Dec 1938

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

DECEMBER, 1938

CLERGY:

REV. J. W. APPELBE, M.A., B.D., Carrick-blacker Ave.

REV. W. F. HAYES, B.A., L.Th., The Bungalow,

Lower Seagoe.

CHURCHWARDENS

Rector's—THOMAS MARTIN.

People's—H. A. CATHCART.

THE CLERGY WILL ESTEEM IT A FAVOUR IF

IN CASES OF SICKNESS THEY ARE INFORMED

IMMEDIATELY.

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER.

December 1st—Levaghery Social Evening in Orange

Hall.

December 4th—2nd Sunday in Advent.

December 6th—Bocombra Monthly Service at 8 p.m.

December 7th—Advent Service in Church at 8 p.m.

December 8th—"Irish Night" in Drumgor.

December 11th—Third Sunday in Advent.

December 13th—Mothers' Union Meeting at 7.30 p.m.

December 14th—Advent Service in Church at 8 p.m.

December 18th—4th Sunday in Advent.

December 21st—St. Thomas.

Advent Service in Church at 8 p.m.

December 25th—Christmas Day.

December 26th—St. Stephen.

December 27th—St. John.

December 28th—Holy Innocents Day.

ADVENT.

Almighty God, give us grace that we

may cast away the works of darkness, and

put upon us the armour of light, now in

the time of this mortal life, in which thy

Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great

humility; that when He shall come again

in His glorious majesty to Judge both the

quick and the dead, we may rise to the life

immortal, through Him who liveth and

reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit,

now and ever. Amen.

The above prayer is the collect appointed to be

used throughout the season of Advent. In this collect

we have brought before us the thoughts that should

be uppermost in our minds at this season. The word

"Advent" means coming, at this time we are called

to think of the "Comings" of Christ.

THE FIRST COMING.

First, He came down to this world "in great humility”

to live as a man amongst men in order to rescue us

from sin and selfishness, to show us what God was

really like, to show what we should be like and could

be like, when we lived according to God's plan for us,

and to make available for us by His Death and

Resurrection grace or help to enable us to live as God's

children. As we think of His first coming to save us

we are filled with hope and wonder and thankfulness;

it gives us hope and encouragement because that first

coming brings home to us our value in God's sight, as

the Nicene Creed puts it, it was "for us men and for

our salvation" that He came; we wonder at the

humiliation involved, for He who came as a little child

was, and is still, the Lord of Heaven and Earth—"He

was in the beginning with God and by Him all things

were made," and yet He gladly laid aside for a while

the Glory which He had with Father before the

world was" and took our human nature upon Him,

being content for our sakes to lead a life of hardship,

disappointment and self-sacrifice which eventually

brought Him to the bitter Cross. We cannot but be

thankful when we recall His condescension. St. Paul

was thinking of this when he wrote to the Philippian

Christians, "Let this mind be in you, which was also

in Christ Jesus: who being in the form Of God thought

it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself

of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of

a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and

being found in fashion as a man, he humbled Himself,

and became obedient unto death even the death of the

Cross. Advent then reminds us of the seeking love of

God in coming down to this world in Christ Jesus so

that we might know Him and live as His children in

the fellowship of His Church.

II. HIS COMING TO US NOW.

This brings us to another note of the Advent collect.

Jesus Christ, who first came in great humility is ever

seeking to come to each one of us, that living in our

hearts, He may enable us to cast away the works of

darkness and put upon us His armour of light. But

we must remember that He will not, He cannot come

to us until we come to Him. "Come unto Me, all ye

who labour and are heavy laden and I will refresh

you," He still says. We must open our hearts to Him

and enthrone Him as King there. Jesus saves no one

against his will. We must feel our need of His grace,

i.e., His help, and we must desire it before He will

give it to us. Advent-tide calls us to remember that

unless we come to Jesus now for forgiveness for past

failures, for power to do better in the future, His first

coming will be of no avail for us. When we come to

Him in private prayer and public worship, He will

come to us to save us from the works of darkness. Are

we making the most of these means of grace?

III “AND HE SHALL COME AGAIN TO JUDGE

BOTH THE QUICK AND THE DEAD."

