ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160732, 19 August 1920, Page 6

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH

ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING. The annual meeting of St. Paul’s congregation was held last evening, the Rev. Evan R. Harries presiding over a good attend mce. The reports on the work clone during the year by the organisations of the church were adopted. Tho reports revealed a very cheering state of affairs. Various topics dealt with were discussed at considerable length, real live interest being evinced. The question of altering the location of the pulpit was left to the board of managers and tiro minister, the latter .suggesting that the best method would be to erect <a temporary pulpit in the position decided upon, and allow the congregation to test the value, of the change before making structural alteration?. The subject of substituting the ncqv Church Praise for the Hymnary at' present used was discussed at some length, and eventually it was resolved that all infounatiou on the subject be gathered. On the motion of the Rev. Harries, sympathy was extended to all sick members of the congregation, and to all who had been bereaved during the past year. Votes of thanks were accorded to all workers, special mention being ma ie of Miss Milne for floral decoration of the communion table every Sunday.

Just before the meeting concluded, the Rev. Harries spoke as follows: 1 know you have l>ecn looking forward to my coining, and on behalf of myself and wife I wish to thany you one and all for the welcome you have given us. I would like to say, “Don’t ex pect anything from me, but look upon me ns a messenger, as an instrument in God’s hand, and believe' that without Him I will do nothing.” That means that there is a call for every membei of the congregation to pray. It is truC there is division of labour; it is true every man knows his work, or should know the work: he is called td. But it is also true that he. must do all his work in a spirit of consecration to God. None of us dare live without prayer, and rone of us dare serve without it. Let us make this a year of prayer, let all our business be begun and" ended in prayer, and I promise you that with consecration like that nothing is impossible.