HARTLIP PARISH MAGAZINE.

DECEMBER, 1915.

Dear Friends,

This terrible war not only still rages, but it alas spreads. Brave Serbia is almost completely in the enemy's possession, though looking (in vain) to us for succour. More men, more patience, and more prayer are our present needs. Our men have responded well, and we believe they will. Patience we must exercise more and more, for the end is evidently not yet. As to the lack of prayer by people in general, that is a very serious failing. We have not - it would seem - yet realised what war is. It is to-day what it was thousands of years ago, viz., God's whip to make a nation repent of its sins. Your child does wrong, and knows that by your look, but he does not realise how bad the thing is until you punish him; that brings it home to him in another light, when he expresses sorrow if he has a right feeling, and determines to be a better child. Is not that repentance!

Our Heavenly Father acts similarly. Never mind how this war began, that is of secondary importance. War is His whip to bring nations to see their own evil doings, as it was very often with the Israelites. So it seems to be His whip to bring us as a nation to repent. Do you say repent? Yes.

(1) Repent of neglecting Him on Sundays. There is His House and His Worship, but you repeatedly stay at home. Can you really be on God's side and go on doing this? There can, of course, be no Christianity without worship. God is using His whip to show us how great this sin is to-day.

(2) Let us no longer be deserters, but put on the uniform of a loyal and patriotic soldier of Jesus Christ; and show the world that we are not ashamed to be on the Lord's side nor are we afraid to be seen going to His House, to honour His Holy Name and His Word.

This War is testing those who profess to follow Christ, and testing our love to Him, of what sort it is. And as the War goes on it will be seen more and more who are "His FAITHFUL soldiers and servants."

I would call your attention to the Central Services of Intercession to be held in St. Michael's Church, Sittingbourne, on December 7 and 14 at 3 p.m. with addresses by the Tait Missioner, and urge all who possibly can attend then.

The Ember Days are December 15, 17, and 18, on which days you are asked to give a penny each for the Fund to train Ordination Candidates in the Diocese. The envelopes will be put out in Church on the 12th. to be returned on the 19th. December 19 will be our S.P.G. Sunday, when I hope all will give what they can towards Foreign Missions. The Rev. C. G. Clairemonte, Organising Secretary, will preach. All Boxes may be returned to me before that date.

Advent is upon us, with its solemn call to prepare to meet the Lord. St. John's words tell us our duty,

viz., "Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." If we try to act upon his call, then this will be a helpful Advent-tide, and be a fitting preparation for the great Christmas Festival, when it should be our earnest desire and aim to meet the Lord at His Table.

This cannot be a Merry Christmas, with so much sadness in the world, so many empty chairs, so many hearts broken; and others anxious as to the safety of their dear ones. Let our sympathy go out to all such; and let us do with less ourselves, in the shape of extras, so that we may give something to comfort and cheer the thousands of homeless Serbians, Belgians, or Poles.

And surely doing something like this will bring what I trust you all will have this Christmastide - true, heartfelt peace.

And as we come to our Holy Communion we will be praying for our brave lads, doing their bit at the front.

Sunday, January 2, 1916, is fixed as a National Day of Solemn I Intercession to Almighty God in connection with the war. The two days previous are to be used as a preparation; Friday, December 31, as a day of self-denial and penitence for our manifold sins and shortcomings. But details will be published nearer the time.

Your faithful friend and Pastor,

J. S. McMILLAN.

OFFERTORIES IN OCTOBER.
£s.d.
Oct.3-Church Expenses0185
"10-Church Expenses0195
"17-Sunday School1011
"24-Church Expenses100
"28-Belgian Food Fund010
"31-Organ and Choir0139
Wednesdays for Poland Food Fund01610
CALENDAR.
Dec.15 and 18 - Intercession for War.
"12-Ember Pence Envelopes in Church.
"15, 17, 18 - Ember Days.
"19-Bring Ember Pence Envelopes to Church.
"19-S.P.G. Sermons. Rev. C. G. Clairmonte.
"21-St. Thomas, A.M. 10.30 a.m., Mattins and the Dole.
"21-Intercession Service, 7.30 p.m.
"23-Decorating the Church 10 a.m.
"25-Christmas Day. Holy Communion, 8 and 12. Mattins, 11.
"27-St. John, A.E. Holy Communion, 10.30.
"28-Innocents' Day. Holy Communion, 10.30, Children's Service, 11.15 a.m.
"31-Fast-day, and Special Services.