Gisborne.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 March 1911, Page 139

Gisborne.

Vicar : Rev. L. Dawson Thomas. Assistant Priest: Rev. W. H. Roberts. The Recent Mission. — Parishioners will be interested to learn that the band of missioners who recently came out from England and toured the provinces of New Zealand, conducting missions m the various parishes, have arrived home safely. We have not heard anything of our missioner, Rev. T. Rees, but he informed the clergy that he would return to the House of the Community of the Resurrection at Mirfield, Yorkshire, for a rest, after which he would take up mission and other work m England. We may say here that an effort is to be made to bring Mr Rees out to New Zealand again m two years' time. Not having a parochial charge it will be a simple matter for all the parishes where Mr Rees conducted his recent remarkably successful mission, to unite and bring him out again. The expense would be small if parishes would combine. We are sure that . parishioners here will gladly assist to the utmost of their ability. We hope that all who had their interest m church matters aroused during the recent mission will not allow that interest to flag or faint away. We plead with them to be constant m their attendance to the Sunday service and also at the intercession service on Friday evenings. We should like to see many more coming to the sacrament of of the Holy Eucharist. This is the chief means whereby the Christian life is sustained and strengthened.

Requests for prayers for thanksgiving may be placed m the box m the front porch of the church. These are used m the Friday intercession service. Resignation of Kaiti Sunday School Superintendent. — The ranks of our Sunday School workers have sustained a severe loss by the removal of Mrs Foster from our midst. Mr Foster has been promoted 'to the Customs Office m Ohristchurch, and although we are conscious of a grave personal loss he has our heartiest congratulations. As superintendent of the Kaiti Sunday School he has for several years done yoeman service m the cause of the church's children, and his faithful and devoted service affords a model worthy of imitation. We have need of more teachers and helpers m our Sunday Schools, and the vicar will be glad to hear of any who will volunteer. Who will sacrifice time and inclination for this important work? Sunday School Picnic. — The splendid weather that usually attends this annual festival failed us this year. On Saturday, February 11th, the date fixed for the gathering, exceedingly heavy rain fell throughout the day. It was evident m the early morning that an outdoor picnic was out of the question. The Garrison Hall was therefore secured at short notice, and every effort was made to make the best of matters. About 150 children braved the elements during the day and arrived more or less wet at the Hall. Provisions were abundant through the kindness of townspeople and friends. No pains were spared by the clergy, secretary and teachers to provide for the amusement of the young people. Games of all kinds were indulged m, and a very enjoyable time was spent. During the afternoon a programme of races was got off under the superintendence of the vicar, and these provided much excitement. We regret that so many of the children were unable to join m this year's gathering, and we are particularly sorry that the parents and friends were prevented by the unfortunate weather, from being present. We are always glad to know that parents are interesting themselves m our Sunday Schools and attaching due importance to the education of their children m the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We take this opportunity of tendering our best thanks to all parishioners who responded so generously to the call for contributions towards the picnic. The Church of England Men's Society: The committee of our branch of the society has been busy planning a programme of work for the year. During the hot months the Society had no meetings. It must not, howeVer, be thought that it was languishing. Our. keen secretary (Mr W. A. Pennington) and the committee would not allow that. Active work will shortly be taken up.

It cannot be too often pointed out that all men m the parish are heartily welcome td attend any of the Society's meetings. The committee is impressed with the great need of a jftano for the parish scliodlrddm; ' and is now ednsidering ways and means of procuring a good one. It has beeii suggested thai everyo'rie of our . men communicants should give dne sliilliiig per month for twelve months. If this were done the parish would, at the end of a year, be the possessor of a fine instrument. A piano m the schoolroom would greatly assist parochial societies and would be a source of revenue. The men's society will, we hope, take up the work of procuring a good instrument. ' C.E.M.S: Our branch of the Men's Society has received an invitation to send delegates to a provincial congress to be held m Ohristchurch during April. The order paper for the meetings shows a wide range of subjects, all bearing directly upon the work of the society. It is hoped that our branch may see its way clear to send at least one delegate to the congress. The Inter-Diocesan Sunday School Lessons: Our Central Sunday School is using the special series of lessons introduced into the diocese last year by our Bishop. The lessons are very excellent, and the Monthly Magazine will greatly help the teachers. We look forward confidently to doing well at the next annual school examination. Re-opening of our Sunday Schools. — On February oth the two Sunday Schools m the parish began another year's work. We are still firmly of the opinion that it is a good and desirable thing to close the Sunday Schools during the very warm month of January. One or two of our people have questioned the wisdom of doing so, fearing that the children may be tempted either to stay away altogether from Sunday School or be led away to a nonconformist Sunday School. Our answer is that we trust the parents. If a parent is so pitifully weak as to allow the child to dictate which it shall or shall not do the Sunday School is really better without such children. We know of no such case m the parish however. Our experience has been that parents welcome the Sunday School vacation, and take considerable pains to send their children back on the first Sunday. There was a very large attendance at the opening service. The annual picnic had been fixed for the Saturday following, but no one would for a moment suggest that any child came to school merely to qualify for a ticket for the picnic. Confirmation. — The Confirmation Service cannot be reported m this issue of the magazine owing to our having to go to print so early. We shall deal with it m next month's issue. We desire, however to bear testimony here to the splendid spirit displayed by everyone of the candidates m the face Of the keen disappointment occasioned by the sudden postponement of the Confirmation Service.

The failure to hold the service on the appointed day was no one's fault j it was simply one of the many penalties . we pay for our isolation. During the course of preparation much use was made of the small mlanuals that became so popular iri the parish during the recent mission. These little books are a mass of clear church teachings and are quite invaluable m helping candidates to prepare fbr confirmation; A ndte to Communicants : During ihe season of Lent there will be a celebration of the Holy Communion every day at 7 a.m. m Holy Trinity Church. It will be a good and fitting act of selfdenial if our communicants give up the necessary time and come to the early Eucharist. We appeal to the men of the parish to come, at least occasionally, to this service. There is something very beautiful and helpful m the offering of the daily sacrifice early m the quite hour before the parish is awake. We earnestly hope a good number may attend each morning. Particulars of the other special Easter services will be found m the inside portion of this magazine. SPECIAL LENTEN ARRANGEMENTS. During the season of Lent there will be a number of special services and sermons m the parish church. The following list has been drawn up : — Daily Eucharist: A celebration of the Holy Eucharist will be held every morning at 7 o'clock. Litany: The Litany will be read on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 11 o'clock. Daily Service will be held at the following hours during the season: Mattins, 10.30 a.m. ; evensong, 5.15 p.m. (except on Wednesday, when evensong is 7.30 p.m., with address). Intercession Service: Friday evenings, at 7.30 o'clock. Special Course of Sermons: On Sunday mornings, at 11 o'clock, there will be a course of addresses on "The Church and Present Day Problems," by the clergy of Gisborne, and tie .adjacent parishes. On Sunday evenings, at 7 o'clock, the Vicar will speak on "Some Familiar Hymns and their Message." On Wednesday evenings, at 7.30 o'clock, Rev. W. H. Roberts will speak on "Some Characters from the Book of Genesis." Following his usual custom, the Vicar will answer written questions before the sermon on Sunday evenings. The questions must be sent m before the Sunday on which they are to be answered.