VICAR'S LETTER.

My dear People,-

It seems late to refer to Christmas, but I should like to thank those who decorated our Church for the Festival. How bright the altar looked with its scarlet poinsettias, a welcome gift of flowers from Mrs. MacKinnon. The Carol Service on the following Sunday was delightful, and much appreciated.

With this month starts Lent. I hope we shall all try and observe the Season, and that there may be good attendances at the week-day services.

Preparations will soon have to be started for the Coronation festivities. I hope to preach a course of sermons on the subject and history of past crownings, explaining the symbolism used.

Your sincerely,

CECIL G. MUTTER

MISSIONARY BOXES.

s.d.£s.d.
Mr. R. Ongley53(1009)
Mrs. W. Kitchingham310(2210)
Bellringers22(1178)
Vicarage58(197)
Total1611

This 16/11 has been sent to the S.P.G. The amounts in brackets show the total collected from when the boxes first started. The Vicar would gladly issue further boxes. Who will take one? Some might like to have a box and put a coin in when, for any reason, they are prevented from attending Church.

BURIAL

Jan. 11th-Dennis Steer, aged 10 months.

Our Sunday scholars with the G.F.S. had their annual party on December 31st. Following tea and games, Professor Williams held the children enthralled with a ventriloquial entertainment. Mrs. Marks kindly presented the prizes and presents. Prizes were won by Gordon and Kathleen Read, Ronald Twort, Winifred Kitchingham, Ronald Dixon, Marjorie Walker, Doris Skinner, Iris Galpin, Bernard Ongley, and Winifred Shaw. Then came an exhibition of conjuring. A goodly number of parents attended. The happy little folk each went home with an orange and a bag of sweets. Thanks go out to all who contributed to the cost.

The Vicar and Mrs. Mutter entertained the choirmen and bellringers at supper on Jan. 5th.

Will all who contributed to the choir boys' fund, collected when they went carolling, and

also those who gave to the bellringers, please accept hearty thanks for their kindness.

Mrs. Mutter has received warm letters of thanks from the two Homes to which she sent the dolls, scrap books, and toys from Hartlip.

LENT SERVICES.

Feb. 10th - Ash Wednesday - Children's Service. 9 a.m. Holy Communion 10 a.m. Communion Service and address 7.30 p.m.

Special services will be held on five Thursday nights at 7.30, with addresses by the Vicar of Milton Regis.

The children of the Day School gave a little Nativity Play at their break-up. It was very pleasing, but how one wished it had the effect of reality, and that the children had been in the Church on Christmas Day to greet the new-born King. Why do parents not send their children on this day, the Birthday of God's Son? It is no true Christmas if Jesus is not at the centre of it.

THE CHOIR.

The organist hoped that it would be possible to render Stainer's "Crucifixion" in Holy Week, but finds it impossible this year as the choirmen do not find time to attend the necessary practices. We have to thank Mrs. French, Mrs. Nash, Mrs. Grensted, and Captain Marks for half-crowns, and the Vicar £1 for purchasing copies of the music. We have no fund for buying the music we require, and the organist himself has given £3/5/6 for purchasing new copies of Te Deums, Anthems, and Carols, which have been sung during the past year. Mr. and Mrs. Denson paid most generously for all the Diocesan Festival Music, and most of the expense of conveying and entertaining the choristers at Canterterbury. If the choir are to have fresh music from time to time, a choir fund is necessary it seems. We cannot ask the P.C.C. while the debt remains for repairs to the tower, lych gate and paths, but some may like to encourage the organist in his labours by giving an extra contribution now and then.

Miss Locke has presented, another picture, a well coloured reproduction of a Holbein, which hangs on the north wall of the nave. We are very grateful for the gift.

The entertainment promoted by Mrs. Noble and our Women's Fellowship on December 30th was a great success. The silver tree was a fresh idea for many of us, and we shall not soon forget the "Men of Hartlip." Seeing was believing!