News from First Church

Today is the only day we’ve got – tomorrow is a bonus.
 
Here at First Church like everyone else we’re just putting up with the damp and overcast weather this month, but continuing our regular fellowship times and looking for the best in each day – and looking forward to Spring!
For many years now Spring has been the time for our traditional Kirk Fair – this year Saturday 11 October in the Town Hall. A team is preparing for this important event in the fundraising programme for First Church, and planning is well under way to organise the usual popular stalls, and make sure they will be well stocked with delicious Home baking, Produce, Collectables, Treasure Trove, Books, Fashion Accessories and a Children’s stall. There will be Raffles and a Sausage Sizzle.
First Church folk feel it is important to be visible and active in this way in our community, to be seen as part of the long standing connection of the church to so many families in our district, and as a chance to meet new people. Importantly too, the money we raise goes towards the maintenance of the ministry and upkeep of our historic 143 year old building.

Library News

Hi – Kia ora,
Politics is all the rage at the moment – we have all of Nicky Hager’s books, a book on Kim Dotcom plus almost anything you can think of in the political line.  Not that we endorse any of them, as librarians we are, of course, neutral on anything contentious! 
The least contentious items we have are probably the magazines and lately we have had some lovely donations – thanks very much.  You can now find The English Garden, The National Business Review, Listener plus many others. … Continue Reading

Library Book review

Quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking

By Susan Cain
 This is a very new addition to the library, purchased  after a customer request.  What an amazing book.  We are all different and thank goodness for those differences.  Susan Cain explains introversion and the wide divide  between introvert and extrovert. 
The book describes the strengths of those who are naturally quiet, serious or sensitive and gives introverts the tools to take full advantage of those strengths.   Some very famous introverts have given us our greatest ideas, art and inventions.  We would not have Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Charlie Brown, Google and the theories of relativity and gravity – what a loss that would have been.

Susan Cain’s book is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller and has been translated into over 30 languages.  ‘It’s time for everyone to listen.  It’s time to harness the power of introverts.  It’s time for Quiet.’

Know your town

The traction engine

The name Chapman has been a part of Wairarapa since the 1890s when W Chapman was the manager of McPhee’s Traction Plant in Carterton. In 1899 he entered into partnership in Martinborough with Thomas Greenaway to do agricultural work with traction engines. They also provided steam power for such things as milling. The partnership operated out of land in Radium street and No 37 Grey Street. … Continue Reading