The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-13

Second Congregational church last night annual reports were read and officers elected.
 The report of tho pastor, Rev MT Lowell was as follows:
 "Fortunate we are in having cer- tain funds, comparatively small, but added to each Communion Sun day, for the relief of men and women among our members. Those funds, disbursed with great care and wisdom, are being portioned out impartially among a great many and are proving of unusuel benefit and help.
 "In addition certain donors in days past have set aside free bed funds at the hospital of the city, the use of which, left to the dis cretion of your ministers. has been of supreme value. I may say that I hope any who may now have set aside free bed funds and still re- serve for themselves the disposi- ton of the hospital beds for friends and acquaintances--L hope that all such at the end of their tenure of jurisdiction will definitely hand over to second church their au- thorlty for the purpose of our par- ish use. otherwise the income from such funds automatically reverts into the general treasury of the hospitals at the end of each fiscal year and we lose any specific and definite good as far as our own large and growing family is con- cerned.
 Adjustment Center
 "Stlll further the Life Adjust mcnt center sponsored by general Waterbury committee and the Wat erbury Mental Hygiene society but located in our own parish house and supported in no small measure by our own members has in the year just past given more than 2,000 interviews and, in ways that no other agency is equipped to serve, has vitally assisted men and women in their attempt to weather the economic, moral. mental. nerv- ous and spiritual! stresses of the times. over 100 of those who have received this assistance have been men and women in our own mem' bership.'
 "So much in general for the past. What about the future? MT Coombs and I this year want espe- cially to give our attention to tho organizing of this parish for more effective work. We believe that there are acres of diamonds in our personnel yet unmined. There are talents, abilities, capacities to-be- of-scrvice on every side which as vet we haven't capitalized or sue cessfully geared into our ongoips life and works
 "In the first place we have felt for some time that the reception or new members into our fellowship has often failed of adequate fol- low-up procedures and between the day of their taking first Commu. nion with us and the day or really sharing our common burden, too much time has elapsed. We there- fore want tho church tonight 10 appoint committee. the members of which will later be. named-a group to be known as the min isters' committee to plan and to work with use toward less leakage and greater efficiency In the mop ilizing of our constituency Tor teii- ing action in our church life. we hope before another year haS passed. you will sec definite results From WHdL WI IluVV th
 "secondly we want you to CO., onerate with us in our intention this year to join with other church. es during Lent in Union School of Religion to be held in First church this initial year each Thurs day evening in Lent. At 7:15 O. oioci, six courses are to be offered for the increase of our intelligence and interest in matters pertaining to vital religion. One group will have a chance to study missions; another the modern approach to the Bible; Q third, outstanding -epochs in church history: fourth, tile central convictions of our faith in the light of modern times; the fifth. music and It's relation to worship and ritual, and the sixth, a course in various problems that confront men and women between the ages of 20 and 35. Eventually enrolment cards are to be passed out asking you to sign up without charge for one of these courses. Will you not plan to consider this matter most seriously making lt mart of your Lenten devotion? The classes will be followed at S:l5 by .a n nddress to be given by the guest sneaker of the First church In ac- cordance with their annual Lenten ,roRram, MT Coombs and l will not be happy about this matter unless at least 100 of our members def- initely participate.
 s'While these are among the more definite of our plans for Inc immediate future we have some others to present later on. In clos ing would merely thank you for your cooperation and forbearance you 10 renew allegiance and con. secration in the future. Especially