FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

Dear Friends,

Britain is wilting under an economic blitz, American news columnists say London. is "swinging to perdition", drug trafficking is on the increase; we're told that the decay of decadence is setting in on our country. It all seems very doleful, as I sit on a Cornish beach, enjoying the surf and the sunshine, and reading the newspapers. Well, I would not want to deny the seriousness of some of the things that are happening in our country, but, nevertheless, are things really so very much worse than they were? This is the centenary year of Dr. Barnardo's Homes, and I have read again the story of how that one man tackled one of the evil signs of decadence in nineteenth century England - the plight of deprived and uncared-for children.

The truth surely is that the nature of man and man's society does not change. The problems and the evils alter their shape and form, but they are still there. The Christian uses a kind of shorthand word to describe, the totality of the problem - the word is "sin".

Yet, in another sense, man's nature and society's problems can be changed. Sin can be overcome. Indeed, it is met and overcome. This is the "good news", the "gospel". This is the hope and faith of the Christian. This is what Christianity is all about. Not ancient buildings, not chapels and churches, not bazaars and meetings, but the conquering power of God in Christ that meets us and our world at its point of need. Dr. Bernardo in his day was a "co-worker with God", as St. Paul puts it. That is what we are called to be, in our day.

Yours sincerely,

DENIS GARDINER.

PARISH NOTES

Much Sympathy

Goes from us all to Mr. and Mrs. Cork and Mr. and Mrs. McHaffey, as we record with deep regret the deaths of John Cork and Stephen McHaffey on Sunday, 17th, July, in a cycle accident in the village. Linked by a common interest in motorcycles, John and Stephen had been recently much together and were buried in the single grave in our churchyard on 27th July.