The Vicarage,
February 23rd, 1925.

My Dear Friends,

The Magazine will, I hope, be delivered at most of the houses in the parish before the Annual Church Meeting is held, for I want to say a few words about this. It is to be in the Schoolroom on Monday, March 2nd, at 7 p.m. As you know, all those who are on the Electoral Roil are by law entitled to attend this meeting, and a hearty invitation is given to them to do so. Hitherto the atterrdance has been confined to members of the Church Council, and only a few others, but we should like to see many more at it. Even if people feel that they have no partiicular suggestions or criticisms to make as to the work of the Church in the parish their presence at the meeting is helpful, for they can take their part in the election of the Church Council, which is to carry on the work on their behalf for the year, and be informed as to what has been done during the past year. In any case attendance at this Annual Church Meeting does show an interest in the work of the Church, and encourage those in whose hands it is especially placed. We have now 153 names on the Roll, and I hope we may see a representative gathering on March 2nd.

The Confirmation is to be at Stockbury some time in May, but I have not yet heard the day of the month. Classes of Instruction should begin about the middle of March, and before then I shall he pleased to have the names of any who would like to come to them. I have been asked about the age for Candidates, and I can only say that it depends so much on the individuals. In many cases thirteen is not too young, and I shall welcome the opportunity of at least seeing and giving instruction to any of that age. No one, of course, is too old to be comfirmed.

A Meeting of the Churchyard Committee was held on Saturday, February 21st, when the question of the upkeep of the Churchyard was gone carefully into. Now that the old ground has all been levelled and sown, we have to arrange for it to be kept in order. The surface stones have to be removed, and the ground thoroughly rolled, and then we hope to have the grass cut with a machine through the summer. With this done we should soon get a nice smooth turf and a churchyard which will be as we should all like to see "God's Acre." Mr. Luck has kindly promised to superintend the work, and we are grateful to him for consenting to do this, for we know it will be done as thoroughly as possible, but we shall not expect the turf in the Churchyard to compete with the lawn at the Cottage!

It is impossible to say at present what the annual cost of the upkeep of the Old and New Ground will be, but the Committee estimated it at from £l0 to £15. How is this money to be raised? We believe that parishioners generally will willingly, and indeed gladly, help in the work of keepinig the sacred ground where the bodies of the departed are laid in nice order, and it was resolved that each year there shall he a house-to-house collection for the purpose about the end of July. More particulars will be given about this later on, but I was asked to just mention now what the Committee have in mind. Besides this collection we may reasonably hope for sume help from others outside the parish who have interest in our Churchyard.

On Wednesday, February 25th we begin the solemn Season of Lent. It is the Church's Annual Mission when a call comes to us all to make a special effort to deepen the spiritual life. For this purpose we are asked to give up some of those worldly pleasures and amuse-

ments, which at other times are good and right that we give more time and thought to higher things. Will you try to make full use of it? We all know how the "world" presses its claims upon us and how it requires an effort to make the higher things what they should be to us. Lent will help us. I think the following arrangements will be found useful. May I ask your special attention to them, and express the hope that an effort will be made to follow regularly through the courses of addresses?

LENT, 1925.

Sundays.
Holy Communion, each Sunday at 8 a.m. March 1st, 15th, April 5th at midday. Mattins at 11, with a course of meditations on "The Beatitudes." Evensong at 6.30, with a course of addresses on "Our Evening Service." (The London Mission Hymn Book will be used at the evening services and copies provided).

Thursdays, at 7.30 p.m.
March 8th and 12th. Evensong with Sermons by the Rev. A. H. G. Dicker, Vicar of Upchurch. March 19th, 25th, April 2nd. Lantern Services with a course of addresses on "The Sacrifice for Sin."

Fridays, at 3 p.m.
The Litany, with Devotional Readings.

Wednesday, March 25th. - (The Annunciation of B.V.M.). Holy Communion, 8 a.m. Mattins, 11 a.m.

Daily (except March 25th). Mattins, at 8 a.m.
The Church is open for private prayer every day from 8 a.m. till dusk.

I remain,

Your sincere Friend and Vicar,
D. H. CREATON.

P.S. - Notice of the Services for Holy Week will given in next Month's Magazine.

COLLECTIONS IN CHURCH.

				£	s.	d.
February	1st	-	Church Expenses	1	12	5
February	8th	-	Quota to Diocesan Fund	1	10	0
February	15th	-	Church Expenses	1	2	2
February	22nd	-	Church Expenses	1	8	5

EXTRACTS FROM THE REGISTERS.

BAPTISM.

Feb. 8th. - Eileen Margaret, daughter of Herbert and Alice Ellen Grantham.

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