FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

A few years ago there was a report of an American Methodist Church where a service was held in which fire-drill was a part of the service. "It took less than two minutes to evacuate over 100 persons in the drill". It is good to hear of a church ready for a fire. But is this fire-drill really a symbol? It seems too many churches are more interested in safety than adventure, more interested in extinguishing fires than starting them.

The marching orders of the first Christians had more to do with adventure than safety. There were promised lots of tribulations, a cross, imprisonments, and so on.

I can think of several safety devices we could very well do without.

1. The asbestos screen we put up when the sermon gets a little too hot for us.

2. The sand-buckets that are used when someone suggests a new idea which might break with tradition. It would not do to let this kind of fire spread!

3. The water-hose that comes into operation at the double when the enthusiasm of our young people makes us feel uncomfortable and we must needs "cool them off a bit".

4. The fire extinguishers we direct on those who tend to disagree with our particular views and who make us "hot under the collar" - yes, and the clerical collar! It is surprising what a mess this method usually leaves behind.

Of course I have been talking about the wrong kind of fire, but who can deny its presence?

What about the fire the Holy Spirit started with those first disciples? When that gets loose in a church it spreads and spreads till the whole community is aflame. If a few people get on fire with the Gospel no board of underwriters can measure the results.

DONALD WHITE.

PARISH NOTES

Christian Aid Week

Organised by the Inter-Church Aid department of the World Council of Churches, runs this year 24-30 May. Here is the Church in action in a very practical way - caring for those without food and homes and also supplying tractors and other implements for growing food. Please see that the Council can do all it wants by giving generously. May I repeat what I said last year - that if every working person in Hartlip were to give one day's pay to this cause, at a very conservative estimate we should collect at least £80. Collecting boxes will be out all that week at the various meeting-places in the village, and it is hoped that there will be a bowls match between Hartlip and a visiting team one evening on the vicarage lawn in aid of this cause. Perhaps one or two individuals will feel able to organise a special effort, according to their taste and circumstances.

Kent Messenger Walk

It was good to see Hartlip represented by at least two people - Trevor Hamson and Mr. Faust, the latter I believe completing the whole distance.