8.1 Sunday in Lent. Early Celebration of Holy Communion. M. 4 Tu. 2345678 W. Ember Day. 6 Th. 9 $. 2 Sunday in Lent. Baptisms. Collection for Lighting and Heating. 10 M. 11 Tu. 12 W. 13 Th. 14 F. 15 S. 16 S. 3 Sunday in Lent. Early Celebration of Holy Communion. 17 M. Tu. Missionary Association Special Service at 7-30 p.m. 19 W. 20 Th. 30 $ 5 Sunday in Lent. Early Celebration of Holy Communion. Celebration at St. Peter's at Noon. HE Dedication Festival of the Parish Church was held on the Feast of the Purification, February 2nd. The Services were not particularly well attended, and the collections (on behalf of the Schools) were poor. Part of this result must no doubt be put down to the account of the weather, and part to bad times. Our Offertories generally have fallen off lately and we are afraid that unless a great change takes place for the better the Annual Statement of Account I will not be favourable. At the Parochial Missionary Association Meeting held February 19th, the Rev. T. Jackson Smith, incumbent of Howe Bridge, kindly gave an interesting account of his voyage out to and life in New Zealand. He also brought some photographs illustrating the scenery of our Antipodean Colony, including views of his Church and parsonage. We are sorry that the audience was not large, but those present seemed to appreciate Mr. Smith's remarks. We hope the Missionary Association will receive gradually an increase in the number of its members and that it may be the means of creating interest in the great work of the propagation of the Gospel. We all know what is thought of the man who selfishly attends only to his own necessities, and the same that holds good with regard to the individual holds good also with regard to the parish. God's blessing rests upon an unselfish parish as surely as upon an unselfish person. We are glad to be able to congratulale Mr. Brown upon the good audience at his last Concert and upon the success of it from a musical point of view. Every one, so far as we have heard, was more than satisfied with the way in which the "Messiah" was rendered. It is exactly one hundred years ago since this oratorio was performed (probably for the first time) in Leigh, as will be seen by a reference to Mr. Worsley's History. This time it was in the School, then it was in the Parish Church, and with a larger number of performers, with the aid too of kettledrums and trumpets and the newly erected organ. When will it be performed in the Parish Church again? We are very glad to hear that great interest is taken by many in the publication of the Parish Registers. This month we again give sixteen pages, which is double the number our readers must usually look for. We hope that they will do us the favour of getting as many subscribers as possible, for we do not wish of course to meet with a large loss. We shall be quite satisfied to make no profit, but on the other hand it is rather hard if a publication which is for the benefit of the parish has to be worked at a loss. We again invite remarks inquiries or information touching anyof the old families or names. "Church Bells" of February 8th, an excellent weekly paper for Church folk, which we can strongly recommend to our readers' notice, has a good woodcut of our Parish Church. In our advertisement sheet appears the last annual statement of the Penny Bank. The withdrawals are this year much greater than the deposits. Will our readers kindly make known the advantages of For Sunday, March 2nd, 1879. OUR LORD'S FASTING. THEN was Jesus led up, &c. (St Matthew iv. 1) When? We are not to court but to avoid temptation. (St. James i. 2). Led up of the Spirit. was to be like (Deut. ix. 9), How long? The Prophet whom our Lord and that other in whose spirit and power St. John the Baptist was to go forth (1 Kings xix. 8), fasted for the same time. Why did our Lord fast? (To be like us.) Why must we fast? (To be like Him.) Importance of keeping this in view. What is fasting? and how can we fast ? For Sunday, March 16th, 1879. OUR LORD'S TEMPTATION. (I.) What is Temptation? Why was our Lord tempted? How? THE FIRST TRIAL. If Thou be. Satan ever ready to suggest doubts. Could our Lord have turned the stones into bread? (Cf. St. John ii. 1-11.) Then why did He not? What did He say to Satan? Where are the words He quoted written ? What is the lesson for us here? To be satisfied with what God supplies whether for body or for soul. We must guard against distrust. For Sunday, March 30th, 1879. OUR LORD'S TEMPTATION. (II.) THE SECOND TRIAL. Cast Thyself down, &c. Misuse of God's word. All not holy that appears so. How did Jesus again conquer? (N.B. When He says Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God, He does not mean Himself.) What is the lesson for us here? To guard against presumption. Feb. 9th,-Arthur, son of James and Esther Wright, of Pennington. ,, 9th,-John, son of Matthew and Mary Bate, of Bedford. ,, 23rd,-John Joseph, son of John and Jane Anne Withycomb, of Westleigh. 23rd,-George Henry, son of James and Mary Elizabeth Ogden, of Bedford. ,, 27th,-(Privately) William, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Burrows, of Atherton. At St. Paul's Church, Westleigh. Feb. 2nd,-Jane, daughter of Thomas and Margaret Farrington, of Westleigh. 18th,-(Privately) John William, son of James and Ann Livesley, of Westleigh. 21 S. in Lent......... Genesis xix. St. Mark v. Genesis xxii. Romans xi. 23 4 S. in Lent......... Genesis xlii. St. Luke i. to Genesis xliii. 1 Cor. xiv. to 30 5 S. in Lent......... Exodus iii. St. Luke iv. Exodus v. or 2 Cor. ii. 14 & |