CONGRESS AT HASTINGS

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 31, Issue 2, 1 April 1940, Page 1

CONGRESS AT HASTINGS

GOD'S WORK TO ADVANCE Witness to Ever-Living Christ

Opportunity will be afforded members of the Church of giving witness to the ever-living Christ at the Congress to be held at Hastings from Friday, April sth, to Monday, April Bth. Arrangements have been completed, and with God's blessing upon it the success for which those sponsoring it have so earnestly prayed for is assured. The four days of the Congress have been arranged to provide an unbounded spiritual enrichment to all coming humbly to God and trusting m His strength. A procession of witness on the Sunday afternoon has been added to the original programme. Owing to his departure with the Second Echelon as senior chaplain, His Lordship the Bishop of the Diocese, who has laboured untiringly m the cause of the Congress, will not be present, arid Archdeacon Rich, of Masterton, who is well known m Hawke's Bay, will preside. The spiritual life of the Church ■ will be discussed. The prayers of all are asked for thej Congress, as a result of which it is felt there will be a desire to obey more perfectly our Lord's words, "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God ..." /

Procession of Witness. This is not on the programme, but there has been a spontaneous demand for it, so we will have it. It will lead up to the open-air service. Congress members, all Church people who can come, clergy and choirs robed are asked to assemble at St. Matthew's Church by 2.15 p.m. so that they may go m procession to the racecourse and be m their places m the stand ready to start the service at 3 p.m. The Open-Air Service. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club has very kindly not only given us the use of the grandstand, which will make a splendid place for the service, but also the use of their loudspeaker equipment and of a dais to erect m front of the stand. Everyone concerned is giving us all possible help m the kindest way. We hope that the Church's schools and

many people from surrounding parishes who are not able to attend the Congress will be able to come and make this service a great public demonstration of our faith m God. The Chairman. It was with great regret that we learned that our Bishop would be unable to preside at the Congress, as he has found it necessary to leave with the Second Echelon. We shall miss him very much, but our effort must go on. Archdeacon Rich, of Masterton, has kindly consented to the Bishop's request and will be chairman of the Congress, as well as doing the work he had already undertaken. Canon Neild will give the lecture on the Reformation period and Archdeacon Maclean will . give the address on "Religion m the Home." These were both to be given by the Bishop.

The Garden Picnic. This is for Congress members and is part of the fellowship of the Congress. Miss Williams, of Frimley, has kindly invited us to have it m her garden, and a more beautiful place for it could not be found anywhere. If the weather is kind we shall have a delightful afternoon. Will members please bring them badges? Rest Rooms. Members who are sleeping at home and coming from some miles away each day to the Congress meetings will find comfortable sitting and rest rooms arranged for them at St. Matthew's Hall to use between the meetings. Invitation.. Church people from other dioceses are cordially invited to enrol as members, of the Congress, and it is hoped that, they also may be given hospitality. Enrolment cards for this purpose have been sent to all the Bishops. . Personal* Consecration. O God, the God of all goodness and of all grace, Who art worthy of a greater love than we can either give or understand, fill our hearts, we beseech Thee, with such love to Thee that nothing may seem too hard for us to do or to suffer m obedience to Thy will; and grant that, thus loving Thee, we may be found acceptable unto Thee for Thy service and bear faithful witness to Thy love and power. This we ask m the name and for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Programme. Friday, April sth. 7 a.m. — Holy Communion. 10 to 10.40 a.m. — Devotional- study (m St. Matthew's Church): Canon Watson. Morning Tea.

11 a.m. — Lecture, "Church History-r-The Saxon Period": Rev. B. P. Williams. 3.30 p.m. — Afternoon tea and welcome to members by Archdeacon Rich and the Vicar of Hastings. 7.30 p.m.— Address and group discussions—No. 1, "What Youth Can Do": Archdeacon Rich. Saturday, April 6th. 7 a.m. — Holy Communion. 10 to 10.40 a.m.— Devotional study: Canon Watson. 11 a.m. — Lecture, "Church History — The Reformation Period": Canon Neild. 2.30 p.m. — Garden picnic. 7.30 p.m.— Address and group discussions—No. 2, "The Relationship of Priest and People": The Bishop of Waikato. Preparation for Holy Communion: Rev. S. F. N. Waymouth. Sunday, April 7th. 7 and 8 a.m. — Holy Communion. 11 a.m.— Sung Eucharist. Preacher, Canon Watson. 2.15 p.m. — -Procession of witness. 3 p.m. — Open-air service at racecourse grandstand. Service cony ducted by the Bishop of Aotearoa. Preacher, Archdeacon Eich. 7 p.m. — Evensong. Preacher, the Bishop of Waikato. Monday, April Bth. 7 a.m. — Holy Communion. 10 to 10.40 a.m. — Devotional study: Canon Watson. 11 a.m. Lectures. "Church History — The Evangelical Revival": Archdeacon Rich. "The Oxford Movement": Canon A. F. Hall. 3.30 p.m. — Address and group discussions — No. 3, "Religion m the Home": Archdeacon Maclean. 8 p.m. — Public meeting, Assembly Hall. Chairman, Archdeacon Rich. Speakers, the Bishops of Waikato and Aotearoa. The Maori Choir will sing.