ALL too often we hear church people bemoaning the poverty of the church. They are always complaining of the paucity of numbers attending church services.

These grumblers aren't satisfied with what they're allowed to do.

We have to ask what do they expect of their work for the church, if they expect anything to happen at all?

We all, not just the clergy, have to learn very quickly the importance of expectancy in the spiritual life. Without it, we receive very little.

Many feel in themselves they had the capacity for far more than their opportunities afforded and they may be right.

In all probability, they look out on a world in which innocent men and women are crushed by the powerful.

What the church of today has to do is to stop looking inward at itself and look outward to Christ.

THE REV D G GRIFFIN

Newland,

Malvern.