The Advent collect brings before us the wonder of

Christ's first, coming nineteen hundred years ago, it

reminds us, too, that we must come to Him now for

grace before He can come to us to fashion in us the

likeness of Himself, but it does more, it points us to

the future, Christ has come in the past, He is ever

coming to us in the present, but He will come one

day to be our judge, there will be a day of reckoning,

or as St. Paul puts it, "We must all stand before the

judgment seat of God." Christ, who has given

us the gift of life and opportunities of serving Him,

He who by His Cross and passion has made available

for us the grace of God, will one day require an account

of our stewardship of the gift of life, and the offer of

grace sufficient for all our needs. This is the sterner

side of the Advent message. Let us thank God for it,

for amid the cares of the world we might forget that

our future destiny depends upon our daily lives here

and now. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he

also reap."

To sound this threefold Advent note is one of the

reasons why we have in our Church mid-week

services. It is hoped that as many of our parishioners

as can do so will attend these special services on the

Wednesdays in Advent at 8 p.m.

CHRISTMAS DAY.

Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year. There

will be Holy Communion at 8 a.m. and after Morning

Prayer at 11.30 a.m.

Evening Prayer at 7 p.m., at which Carols will be

sung.

Christmas Day commemorates God's greatest Gift

to us in sending His Son into this world. It is especially

the Children's festival, for Christ came as a little child,

thereby enhancing and uplifting the status of little

children. But Christmas is more than a time of festivity,

it speaks to us of God stooping down to lift us up. It is

a time of joy and gladness, but unless we see in it,

above all else, God speaking to us, we will miss the

real joy and wonder of it. It speaks to us of something

God has done for us, —He has drawn near to us that

we might be enabled and encouraged to draw near to

Him. Are we going to let this anniversary pass without

trying to make a worthy response to Him? What better

response could we make than doing as His Son has

requested us to do, "This do in remembrance of Me."

It is a sad fact that so many professing Christians

treat this solemn command about Holy Communion

so lightly as if Christ did not mean what He said.

The Lord's Supper, as it is sometimes called was not

Meant by Christ, to be only for a few, who think them

selves very good. There is nobody good enough to

partake of that holy feast. If we were good enough

we would not need it; it is a means of grace, that is a

channel or instrument by which Christ can make us

better and remind us of our friendship with Him

His friendship with us. Let us see to it, then, that

every adult member of our parish will be at one of

the Communion Services on Christmas Day.

DECORATIONS.

Simple decorations will be put up in the Church on

Saturday, December 24th, at 2 p.m. Gifts of greenery,

flowers, etc., will be very acceptable and should be

left in at the Church on Saturday morning. We hope

that helpers will come along to arrange them.

MOTHERS' UNION.

The monthly meeting was held in Seagoe School on

Tuesday, November 8th, when a most helpful talk was

given by Mrs. Magill, of Milltown Parish.

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December

13th, at 7.30 p.m., in Seagoe School. The Rev. G. A. Boulger,

M.A., of Ardmore, has kindly promised to speak. After

the formal meeting the members of the M.U. hope to have

cakes, etc., for sale and each member is asked to bring a

friend, and to bring something and to buy something. We

understand that the proceeds of this will go to the New

Rectory Fund, as the members of the M.U. are aiming at

raising £100 for this object.

SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENTS.

The Superintendent and teachers of Levaghery

Sunday School are organising a social evening in

Edenderry Orange hail on Thursday, December 1st,

at 7.30 p.m.

The Superintendent and teachers of Drumgor are

getting up a concert in Drumgor on Thursday,

December 8th. at 8 p.m. It will take the form of an

“Irish Night," i.e., Irish songs, airs, sketch, etc.

CONGRATULATIONS.

The results of the Essay Competition for school

children in connection with the recent Portadown

Civic Week have just been published. The following

are the prize-winners from Seagoe P.E.S.: - First,

Helen M'Murray, Ronald Thompson; second, Mabel

Ruddell, Jim Porter.

We were glad to notice the names of the following

Seagoe children in list of prize-winners from Edenderry

P.E.S.—Elizabeth Reid. Tom Graces, Brian M'Court,

Molly Maxwell, Mary Graces, and Maurice Liggett.

EDENDERRY MID-WEEK SERVICES.

The attendance at these Services has been quite

encouraging. They will be discontinued during Advent,

it is hoped -hat even more will attend them when they

are resumed after Christmas.

