ST. AUGUSTINE'S.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XX, Issue 12, 2 June 1930, Page 10

ST. AUGUSTINE'S.

Vicar: The Rev. A. Hodge. Asst. Curate: The Rev. J. Zimmerman Our Easter services were a source of real inspiration, and wilil long foe remembered' by those who were privileged to be present. On Good Friday the 3-hour service was taken by the Rev. G. B. Stevenson, pf Dannevirke, with whom the Vicar had exchanged for this service. In the -evening the

choir gave a very good rendering of the Cantata ''From Olivet to Calvary." The attendances at the services on Easter Day were not quite up to those of last year, but there was d spiritual atmosphere., about these services, particularly the 8 a.m. celebration, which was most real. Tho sense of the presence of the Risen Christ .seemed to pervade everything. One felt that here was all the answet needed to Rationalist denials of the reality of Christ's Resurrection. The Annual Meeting of parishioners was held on May 7th. We had a very good attendance and there was a most healthy tone to the meeting. Last year's vestry was returned en masse, except that Messrs Berry and La-ing were elected to fill the vacancies caused through Messrs des Forges and Saimders having left the parish. The Vicar ai«o re-apppinted Mr Griffen as his warden, and Mr Ruston was re-elected people's warden. The Vicar read a most encouraging report, but there is still room for improvement, and the coming year ia likely to call for faithful .and strenuous effort. As for the past, the finance statements were very encouraging. The income from all sources had been £1400 8s 6d, which is a record, and the expenditure £21 less than that, but there was still an overdraft of £198 9s lid. During the year a brave renovation scheme had been initiated, with the result that the Church and vicarage had been thoroughly repaired and painted at a cost of £145 2s 7d, which had been raised by the Ladies' Guild, including a. cheque for £25 from Mrs Lowry. Many thanks were due to a sub-com-mittee o,f Messrs Cooke, Roiod sand Lydford for their labour m preparing specifications and carrying out the work. There is much to do still with the schoolroom and all its surroundings. The report also showed that the worlt of the many and various organisations was progressive, such as the G.F.8., all the Bible Classes, Scouts and Cubs, Guides and Brpwnies, Choir , Mothers' Union and the prayer circles and Sanctuary Guild. The Mothers' Union still held chief place m the diocese. During the year there had been 60 baptisms, 26 burials, 24 marriages, 57 had been confirmed (males 20, females 37), which seems to be a record numoer. The number of Communicants had been 3988. The largest number m any one month had been 757 and the smallest 214; Christmas 352, Easter 401, a record. There were at present three Sunday schools m the parish, as it had been

found necessary to open a morning- . school at St. Augustine's, which meant a new staff of teachers, but they were coming forward, especially the men. The members of the Sanctuary Guild were thanked for their loving work dui'ing all the year, and the Ladies' Guild fpr their successful activities m con^ nection with the "Renovation Scheme." The vicar also spoke m grateful terms for the devotion to duty of the Wardens and Vestry. Services had been conducted at the goal on Sunday mornings at 9.45 and at St. Mary's Chapel Aveekly. There were two lay readers, Messrs Savory and Hailett, who had done constant work, especially at St. Luke's and the gaol. One very helpful lay reader, Mr A. Worley, had removed to Ghristiohurch, and was much missed both for the services and Bible classes. The new curate, Rev.' J. 1 Zimmerman, was winning his way. During the year a beautiful lectern, costing- £50, had been presented tp the Church as a memorial to the late Mrs Ada Constance Dixon, by the friends of Mrs Dixon m New Zealand and by members of the congregation. The usual grants had been, made to St. Mary's, St. Hilda's and Abbotsford Homes, London Waifs and Strays, Foreign Missions, Maori Mission, Jeusalem and the Eiast Mission. The teachers of all the Sunday Schools met together at the Vicarage on May the 6th, and considered the re-arrange-ment of the teaching staff, on account of the rapid growth of the morning school. Other business was satis^ factprily dealt with, and it was decided to hold these meetings quarterly. Once again we have to record the death of a faithful Church member. Mrs Nairn has passed away, after a long and painful illness. We exitend our sympathy to the bereaved relatives. With the return of the winter evenings, the social life of the parish is m full swing, and several most enjoyable evenings have been spent both at St. Augustine's and at St. Luke's. These social functions are much more than a mere evening's enjoyment, they do help to bring together and to bind together the different people of the parish.