The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1927, Page 58

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

58 THE LUTHERAN PIONEER.

are most encouraging. We bring the following
items from the Messenger and Bote for the infor-
mation and encouragement of our readers.

S. writes in the Messenger:

“Children’s Mission Festival.

“On the first Sunday in Advent, November 28,
1926, St. John’s Church of Merrill observed its
first annual children’s mission-festival. A special
service was held in the evening at seven o’clock, in
which the two hundred children attending our paro-

* chial school rendered a well-prepared and interesting
program of hymns and recitations, which featured
Hans Egede’s mission-work in Greenland. At the
conclusion of the program each child walked up to
the altar and there deposited a little wooden barrel,
which contained an offering for missions. These
barrels were purchased from Concordia Publishing
House and paid for by our ladies’ aid society. After
the impressive service the teachers and members of
the Walther League opened the containers, counted
the mountain of pennies, nickels, and dimes, and
rolled the many coins into coin wrappers, a task
which was enjoyed almost as much as the program.

“The proceeds of the offering amounted to $120.
We had given the parents instructions not to fill
the barrels for the children, but to train their little
boys and girls to sacrifice their spending-money to
their Savior. The primary idea we had associated
with this children’s mission-festival was to give the
children an opportunity to express their love for
their Redeemer. Christ praises the love which
children have for their Savior when He. says:

_ ‘Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive
the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not
enter therein.’ The qualifications for entry into the
kingdom of God consist not only in a childlike trust
in God’s Word, but also in a childlike love of God.
Yes, our children have a great love for their Savior
and for His work. But give the children a chance
to express their love for, and interest in,: Christ’s
kingdom. Ladies’ aids and Walther League societies
have a splendid opportunity to provide the children
with this chance.”

Listen to what the children of Pastor H.L.
Buesing, Townsend, Wis., did for missions at a
mission-festival of the congregation. The children
themselves tell how they earned their missionary
gifts. Chesne and Amber: “We earned this money
by washing dishes and taking care of the baby.”
Kenneth says: “I earned my money by gathering
eggs, hoeing potatoes, and driving the hay wagon.”
Hedwig: “Twenty-five cents I earned by feeding

chickens, another twenty-five cents by picking berries,
and fifty cents I got for loading hay.” Beatrice: “I
earned mine all by picking berries.” IXenneth says:
“These fifty cents for missions I earned by hoeing
and pulling weeds.” Elizabeth: “I earned these
$2 by picking berries.’ The Ehrhardt children:
“This $5.60 we made by hoeing corn.” Lois says:
“T earned my money by carrying mail and milk
and doing other things. I hope that it will help to
make the Savior known to somebody that doesn’t yet
know Him.” Pastor Buesing writes that other
children besides those whom he mentioned brought
their gifts for missions and that these gifts in many
instances exceeded a dollar. He adds: “Our
children did their part to swell our mission-
collection.”

H. W. B. writes concerning the mission-festival
of St. Paul’s at Town Pine River, Wis.: “Our
mission-festival was a day. of joy for our whole
congregation, but particularly for our children.
During the school-year they had gathered their
pennies and nickels for this day. In the afternoon
service they were given an opportunity to bring their
offerings. During the service each child stepped up
to the altar and brought its offering. What joy
dwelt in the hearts of the little ones as they laid
their offerings at the Savior’s feet was plainly
written on their bright faces. We are sure that by
no means the least joy was given the Savior by this
donation of $29.51 from the little ones of our con-
gregation. If all of us gave with that willingness
and that liberality with which these children brought
their offerings, the Lord’s treasury would never be
empty and a great blessing would rest upon the work
of our Church.” F. J. L.

Does Institutional Work Yield
Adequate Returns?

In reply we quote from a letter, recently sent to
our District Mission Board by a pastor who is sub-
sidized by the District to do that type of work: —

“Wirst of all, we serve our own fellow-Lutherans
who have been sent to one or the other institution
for medical care. If they have drifted from their
Savior, to whom they in baptism and confirmation
vowed allegiance, reawakened memories of Bible-
and hymn-passages, plus the purifying fires of
affliction, often make wonderful Christians of. them.
If they have remained faithful, our visits help them
fight the battles of doubt, and strengthen them in
the faith that day by day makes the Savior more