Old Parish Magazines

of St James A. & M.

Issue No 

Wed. December 25th. Christmas Day.
Holy Communion, 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 12 noon.
Mattins, 11 a.m.
Sun. December 29th. First Sunday after Christmas,
Holy Communion, 8 a.m.
Tues. December 31st.
Holy Communion 12 midnight.

During December the flowers on the Altar will be arranged by Mrs. C. Jones, and during January by Mrs. G. Meek and Miss Meek.

Corporate Communion for members of the Parochial Council on Sunday, 15th December, at 8 a.m. (Sunday before Council Meeting).
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FREE WILL OFFERING AMOUNTS........... £9 - 5 - 8

CHURCH COLLECTIONS FOR OCTOBER 1935...........£ 23 - 18 - 10

Certain Donations given to various Stalls at the Bazaar on 5th October, 1935.

Teas,
W. Smith Esq., 10/-; Anon 10/-; Mrs. Hewlett, 2/6;
Miss Williams, 2/6; F. Blower Esq., 2/6; F. Morse Esq. 2/6;
Mrs. J. Guest 2/-; Miss M. Trewin 1/6; Total, £1/13/6

Mothers Union Stall,
Sir John Worthington, M.P. 10/-; J. Hirst Esq. 5/-; J. Guest Esq. 5/-
F. Morse Esq. 1/-; Mrs. Cristopherson, 5/-; Mrs. Price, 2/6;
Mrs. Johnson, 2/6; Mrs. Willetts, 1/- . Total £1/12/0

Bambola Stall, Total, 7/6
Refreshment Stall, Total, £2/3/0
Bible Class Stall, Total, £2/5/6
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SPECIAL COLLECTIONS DURING DECEMBER
At Evensong on 4th Sunday in Advent, (Sunday before Christmas) for Choir Juveniles.

At the Watch - night Services on New Years Eve for Parochial Quota to Diocesan Board of Finance.
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HOLY BAPTISM
"Members of Christ"

Oct. 27 .........................................Beryl Frances, daughter of James and Olive Innes
Oct. 30 .........................................Patricia Ann, daughter of Richard and Margaret James
Nov. 6 ..........................................Barbara Joan, daughter of Charles and Elsie Hook
Nov. 10.........................................Arthur Edward, son of Edward and Doris Robinson
Nov. 10.........................................Austin Charles, son of William and Gertrude Turner
Nov. 24.........................................Michael Claude, son of Claude and Ethel Brown
Nov. 24.........................................Shirley Maureen, daughter of George and Kate Rudge

HOLY MATRIMONY
"Heirs together of the grace of Life"

Oct. 31..........................................Edgar Ralph Worgan and Nora McMillan

CHRISTIAN BURIAL
"The care of them is with the Most High"

Nov. 14..........................................Stanley Nelmes, aged 44 years
Nov. 22..........................................Sarah Jane Brown, aged 69 years

Completion of Five Years Vicariate

An entry in the Service Register reminds me that on November 27th 1930, I was instituted Vicar of this Parish by the Bishop of Gloucester.How quickly the years roll by! I don't know what your thoughts may be on looking back over those five years, perhaps it is just as well that I don't know. Both you and I are human, and cannot help sometimes going back over the "have beens" and "might have beens." There are some things successfully accomplished, amongst them the New Churchyard, of which we are all really proud; the old Churchyard has been improved too, almost beyond recognition. A supply of water has been provided in the Churchyard for the convenience of the large number who so regularly flower their graves.

The financial position of the Church has been maintained in a flourishing condition, and the year that is nearly finished should prove no exception to the previous four which precede it.

A careful analysis of these accounts unfortunately seems to show that more and more money each year, has been raised by indirect methods. By this I mean that less money is given through Church Collections and the Free Will Offering Scheme. This is surely a reflection on individual members of the Church, who are - or seem to be - unwilling to voluntarily subscribe the money necessary for the upkeep of their Church. The result of the shortage in these two sources of Church income is easy to see. Those who are unwilling to see their Church funds drop below the necessary level, have made good this deficiency by organized and more commercial means. This, though necessary, is a pity and does not reflect to the credit of professed Church members. I want to quote from a leaflet in my possession, issued by the Church Assembly. "It shall be the primary duty of the Parochial Church Council in every parish to co-operate with the Incumbent in the initiation, conduct and development of Church work both within the parish and outside."

This statement covers all the activities of the councils so that although much of the time of council meetings will naturally be taken up by question of finance and matters of merely local interest, yet the council's chief aim should be to fulfil the purpose for which the Church exists, to extend the Kingdom of Christ in the Parish and to the ends of the Earth. The incumbent has a right to look to his council for help and support in the work of the Church both within and outside the Parish, and nothing should be allowed to interfere with this "Primary Duty."

Can any Parish expect it's incumbent to fulfil his duties properly and adequately if his parish does not in turn really make an honest and conscientious effort to play it's part in the work of the Church?

The Parochial Church Council is not appointed by the Incumbent but by the members of the Church.

The "help and support" referred to above, surely includes financial help and frequent and regular attendance at Church, including the Service of Holy Communion.

The logical conclusion which should be drawn from my rather verbose statement I leave to my readers to draw.

Item of Interest
Total Church Income from 1931 - 1935 (to date) amounts approximately to £1304.

This is the last issue of the Magazine for 1935, and drawing your attention to the arrangement of Services for Christmas Day, I would wish all my readers a Happy Christmas.