THE ARMISTICE ANNIVERSARY.

There was a fine turn-out of ex-servicemen parade

on Sunday, November 6th, to Seagoe Parish church

at 11.30 a.m., when the annual service of remembrance

was held. The special preacher was the Rev. Herbert

Lindsay, Rector of St. Bartholomew's parish, Belfast,

who took as his theme "National sowing and National

Reaping," and outlined the Christian answer to the

question: —Why did God allow the War? The collection

was in aid of the Earl Haig Poppy Day Fund.

The Seagoe C.L.B. Band, Cadets and training Corps

paraded under the charge of Capt. E. Mitchell, and

after the Church Service there was a short service at

the War Memorial gates, when a beautiful wreath

was laid on behalf of the C.L.B.

OBITUARY.

After a long, tedious illness, Cecil M'Loughlin has

been called to the Home above where "there is no

more pain." He was a fine lad and a great favourite

all who knew him. Our heartfelt sympathy goes

cut to his grandparents and relatives in their sorrow.

May He, who once said, "Suffer little children to come

unto Me," comfort and sustain them at this time.

NOTICE.

The financial year of this Parish ends on December

31st. Amounts received after that date may not be in

time to appear in the Parish Financial Report, which

will be printed early in the New Year.

The Hon. Secretary of the W.F.O. and the Hon.

Treas. would be greatly helped if parishioners would

send in their annual subscriptions to the Sustentation

Fund or arrears of W.F.O. Envelopes, as soon as

possible.

G.F.S.

Would all members, who are making articles in

connection with the work party, please return them to

Mrs. Appelbe, finished or unfinished, as soon as possible.

W.F.O., 1939.

The sets of Weekly Freewill Envelopes for 1939 will

be distributed in December. It is hoped that every

Parishioner, who can do so, will take a set. Every year

a number of young people become wage-earners; when

they do so they should procure a set of envelopes, and

thus help the work of the Church in this parish. Those

requiring sets should send their name to Mr. J. H.

Twinem, Hon. Secretary of the W.F.O., or any member

of the Select Vestry, who will gladly supply a set.

C.L.B.

As we go to Press the Seagoe Company of the

Church Lads Brigade are busy preparing for their

annual inspection, which takes place on Tuesday,

November 29th, at 7.30 p.m.

The inspecting officer will be Col. Waring, the new

Colonel in command of Down, Connor and Dromore

Battalion. We hope to give an account of the inspection

in our next issue.

HARVEST THANK OFFERING APPEAL.

We acknowledge with thanks the following subscriptions

towards the above which have come to hand since October

23rd:

Neill, Mr R. and Miss E. 0 10 0

Stanfield, Mr. and Mrs 0 10 0

Stanfield, Miss Gladys 0 2 6

Stanfield, Miss Helen 0 2 6

Thornton, Miss E. 0 0 3

Thompson, Miss Emily (senr.) 0 1 0

1 6 3

Already acknowledged £108 8 6

Total £109 14 9

NEW RECTORY BUILDING FUND.

We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of the following

subscriptions since our last issue:

Mrs. Magee, Drumnacanvey 0 3 9

Joseph Fisher & Sons, Newry 2 2 0

Mr. Jacob Sandford, Hacknahay 10 0 0

Mr. Geo. M'Neill, Ballymacrandle 0 5 0

Mr. John Ramsey, Kernan 1 0 0

Mr. Ephraim Collins, Kernan 1 0 0

Mr. Joseph Stevenson, Drumgor 1 0 0

Mrs. David M'Kane, Ballymacrandie 0 10 0

Mr. Thos. Clarke, 5, Levaghery Gardens 0 2 6

Mr. Saml. Morrison, 25, Levaghery

Gardens 0 2 6

Mrs. Baird, 22, Levaghery Gardens 0 2 6

Mr. Thos. Laverty, 19, Levaghery

Gardens 0 2 6

Mr. Charles Clarke. 3, Levaghery

Gardens 0 2 6

£16 13 3

Already acknowledged £400 2 7

Total £416 15 10

BAPTISMS.

“Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid

them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God."

Nov. 6th—Winifred, daughter of Robert and Olive

Elizabeth Allen, The Cottage, Lower Seagoe

BURIALS.

"Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from

henceforth, yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest

from their labours."

