Christmas 1958
The Vicarage, Blackmore,
Essex. December, 1958.
"His name shall be called
- the Prince of Peace" Isa. 9.6. "Thou shalt call his name Jesus for
he shall save His people from their sins". Matt 1.21.
Dear Friend,
Once again my wife and I find
ourselves thinking and speaking of friends far and near, for once again we
approach the Season of Goodwill. How quickly the cycle of another year has
turned and how much seems to have happened in our lives.
With a copy of the letter we
sent a year ago before us, we are reminded that we had then newly entered upon
our Ministry in this Parish of Blackmore. As we foresaw then so we have found
since, we like Blackmore, the place and the people. And according to our
ability we have sought to serve them as Ministers of the Gospel of Christ.
As to the living church, our
numbers have been augmented. Several have made a clear-cut decision for Christ
and there is evidence of a deepening of spiritual life as the Holy Spirit does
his gracious work in the lives of men and women. We have commenced a small but
sustained work amongst the children. The Women's Fellowship is an encouraging
feature in our church life. Recently we have commenced a conversational
Bible-study group which is appreciated. We are grateful for increased
attendances at our Sunday Services.
We are also able to report
favourably on the Parish Church, which dates back to 1115 A.D. The fabric and
the churchyard were in a deplorable state and it is estimated that it will cost
£5000 to bring them into good order. In January we set ourselves to the task
and have succeeded in raising 1375 in our own Parish to date. A legacy of £100,
a loan of £750 and grants from charitable organisations have brought us a total
of £2100 towards the £2800 needed for the first stage of our repairs. The
scaffolding about the tower and steeple is evidence that the work is in hand.
The Vicarage, which was newly
built when we came to live in Blackmore just over a year ago looks much more
presentable now that the garden is taking shape. We believe God has helped us
to make it a place where folks feel welcome. We have no church hall and so most
mid-week gatherings are held in our home and my wife has performed the duties
of hostess most ably.
It is with a sense of humble
gratitude to God that we record the foregoing and feel it a pleasant duty to
inform our friends, since we are conscious of much prayer being offered on our
behalf. The demands that result from the spiritual care of more than 1500 souls
in an extended parish are considerable and we are constantly proving that only
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for these things.
We greatly rejoiced in the
response from the many we have come to know and love through past years,
resulting from our letter of a year ago. It has been particularly gratifying to
see and hear friends from across the Atlantic and we treasure the memory of
those fleeting reunions.
Now we approach that Season
when we remember that the Saviour of the World is come. We who are Christians
recognise that He is the source of all blessing so that the close of the Old
Year leads us to look back in thankfulness for His mercies and on into the New
Year with trustful expectation.
Again we anticipate news from
those who are in our thoughts at this time and again we send our affectionate
greetings and good wishes for the coming year.
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