Tárogató, 1949-1950 (12. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1949-11-01 / 5. szám
TÁROGATÓ 13 THE SAYING OF GRACE It is always surprising, and not a little disappointing, when asking a group of twenty or thirty children how many say a Grace at meal-time to discover that less than a fourth have this habit established in the home. Then it is often very difficult for parents to establish this habit when it never has been the custom. The parents themselves feel embarrassed. This in turn is sensed by the children. They attempt is then unsuccessful and so the habit is never formed. If this is the case, it is often a good idea for everybody' to learn a formal family grace so that it can be repeated in unison. Then individuals can take turns to see if they can say it alone. New formal prayers may be learned and said at meal-time—at first as a family and then as individuals. However, if there is no encouragement for informal thanks, the children and parents, too, will always have a set prayer for meal-time. So it is well to encourage individual, informal prayers whenever possible. In homes where this custom is established, the members are never embarrassed when visiting in another home and this return of thanks is given at meal-time, and they miss it when it is not used. Children, too, seem to enjoy this brief worship, and when they grow old enough to establish their own homes this is usually carried on in their new homes. It is never too late to establish this observance and it should be treasured in every Christian home. ONE FOR EACH On June 10th next year The United Church of Canada will be twenty-five years old. That is not old in years, but it is in experience. They have been fateful years in the Nation’s history—a period of financial prosperity, a prolonged depression, seven years of drought, a World War, and now the reconstruction period. The record of the new Church during these years is one of which we can be humbly proud. As yet, however, we are not as Churchconscious as we might be. To some extent this is due to geography. We are a long, narrow country with churches and congregations separated from each other by quite some distance, especially in the sparsely-settled parts. Many congregations are unfamiliar with our programme and achievements. In a new Church such knowledge is indispensable. It is this which the Church paper conveys to its readers, month after month. At the present time only about one out of every nine families in the Church receives “The Observer” regularly. That is not enough. The General Council thinks that as a minimum at least 100,000 families should be subscribers. If each congregation sees to it that there is at least one new subscriber for each year of Union—twentyfive in all—not only will the expectation and hopes of the General Council be fulfilled, but there will be a much better informed membership, and therefore a much more interested and devoted people. When “The Observer” representative calls to solicit your subscription, welcome him as his mission is one of real service to the Church. PUMPKIN’S THANKSGIVING By Anne Mason “Oh dear!” grumbled Pumpkin, as Farmer Brown’s wife moved off. “Now I shall never go anywhere. I shall never meet anyone farther away than this farm.” Mother Earth reached out with her soft brown hand. “There now, Pumpkin,” she whispered gently. “You mustn’t take on so. You should be proud that Mistress Brown has chosen you for her Thanksgiving pie.” “But I don’t want to be a pie,” snapped Pumpkin. “I want to travel. I want to see other people. I want to go to the city market. I won’t be a pie”. “But, Pumpkin”, said kind Mother OUR ENGLISH SECTION.
