WISE WORDS.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 27, Issue 4, 1 April 1937, Page 1

WISE WORDS.

The Bishop of Wellington writes m the Church Chronicle: — "I am beginning, but only beginning, to understand something of the life and problems of the Church m New Zealand. If I may touch on one impression out of many, I. have felt increasingly that the question of worship is one of our most vital problems. Here m New Zealand, we are without so many of. the material advantages which the Old Country possesses m its glorious churches, its organs, its trained choirmasters, its supply of choir-boys, and the funds to provide the aesthetic background of worship. The clergy, too, have many services to take and have to spend so much time m racing m their cars from one to another, that it is extraordinarily difficult for them, to make the careful preparation of themselves and their churches which is necessary if every service is to be a perfect offering of reverent service and heartfelt worship to Almighty God. But the very difficulties are a challenge to us. We must not be beaten by them. Too often, lam afraid, we are losing our people because we are giving m and allowing our services to become dull, lifeless and formal. When men and women come to church, they are not stimulated by the sense of the Presence of God to realize the sheer joy of corporate worship. I believe that it is essential for us of the clergy to give as much time to the preparation of ourselves and of our services as we do to the preparation of our sermons. For the only man who can -lead his fellows to worship is the man who is worshipping himself; and it is essential, too, for the keen laity m every parish to co-operate with their Vicar m doing everything m their power to make the worship of their churches beautiful, dignified, heartfelt and

sincere. Even the condition of the graves m the churchyards and of the hymn-books m -church makes a difference, and simple things like that demand the glad output of voluntary labour on the part of Vestries and Church-workers. A 'Return to Religion' will mean a 'Return to Church,' but only if our churches and their services suggest the beauty and the love and the holiness of God."