FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

Dear Friends,

It is so easy today to "pass the buck", one further side-product of this modern society in which the little man, whether he be tradesman or professional, is increasingly part of the organisation. We all seem to be working for "them", so that there is always someone else to blame for our mistakes and muddles. The teenager whose life has "dried up at the roots" blames his parents or society or education or just 'bad luck'. The bungling clerk who constantly types the wrong replies blames the boss for not speaking plainly or the people who keep coming in and out. In the army it has always been standard practice to blame anyone and everyone but yourself.

If you do this you are in the fashion, but fashion is not always synonomous with honesty. Well does it matter? Perhaps not if you are prepared to end up kidding yourself. Pilate once asked Jesus "What is truth?" But he was not really interested in the answer. Well does it matter? There must be some significance in the fact that Christ not only accepted responsibility for everything He did, but was prepared to take the burden of your mistakes and failures and mine. It mattered so much that he was willing to die for it. The "buck" you and I try to pass he has accepted. He lives now to make honest men new men.

DONALD WHITE.

PARISH NOTES

A Change

In the services on the first Sunday in the month was agreed to by the Church Council on 6th April. In future, unless there are exceptional circumstances, e.g. a major Festival, Mattins will always be said at 11 a.m. on the first Sunday. The main service on that morning is, of course, the Parish Communion at 9.30 a.m.

Gifts

For lilies at Easter were in the end so numerous that we had more than enough to pay for the 13 which we had to order in advance. The surplus money has of course gone into the Flower Fund. Thanks also to generous gifts in kind we had plenty of flowers for the general decoration of the church. Easter 1964 we were, in fact, much indebted to Mr. W. E. Frith, of Melon Farm, Ivychurch, who gave us 12 dozen daffodils and who was fully prepared to do the same this year. He is one of two Lincolnshire-born farmers who grow bulbs in Romney Marsh.

Unexpected Gift

To the Magazine Account came, last, month a cheque from Mrs. Buchan, who generously passed on a cheque for £2 2s. 0d. her first earnings in the world of journalism.

The Churchill

Memorial Appeal in the village, organised by Mrs. Buchan, realised £26 18s. 6d.