Ormondville.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 9, 1 March 1914, Page 121

Ormondville.

Vicar : Rev. T. Fisher IJent is early m the year of grace and the harvest is early, therefore we decided to make early acknowledgment of our gratitude to the Gracious Giver of all good gifts. On. th 3 19th of February Ormondville kept Harvest Festival , and for the occasion a few of the faithful lovingly prepared the parish Church by arranging the choice selection of corn, fruit and flowers sent by many. There was a suggestion of "the G-rapes of God "m the vine branches, of the " Bread of Life " m the sheaves of corn, of milk, m a sample of cheese made at the local factory, and brought by a loyal dauphter of th Q Clrirph, of luscious fruit grown c^ose' at hand,, and better still, a fair congregation at the parish Eucharist to express m the truly Christian way the first fruits of themselves, their souls and bodies to. be a reasonable, holy and lively sacrifice, which we acknowledge to be our bounden duty and service. Morning Prayer, said at half past nine, was followed by Holy Communion, and Festal Ervensong was sung to the old music of the Church by a reverent congregation. Benedicite was sung m place of a psalm,

verses alternately by minister and congregation, and our old familiar friend "Burnett" was revived for the Gospel Canticles, and sung; heartily, m time, and tune. Aiter the evening prayers the Vicar exhorted to personal devotion to the service of God, from the Catholic Epistle of S. James, " a kind of first- fruits of His creatures." During the singing of the hymn "To Thee O Lord our hearts we raise," to the Coronation tune by Sir Arthur Sullivan, a collection was made which will go a fair way to clear the deficiency shown on last year's balance sheet. Then followed the recital of the special form of Thanksgiving which is now general throughout the Anglican Communion, the general Thanksgiving, taken up by the whole congregation, and this again followed by the Te Deum, solemnly sung to simple but expressive chants. The whole joyful Service was brought to an end by the Benediction and the singing of the hymn " Our Day of Praise is done." The singing of some of the favourite Harvest hymns had to be deferred to the following Sunday, as we could only get m four of them. Makotuku had the Harvest Thanksgiving on the Sunday following, February 22nd, when the Rev. Herbert Collier said prayers and preached the sermon from the text : " Whatsoever a man sowfeth, that shall he also reap." We are expecting a visit from Archfeacon Nield, of the MelaJiesian Missionary Diocese. He is to come on Wednesday, March 4th, and give an address at the Mothers' Union service, on " Child Life m Melanesia." The Branch of the Mothers' Union will entertain him to afternoon tea, and out him on his way to Takapau for the evening. At the moment of writing we are takinsr a rest after yesterday's Parish Shrove Tuesday Oarden Fete m the Ormondville Recreation Ground, which the Town Board allowed us to use. The afternoon turned out wet, after a showery morning, but notwithstanding, we had a lively afternoon, so many came to help, and helped to make merry so goodhumouredly that even m the discomfort it was quite a success ; but from every quarter came word that, many had planned to be there, and take part m the sports, so that there is a determination to try again next year, and hope for better luck m the matter of weather. Mr Tayer's cricket match, ladies v. gentlemen, m fancy costurr.ie, was played until the ladies' innings was finished. There is a strong suspicion that the ladies had been practicing, judging by the stand they made— Mr Davidson was kept busy scoring. At tikis stage the rain sent the players tinder cover.

. The Ladies' Guild, who organised the fete want to express their thanks to those many friends who gave the • ■elegant trophies, and also to the many willing helpers who worked so goodnuturedly together. Now we are m Lent, and our thoughts are on other things.