LENT, 1967 - Some arrangements

Sunday mornings - Visiting preachers at Mattins, as given in the February and March Calendars.

Sunday evenings - Course of Sermons at Evensong, under the title "Some difficult words in, Bible and Prayer-book".

Wednesday mornings - Holy Communion at 9.30 a.m.

Wednesday evenings - Discussion Group (7.30 at Vicarage) under the heading "Refresher Confirmation Class". There will be some visiting speakers.

Special reading matter and subjects for daily intercession will be found in the church throughout Lent.

J.H.G-W.G.

SERVICE IN AFRICA

Miss M. Ambrose, of the Vicarage flat and at present Vice-Principal of Kenya High School, Nairobi, has sent us this impression of Morning Service on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro:-

"A mass of humanity now streamed into the church - a simple building in the shape of a cross with a fine corrugated iron roof - a luxury here.... At last we began; fortunately the person next to me had a hymn-book, so I sang lustily in Swahili as, although I hadn't a clue about the words, the tune turned out to be "Ride on, ride on, in majesty,". Prayers followed and responses were sung with a cheery gusto. Those lucky enough to have a Swahili Bible followed the lesson and then the minister began on his sermon. Children wailed and were hurriedly shushed - in the case of the babies by being put to the breast; in the case of the older ones by being sent out with their mother by the warden! Suddenly a low murmur of dissent could be heard and then, to my amazement, up rose two or three men, shook their fingers at the preacher, and told him what they thought of him. A shouting match ensued, and hubbub broke out. Then, up got the cross old warden, bellowed at everyone to be quiet - and immediately you could have heard a pin drop! The preacher rattled off the rest of his sermon, perhaps to avoid any further interruption. We relaxed by singing a hymn. Then to my amazement the preacher started a second sermon! Later one of the congregation reported back on a diocesan conference he had been to - a good idea. Then three babies were baptized in front of the entire congregation, who took a very active part in the service. Altogether it lasted about two hours and ended with the entire congregation processing out of the church singing the final hymn at the top of their voices. A strange service to one from England, but a moving one, which led me to reflect on the wonderful universality of the Christian faith. N.B. - This was a Lutheran church in Tanzania."

LOCAL WISDOM

Vicar in conversation with elderly parishioner in The Street, discussing last year's apple crop: "It will be a good apple year this year, Vicar." "Why do you say that?" "The sun shone when I was eating my Christmas dinner - it's a sure sign."