A Word to Church Elders by Milton E. Kern

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 14, 1916

A Word to Church Elders

By Milton E. Kern

WE confidently expect that our ministers will follow the suggestions made in the preceding article. But it may be far into the year before a minister reaches your church, and then his supply of Calendars may be exhausted. Do not wait. Send to your tract society for a quantity of the Morning Watch Calendars at once.

No greater success could crown your efforts than to secure the observance of the Morning Watch on the part of every church member.

Responsibility of the Society Leader

The Morning Watch is a Missionary Volunteer idea, and of all persons the Missionary Volunteer leader should be an observer of the Morning Watch and a promoter of the plan. The leader should carry this matter upon his heart, and not rest till the whole church has had a chance to hear about the plan and to procure the Calendar.

After consultation with the proper officers, let a good supply be ordered for the church. Order plenty, and always plan to keep a few on hand. Plan with the church elder for him or you to present the Morning Watch to the entire church. Also take it up with the Sabbath school officers, and ask the teachers to take it up with their classes. (What can be more fitting than that the Sabbath school teacher should present each pupil with the Morning Watch Calendar before the new year?)

In the society the Morning Watch will, of course, be considered at the third meeting in December. But do not stop with that. Keep it before the members until every one possible has been persuaded to secure the Calendar and to adopt the plan. If you know the Morning Watch by experience, your personal testimony will count for much. With your officers, plan a regular Morning Watch campaign, and work and pray for definite results.

So far as possible, every older church member, every child who can read, and every young person should have his own Calendar and keep it in his Bible. Even after the efforts mentioned in the previous paragraphs have been put forth, it may be well to canvass the Seventh-day Adventist homes. See that each person in your church is invited to obtain a copy of this little daily reminder to help him in his personal devotions. Of course, those who canvass the homes or present the Calendar in the church should know from their own experience that the observance of the Morning Watch really does help one to live the victorious life.

Ask your society members and others to use the Morning Watch Calendar as New Year greetings to friends in other churches. Plan to use a large number in this way. Last year one Union Conference sold 2,000 Morning Watch Calendars to the public.

Do your best with the Morning Watch Calendar. Begin now to plan and work.

Ordering

The price of the Morning Watch Calendar is five cents a copy. Inasmuch as all the texts are from the Psalms this year, we recommend that individuals secure also a pocket edition of the Psalms. The price is five cents. Order both from your tract society.

M. E. KERN.