The Vicarage,
4th January, 1926.

My Dear Friends,

The beginning of a New Year has come. We start with January; the word is derived from the old Roman God, Janus, the "god of beginnings." This god had two faces, one looking backwards and the other forwards. So, as we start a New Year, we take a glance at the one we have left behind and "count our blessings," and that gives us confidence and strength as we look forward. Whatever the coming year may bring, the God-fearing man says with St. Paul "We know that all things work together for good to them that love God."

The word January is also connected with the Latin word Janua, which means a "door." We think of the One who said "I am the Door" and as Christians we start on the fresh stage of our journey of life resolving to live it all through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So a Happy New Year to you all!

With this number of the Magazine is presented an Almanac for 1926, which will, I hope, be found useful.

The publishers of "Home Words" are giving with each copy a beautiful coloured picture of "The Last Supper."

I have not yet made up the accounts for 1925, but I think the Magazine has paid its way. We are helped much by the Tradesmen who insert advertisements, and I hope readers take notice of their announcements. Let them know that it is worth their while to put them in.

The Christmas Services were bright and hearty, and the excellent rendering by the Choir of the Anthem and the Carols was, I am sure, much appreciated. It was good to see a large increase over last year in the number of Communicants on Christmas Day, but we might have had bigger congregations at the Sunday Services. We can always rely on our Ringers to do their part with the bells at the Great Festivals.

Our Sunday School Children thoroughly enjoyed the treat which was provided for them in the Schoolroom on Dec. 31st. Forty-three of them sat down to tea, and after some games Miss Locke presented the prizes. We do not have competition for the prizes, every child in the Senior School who gains the requisite number of marks receives one. The attendance and the work for the year to Advent last had been so good that none (except a few new-comers) missed getting a prize. Some made the full 52 attendances, many nearly full, and the lowest attendance was 38. When we consider wet Sundays, sickness, and absence from home, which may keep children from Sunday School we see what a good record this is. Prizes are not given in the Infant School, but each child receives a little card or picture. The attendance in this School, too, has been excellent. The evening concluded with a gaily decorated Christmas Tree, presents, and oranges for the children.

A Meeting of the Church Council was held on Wednesday, December 16th, when the chief business was to talk over the Public Worship in the Church,

and see if there were ways in which the congregation might be further helped in their worship. Of course, the Order for our Services is rightly and wisely laid down for us in our Prayer Book, but there are questions as to the singing, the use of Special Prayers, the most suitable hours for Services, etc., which may usefully be discussed. It was pleasing to end that the Council (as representing the parishioners on the Electoral Roll) was unanimous in the opinion that the present hearty and congregational Services in our Church left but little room for suggestions as to improvements, but the feeling was nicely expressed that Church people generally might show their appreciation of the Services by more frequent attendance at Church, and that we should not see so many vacant seats (especially on Sunday evenings) as we sometimes do. Will those whom the 'cap fits' note this feeling of their representatives on the Church Council, and try to be with us regularly at Public Worship in 1926?

We have so far not had many Social Meetinings in Hartlip this Winter, but we have at least three to come on. It is proposed to hold a Whist Drive in the Schoolroom about the middle of this month; Mr. S. D. Hollands is kindly taking this in hand. On Friday Feb. 12th, the Church Choir are to give a Concert and in Easter week we are to have another visit from the "Versatile Quartette." Please be on the look out for further announcements of these events.

I am pleased to say that I have been able to arrange for the Rev. C. Cowland Cooper, Vicar of Sturry, to come to us for a Course of Sermons at Services on the Wednesday evenings in Lent. Mr. Cooper is muchi in demand as a preacher, and he is already engaged for two other parishes each week in Lent, so we are fortunate in being able to have him on the Wednesdays. I shall say more about these Services next month, but I mention them now so that the days may be kept free from other Meetings, etc., in the parish.

I remain,

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

We are always pleased when our Hartlip boys distinguish themselves, and we congratulate Fred Hales on the result of his examination for the R.A.F. Training School. He came out 14th out of 473 who passed from the whole of the British Isles.

Extracts from the Register.
BURIALS.

Dec. 15. Daughter of Ernest Richard Shaw, aged 16 hours.

Dec. 24. Joseph Thomas Pattison, aged 68 years.

Collections in the Church.£s.d.
Nov.29.Choir and Organ Fund164
Nov.30,&c.Vicar's Fund030
Dec.6.Quota to Diocesan Fund1141
Dec.13."174
Dec.20.Police Court Mission113
Dec.25.Sick and Needy Fund225
Dec.27.Sunday School Fund226