Confirmation

Fixed for St. Nicholas' Day, 6th December, has regretfully had to be postponed, due to my departure. I shall hope to see personally those who have already intimated their wish to be confirmed and as soon as a date is agreed for 1969 it will be announced in the magazine.

Sunday School

Is closed and will recommence on 8th September.

J.H.G-W.G.

SCHOOL-LEAVERS' SERVICE

Yet another page of Village History was written when, on the evening of July 22nd, the children of our Church School, supported by many parents and friends, gathered together in the Parish Church for the annual Leavers' Service. The climax of the service came when, having together read the Lesson, the four young people who were transferring to secondary schools were each presented with a Bible in accordance with the will of Mary Gibbon, and anyone who attended this service must surely have been moved by the atmosphere of love and affection which surrounded the ceremony. We were fortunate to have with us as our guest preacher the Rural Dean, who delighted both young and old with his lively message. He begged the four leavers not to keep their new Bibles as beautiful mementos of the occasion, but expressed the hope that over the years they would become worn and shabby with use. As the congregation left the church one felt that, once again both school and church had sent their children out into a wider sphere well equipped to deal with their new experiences.

J.M.A.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself"

Luke 18, 11

Every Christian should have a Rule of life: for a rule makes regularity, and will keep religion from becoming spasmodic and occasional. The Rule must be particular and not general, fitted prudently to one's needs, and not sparing one's weaknesses. St. Ambrose said the Christian's Rule "is his cross upon which he is crucified with Christ". It should be severe that it may be remedial of a sinfulness that comes from self-indulgence. But a Rule is not to be vaunted in self-praise before God. The Pharisee in the Temple boasted of his Rule - "I fast twice a week" - when he should have lamented that his sinful nature needed such restraint, and "I give tithes of all that I possess" when he should rather have thanked God for all that he had of God's .... (cont.)