Scripture Union 1963-64
Every once in a while there comes a time in one's life when one pauses and reflects on the happenings of the immediate past. At such a time one realises just how much one crams into each day. On thinking of the past year in the Scripture Union, many events stand out in the mind. I can remember at the first meeting, coming away, asking myself, "Where do we go from here?" But, as usual, events seem to work out for the best. And after a slow start we have gradually accelerated into a streamlined programme.
Certainly, the most enlightening meeting was the one in which a Probation Officer talked to us about her job. I had till then held the view that probation is "letting a person off". A few minutes dispelled that idea. The main idea is that the officer tries to build up a relationship with the offender and so tries to find and remove the cause of his or her trouble. This is surely the most satisfactory way of stemming crime. The lady spoke with understanding and conviction and it was obvious that her Christian faith was of much assistance to her.
We seem to have had a bad run with films. The two films we have had have both broken. The second film was brought along by the representative of the British & Foreign Bible Society. This again showed the part that the Christian message has to play in the rapidly developing African continent. As a result of his talk we are collecting used postage stamps, for which they are always grateful.
With union in the air between the Methodist and Anglican churches it was too good an opportunity to miss. So we had an Anglican and a Methodist minister to state the cases of their particular churches in the matter. These meetings did much towards sorting out the question in the mind of senior members. They were followed by some very lively discussion.
To avoid appearing too dull we had a meeting on the use of modern (secular) music in services. This meeting, like most of the others, gave one an excellent opportunity to think of the practical applications of Christianity.
Even at the late stage in the year of writing this report, the Union has not ceased its activities. Two visits are arranged for later in the year. We are to visit the Holy Law Synagogue, Prestwich, later this month. After the examinations we are to visit Manchester Cathedral for a conducted tour and a service.
For the future, plans are underfoot to give the Union a new look by making it more closely connected with the Student Christian Movement.
We are looking forward to welcoming Christobel home from Kenya, where she has been on Voluntary Service Overseas. During the year we have received several reports telling of her exploits. These include teaching classes of 40 and 50 in a class, many five and six years older than she is. For her Christmas holidays she trekked five hundred miles across country to see relatives. We hope to arrange for her to give a talk when she comes home.
We of the Scripture Union are a very closely knit group and the work of running it has fallen mainly on the lower Sixth Lit. class who have fulfilled the task most admirably. The only point I can find to criticise is that the meetings have catered mainly for the senior members, but I am grateful to our faithful band of followers in the lower forms. I hope that they, like all members of the Union, will carry on the Christian work both at school and in their lives.
EDMUND SHAW.