2007-10

80 Years Ago
September 1927
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
There are signs that the holiday
season is drawing to an end.
Many who have encountered
bad weather are glad to be at
home. I must thank the congregation for their
steady support of the services throughout
August.
A millionaire said to an interviewer the other
day, "The greatest pleasure you can get from
earning a great deal of money is giving it
away."
Is not that one of the chief secrets of the
pleasure derived from a holiday? Most of the
year we are busy working and saving, and
then for a few brief days we take our ease,
and let others serve us, and spend at a rate
out of keeping with that of the greater part of
the year. Anyhow the change of scene and
even friends for a short time is good for us.
Presently we shall be facing our Autumn
Campaign, and I trust we shall do it all the
more vigorously, as a result of our visits to
the beautiful holiday haunts of our country.
October 1927
MY DEAR FRIENDS,
I ask you for a most generous response to
our appeal for liberal collections on Harvest
Thanksgiving Sunday.
We are supposed to raise £70 towards the
Diocesan Fund, but unless a miracle
happens, we cannot hope to reach that
amount this year. Still, let us do our best.
In October, we also celebrate our
Missionary Festival, and year after year I
have pled for an increased support for the
oldest of our Church Societies which
propagate the Gospel.
The services are on Sunday, 23rd October,
and I trust that there will be a rally of our
people to the support of the Missionary work
of the Church.
A Prayer for Maturity
Lord, thou knowest better
than I know myself that I am
growing older and will some
day be old.
Keep me from the fatal habit
of thinking I must say something
on every subject and on
every occasion.
Release me from craving to
straighten out everybody's
affairs.
Make me thoughtful, but not
moody - helpful, but not
bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom,
it seems a pity not to
use it all - but thou knowest,
Lord, that I want a few
friends at the end.
Keep my mind free from the
recital of endless details -
give me the wings to get to
the point.
Seal my lips on my aches
and pains - they are increasing,
and the love of rehearsing
them is becoming
sweeter as the years go by.
I dare not ask for grace
enough to enjoy the tales of
others' pains, but help me to
endure them.
I dare not ask for improved
memory, but for a growing
humility and a lessening
cock-sureness when my
memory seems to clash with
the memory of others.
Teach me the glorious lesson
that, occasionally, I may be
mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I
do not want to be a saint -
some of them are so hard to
live with - but a sour old
person is one of the crowning
works of the Devil.
Give me the ability to see
good things in unexpected
places and people.
And give me, O Lord, the
grace to tell them so.
Amen.
St Chads Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats
email: office@stchads.org
Church Offices: 15 Camping Lane, Sheffield S8 0GB Page 28 web site: stchads.org
Tel: (0114) 274 5086