Nov. 4th—Cecil M'Loughlin, Killicomaine, aged 15

years.

Nov. 14th—Letitia Cooke. 9 Rugby Road, Belfast.

aged 90 years.

Nov. 17th—William H. M'Adam, Ballyworkan,

aged 81years.

ARMAGH PROTESTANT ORPHAN SOCIETY.

Before the end of December a card collection will

be made in the parish for this worthy object. Last year

we sent in over £18 from the Harvest Thanksgiving

collection; this year we were unable to give a collection,

but we must make a worthy contribution from this parish,

as for the last few years the Armagh P.O.S. has paid over

£30 per annum to help our orphans. We hope when the

collector calls our people will respond generously. The

cause of the "fatherless and the widow" is one that is

very dear to the heart, of Christ, and has always been,

and rightly so, an object which has a prior claim on the

charitable activities of Christians.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.

The new Calendars and Teachers' Notes were in the

hands of the Sunday School Teachers in time for the

first Sunday of the new Sunday School year. i.e.

November 27th. Advent Sunday.

Teachers are asked to follow the Calendar strictly

each Sunday, both for the lesson and repetition.

Parents can help considerably by encouraging their

children to learn their repetition, and also by seeing

that the children are in time. The two morning

Sunday Schools commence punctually at 10.15 a.m.

and the afternoon ones at 3 p.m.

Superintendents and Teachers are asked to employ

the 5 system of marking for the coming year, i.e., to

give 5 instead of 1 to each child as a full mark. The

5 full mark is made up thus: —Repetition, 2; Church

attendance previous Sunday, 1; being in time, l;

bringing Hymn Book and Bible, 1.

To do this satisfactorily a separate roll for each

teacher is necessary. These can be obtained free from

the Rector, who will gladly explain it to any Superintendent

or teacher wishing to adopt it.

SERVICES—THE PARISH CHURCH.

HOLY COMMUNION—1st Sunday after Morning

Prayer; 3rd Sunday at 8 a.m., and on the Chief Festivals

HOLY BAPTISM—1st Sunday of each Month at 4 p.m.,

and during any Service in the Parish Church, notice to be

given; Two Sponsors at least are required. The father and

mother must be present. Churchings are held at each Baptism.

Mothers are expected to bring a thank offering. (See Book of

Common Prayer.)

MORNING PRAYER—Sundays and Chief Festivals,

11.30 a.m.

EVENING PRAYER—Sundays, 7 p.m.

DISTRICT SERVICES.

Hacknahay—Last Sunday of Month at 3.30 p.m.

Drumgor—Second Sunday of Month at 3 p.m.

Edenderry—Wednesdays at 8 p.m., Oct—Easter.

CLASSES &c.

BIBLE CLASSES FOR MEN in Edenderry on Sundays at 10.15 a.m.

SUNDAY SCHOOLS—10.15 a.m. Edenderry Parochial

Hall and Seagoe School. 3 p.m. Seagoe, Edenderry

Parochial Hall, Levaghery, Hacknahay, Carne, Drumgor, Bocombra

MOTHERS' UNION—2nd Tuesday of each month at 7.30 p.m.

CHURCH LADS' BRIGADE in the Parochial Hall on Tuesdays.

GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY in Seagoe School on Mondays at 8 p.m. as announced

G.F.S. Edenderry Parochial Hall, Saturdays at 3 p.m.

SEAGOE P.E. SCHOOL—9.15 a.m. Principal—Mr. R. Scott.

MARRIAGES must be performed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Licences are issued by Ven. Archdeacon Hannon, the Rectory, Lurgan. Due notice (48 hours) must be given to the Rector of intended weddings. FEES—BY License—Labourers 5/-, Tradesmen 10/-, Merchants and Farmers £1, Professional £l. By Banns 5/-.

FUNERALS will be attended by the Clergy if proper notice be given. SICK CASES should be notified to the Clergy without delay. FEES FOR CERTIFICATES—BAPTISM 3/7, Children (Factory) 1/- and 2/- (non-residents); MARRIAGE 3/7. An extra Search Fee is chargeable in certain cases. It will be a help to the Clergy if they are notified of the arrival of new Church families in the Parish.

A copy of the Magazine will be sent by post to any subscriber for 3/- per annum.