Church Magazine – Nov 1939
A piece from the November 1939 edition of “The Church Magazine” which, at a price of 2d. (less than 1p.) brought news from 25 parishes in our area. It was edited by Rev. Sayer who, once rector of Elmswell, had moved to Whepstead, and printed by W.H. Hawes – “Printer Stationer and Bookbinder” of Elmswell. The Remembrance Sunday it celebrates was unique – as Europe tried to forget the carnage and sacrifice of the First World War whilst gearing up for the devastation of the Second. [This was copied from the November 1995 edition of the Newsletter, to which it had been contributed by the village recorder, Maureen Dow.]
ELMSWELL.
FLOWERS ON THE HOLY TABLE — Sundays, November 5th, Mrs. Goode; November 12th, Mrs. A. Fayers; November 19th, Miss Lovett; November 26th, Miss Head; December 3rd, Mrs. Dolman.
SIDESMEN FOR THE MONTH — In the morning, Messrs. A. Fayers and Vince. In the afternoon, Messrs. Porter and McNeill.
SERVICES EVERY SUNDAY — Holy Communion, 8 a.m.; Morning Prayer at 11 a.m.; Sunday School at 2.30 p.m.; Evening Prayer at 3.15 p.m. Holy Communion on Sunday, November 12th after Morning Prayer and Sunday, November 26th after Evening Prayer.
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH. — This year our Remembrance Sunday will be kept while we are actually engaged again in a war. Some people seem to think that therefore this Day of Remembrance should be cancelled, but surely because we are again called upon to make sacrifices the older sacrifices should not be forgotten. The youth of this country are worthy successors to their fathers in taking up again arms in the defence of the weak against the aggressor and in honouring their fathers we are also honouring them. Let us therefore come to the House of God on this Remembrance Sunday; praising God for the sacrifices of the past and in intercession for the youth who are again facing the enemy; in repentance for national sins and follies, which have been contributing causes to the present time of stress and in worship to the God of righteousness, asking Him to look in mercy on our cause. The usual Parade of the British Legion will take place at the Afternoon Service at which the full Service of Remembrance of the British Legion will be observed.
In this connection I should like to stress that I feel that the Church Services are the most important part of the Home Front. I know that there are difficulties in the way, e.g. the housewives have extra work through the evacuated children and the hours of the services have been altered not to everybody’s convenience, yet I am rather disappointed that the congregations have been so small just when in this time of stress extra efforts should be made to attend divine worship for the purpose of intercession. Is it necessary that God shall send us an even greater calamity before we wake up to the necessity of our duty towards HIM? Let us remember the divine promise that when two or three agree in anything they will receive an answer and that our God is able to help with many or few.
The Home-call of Mrs. C. Manning, who was a member of our Duplex Envelope Scheme, is also a loss to our Parish. We extend our hearty sympathy to the relatives. Is there anyone who is willing to take her envelopes and carry on the work which she did so faithfully while she was with us.
BURIALS — October 7th, Molly Theobold, aged 4½ months.
October 17th, Lily Sophia Manning, aged 66 years.
MARRIAGES — September 23rd, Ernest Frank Redit and Dorothy Muriel Goymer.
September 30th, Alan Ingram and Olive Mary Gowing.
G. DOLMAN.