This is because, by his mission in life and by his training, the vicar will make it his business to know, for example, all who are ill in the village, and will be visiting them regularly. He will be aware of the less publicised calamities that are afflicting his fellow villagers. He will make it his first concern to care for people, at a time when an offering of friendship, or the speaking of God's comfort, is particularly sought for. This is work that cannot be rushed. Friendships of this kind will not form overnight. The vicar, too, has opportunities to speak to groups of people. He uses sermons to teach the Christian faith. But perhaps his most fundamental work is to encourage people to grow closer to our Lord, and help them to realise that God meets their deepest needs. He meets with the church council to plan the life of the church. Working with such groups demands from him gifts of perceptiveness of how people are thinking, and of what their real needs are. Using his gifts of diplomacy, the vicar is often able to create bridges of understanding between differing village groups. As a reasonably detached outsider he can frequently help to keep explosive affairs in the village within proportion. For all this work he needs to be a man praying regularly about his responsibilities and for the people he comes in contact with. Then lying behind his pastoral concern, the vicar has the responsibility for maintaining buildings and plant. He has an office from which he administers the quite considerable amount of paperwork even a small parish requires. But for all this part of his life, people come first, singly or in groups, each of them a child of God, valuable in His eyes. J.N.T.H.
OLD PETERITE NEWS A meeting of the General Committee of the Old Peterite Club was held at the School on December 13th. F. W. B. Pacey was unanimously elected the President of the Club. A Sub-Committee was organised to consider a memorial for K. H. Rhodes and how an appeal should be formed. Dates for Regional dinners were announced as follows:— NORTH WEST—Friday, March 6th at the Bracket Arms, Wigan. Organiser: G. E. L. Graham, Netherby House, Wigan, Lancs. SHEFFIELD—Friday, May 1st at the Royal Victoria Hotel, Sheffield 4. Organiser— E. D. W. Fulbrook, 1 Barnes Lane, Dronfield, Woodhouse, Sheffield. EAST RIDING—Friday May 29th at the Highfield Country Club, Driffield. Organiser: P. S. Atkinson, "Greystones", Garton, Driffield. It was resolved that the next meeting of the General Committee should be held on Saturday, February 28th, 1970. The Hon. Secretary (D. Kirby, 7a St. Peter's Grove, Clifton, York) would like to receive any items for inclusion on the agenda by February 18th. 38
