FORGET IT If you see a tall fellow ahead of the crowd, A leader of men, marching fearless and proud, And you know of a tale whose mere telling aloud Would cause this proud head to in anguish be bowed, It’s a pretty good plan to forget it. If you know of a skeleton hidden away In a closet and guarded and kept from the day In the dark, whose showing, whose sudden display Would cause grief and sorrow and life long dismay, It’s a pretty good plan to forget it. If you know of a spot in the life of a friend, (W e all have such spots concealed, world without end), Whose touching his heart strings would play on and rend Till the shame of its showing no grieving could mend, It’s a pretty good plan to forget it. If you know anything that will darken the joy Of a man or a woman, a girl or a bay, That will wipe out a smile or the least way annoy A fellow , or cause any gladness to cloy, It’s a pretty good plan to forget it. ----AUTHOR U N K N O W N ie ic It is better for a man to follow a straight line than to travel in the best circles. ie ie ie TO YOUR KNEES A mountain climber and his guide were climbing a high peak. Coming to a particularly treacherous ridge where they were exposed to a high wind, the guide dropped to his knees for safety. Looking back, he saw his comrade trying doubtfully to walk along. Realizing his peril, he cried, “ To your knees, man, to your knees.” As we face the dangerous winds today, we shall only walk securely if we drop to our knees when the peril is great. We do not have sufficient strength within ourselves to brave the fierce storms c o m m o n t o a l l Christians who strive to reach the higher heights of Christian experi ence. But we do have this promise, “ They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they s h a l l mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40: 31).
(FOR HANDY FUTURE REFERENCE, CU P OUT AND FILE) Special F ea tu re:
Church Recreation B y J IM SLEVECOVE
Chili Beans Much like the safety pin mixer, each person is given ten beans as he comes to the party. The object here is to collect as many beans as possible. One bean is acquired each time you hear a person say any of the first per son singular pronouns, “ I,” “Me,” or “Mine,” etc. This stimulates conver sation even among strangers. A prize is given to the person who finishes with the most beans. Watch the teen agers. I remember one who ran off to the market and bought a whole pound of beans. We were ruined! Puzzle Another good idea to keep “ early birds” interested and entertained is to provide a 500 piece or 1000 piece puzzle on which they can all work together. Sing-Song Use an old worn hymnal for this game. (The pastor can usually find one that is about to be discarded.) Determine the number to attend the gathering. Select enough gospel songs for half the group. Cut the music in two and paste pieces on cards. As the guests arrive, give each a card. At a given signal, each is to select his part ner by humming the song he’s been given to each person until the one whose song matches his is found. The music is not to be shown but only the humming can be used for matching. (Use only well-known songs and make certain no one knows what the cards are for until the game is an nounced.) The lowliest one can serve—God help us see A pastor and his people, that we each Have a part in serving Thee. ----GRACE N O LL CROW ELL ic k k He was a candidate for senatorial honors, and was scheduled to speak in a small town. Anxious to discover the religious affiliation of the major ity of his audience, he declared: “ M y great-grandfather w a s an Episcopalian (silence), but my great grandmother belonged to the Presby terian church (more silence). My grandfather was a Methodist (si lence), but my grandmother was a Congregationalist (continued silence). But I had a great-aunt who was a Baptist (loud applause) — and so I have followed my great aunt!”
Getting Things Started
“Mixers” or “ ice breakers,” as they are s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d , mus t always be ar ranged by the host or hostess so that activi ties may begin in fun and har mony. Without planned “ get-
Mr. Slevecove
acquainted” games, the deathly si- |lence of an “ early bird” group will |carry through to the main program ' or party and give it a premature bur- j ial. I Listed below are some “mixers” of I the conversational and active type I that might be helpful. Safety Pins Each person is given a safety pin |as he comes to the party. The object I is to see who can accumulate the |most pins during the evening. Pins , are won when one individual hears I another say the words “ yes” or “ no” I in his conversation. As many as the offending individual has are turned over to the person who hears him I utter the forbidden words. The nod- I ding o f the head or answering I “ ahem” or “uh-uh” are permissable, however, and no pins are to be given |up. The pins which a person wins are i to be worn hanging down from the 1 lapel. A PASTOR AND HIS PEOPLE This is our church, and this is where we come W ith earnest hearts to worship and to pray. A pastor and his people joined as one To seek a holy way. A pastor and his people—he to lead, And we to follow where the Christ- road runs. God, make him wise; God,-give him words to say To us, the listening ones. God, help us share his burdens—help us bring Our own gifts to the altar—bring them all. Oh, may we not hide arty talent, Lord, Though it be large or small. And we can pray— the humblest one can pray,
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FEBRUARY, 1959
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