ST. ANDREW'S, PORT AHURIRI.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 29, Issue 1, 1 March 1938, Page 2

ST. ANDREW'S, PORT AHURIRI.

Rev. W. S. G. Cameron, Vicar. As a prelude to Christmas the Nativity Play "Christmastide" was reverently and effectively presented m the Church on Sunday evening, December 19th, by boys and girls from the Sunday School, assisted by members of the choir. Mr J. Fieldhouse kindly lent the play, while Mrs Fieldhouse prepared and was responsible for the musical portion, and Mrs Cameron assisted with the staging and the dressing. To these we offer our sincere appreciation. The "play" is by the late Miss E. M. G. Reed, notable journalist, editor and school music specialist organiser, and is one of the very best of its kind. It is said that it is the perfect play for a Christmas production. Its construction, follows the principles inherent m the early English dramas wherein the story of the first Christmas is told m song, m spoken word and m picture. ,The twelve carols by means of which the story is almost entirely told consist of traditional Engl : sh, French, German and other carols with music by Bach, Mendelssohn, Geoffrey Shaw and H. Chambers. At suitable points during the singing of the carols members of tableaux assist m the unfolding of the story and combine Scriptural teaching and historical customs m excellent English. The singing included unison, two-part and descant work, and the carols are linked to-

gether by spoken verse. The essence of the play lies m its simplicity and m the manner m which, from the secularity of its beginning, the feeling gradually merges into one of awe and reverence which reaches its climax at the most subdued point of the drama— the singing of the chorale "Beside Thy Crade," from Bach's "Christmas Oratories." The play made a profound impression on the many who were present and quite a number of requests were made for its repetition. Christmas services were well attended and the number of communicants was slightly larger than m the previous year. We are grateful to members of the choir who helped m decorating the church for the Christmas services. The ladies of the congregation have given a new floor covering for the aisle. It is a great improvement and the gift is much appreciated. Ow'ng to medical advice, Mr H. J. Hull has had to relinquish the position of superintendent of the Sunday School, a position he has held for approximately 20 years. He has given earnest and devoted service, p.nd his assistance will be very much missed. On the resumption of Sunday school m February the teachers and scholars thanked him for his services and spoke of their appreciation of his work and wished him every blessing m the days of his retirement. Mr O. D. Williams has consented to take over the position for the meantime at least.