each department showing a decrease, except the primary department, but the average attendance is higher. Memory work is a strong feature in all departments. A scheme of work has been drawn up. A test of the work will be held at the end of October. The Sunday school library is most efficiently controlled by Mr Robinson, who attends to the reading matter suitable for the age of the child, while the repairing of the books is undertaken by a committee of women from the Parents’ Association, with Miss M'Dougal as convener.