The Vicarage,October 28th, 1926.

My Dear Friends,

How nice it was to see the Harvest Thanksgiving so well observed in our Church this year. We had a good number of Communicants, but not quite so many as last year. It is in the Lord's Own Service of the Holy Communion that we particularly show our thankfulness to Almighty God, as we commemorate the Great Sacrifice which our Saviour made for us, which was the greatest token of God's love for man, His greatest gift to man.

As we offer the Great Sacrifice in our Lord's appointed way, we may say with St. Paul "He that spared not his Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" What a beautiful thought to have as we come to the Holy Communion - especially at a time like the Harvest Festival. Because this is our chief Service of Thanksgiving it is often called the "Eucharist," a Greek word meaning a giving of thanks. As we realise this it makes us feel that no Festival is complete without this Service.

For Evensong on October 3rd, we had one of the largest congregations that has been seen in our Church for a long-time. It was a beautiful and uplifting Service. How splendid it would be if we could have gatherings like that regularly on Sundays! We can help one another in our worship, and I hope all who were present at the Harvest Thanksgiving feel that they will be heartily welcome at any of the Services and will come as often as they can to them.

We were glad to have this year, gifts of fruit, vegetables and flowers for the decoration of the Church, from many parishioners. They were sent to the Keycol Hospital, and gratefully received there. I saw the Matron beforehand and she told me how very acceptable they would be, and that she would gladly send for them. It is thought by some people that Harvest decorations are often wasted when they are sent to Hospitals. This is not the case at Keycol.

The Collections for St. Bartholomew's Hospital amounted to the satisfactory sum of £6.

As usual there was a fine display at the Gardeners' Society Gift Sale, and it included some handsome contributions as well as a great number of smaller ones. Those who organised the Sale are to be thanked for their work on behalf of the parish for the good cause. Mr. Miles' persuasive tongue, backed up by the genial "porters," drew good and often fancy prices, but the buyers on these occasions are always out to help the Hospital, and make the Sale a success.

At well-attended meeting of the helpers at Sale of Work which was held last June the allocation of the proceeds was discussed. The balance sheet published in the July magazine showed a profit of £30/19/4. Since then £1/12/3 has been received for goods sold making a total profit of £32/11/7. From this the following sums were "ear-marked." Women's Meeting £4/6/9; G.F.S. £3/9/9; Churchyard 6/3; Zenana Missionary Society £2/10/0; Other Missions 14/0. This left £21/4/10 to be distributed. It was decided to give £5/4/10 for the purchase of crockery for teas, and a cupboard to put it in. £5 to the Sunday School Fund £1 to the G.F.S. £5 to start a Fund for building a wall on the south side of the new Churchyard. £5 Foreign Missions (S.P.G.) Should it be found that crockery and cupboard cost more than the sum alloted then a little less is to be giuen to the Sunday School and the Churchyard. It is good that we are able so to help our own parish funds and the work of the Church overseas by our effort in the summer.

We are about to keep the eighth anniversary of end of the Great War. On Armistice Day (Nov. 11) we shall hold the usual service at the War Memorial (if wet, in the Church) at 10.45, and observe at it (and throughout the parish, I hope), the two minutes silence at 11 a.m. On the following Sunday evening (Nov. 14th), we are to have a Special Armistice Service in Church at 6.30. At this service we hope to have gether the ex-service men of the parish, and seats be reserved for them. We look forward to having large gathering of parishioners for this special service. Evensong will be said, without music, on this Sunday at 5 o'clock.

I remain,

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

COLLECTIONS IN THE CHURCH.

£s.d.
Sept. 29th, Oct. 18th and 25th - Vicar's Fund046
Oct.3rd.-St. Bartholomew's Hospital600
"10th.-Quota to Diocesan Fund204
"17th.-St. Luke's Hostel1137
"24th.-Church Expenses1101

BURIAL (In Rainham Churchyard).

Sept. 15th - Bertha Kitney, aged 57 years.