Penguin of the Week: Little

The world’s smallest penguin (also known as Little Blue, Blue and Fairy Penguin).

The Little Penguin closely resembles juveniles of the genus Spheniscus, but their ranges do not overlap. Upper parts are pale blue to a dark grey-blue depending upon age, season and subspecies. The transition from the dark upper parts to the white plumage of the lower body is not as well defined as in other penguins, going through shades of grey and brown, especially in the face.

In contrast to the other species, Little Penguins are nocturnal. That means they generally do not enter the shore before dusk and leave it before dawn. They forage during the day and often will sleep beside the nest at night after they have fed chicks. This species nests in burrows, under trees, in rock crevices, and sometimes in caves. Usually nests are clustered to form colonies, but single breeding pairs are not uncommon. At sea Little Penguins are often found alone or in small groups of up to ten birds, but sometimes these groups can be much larger. Although foraging trip durations can be highly variable, Little Penguins tend to stay close to the coast.

Little Penguins are widely distributed in Australia (from Western Australia along the southern coast of Australia up to New South Wales) and in New Zealand (from Northland to Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands). The White-flippered Penguin (E. m. albosignata) is an endangered subspecies, restricted to Banks Peninsula and Motonau Island (South Island, New Zealand) that has often been treated as a full species. Geographic variation of size, extent of white on the tail and flipper, and colour tone of the back is considerable. Six subspecies have been described: novaehollandia in Australia, iredaei in northern New Zealand, variabilis from Cook Strait, New Zealand, albosignata on Banks Peninsula, minor in the lower part of the South Island, New Zealand, and chathamensis from the Chatham Islands.

Penguin of the Week: Yellow Eyed

The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) or Hoiho is a penguin found in New Zealand, on the south-east coast of South Island, Foveaux Strait and Stewart Island/Rakiura, and Auckland and Campbell Islands.

This is a fairly large penguin, averaging 75 cm (30 in) long and weighing about 6.3 kg (14 lbs). It has a pale yellow head and paler yellow eyes with black feather shafts. There is a band of bright yellow running from its eyes around the back of the head. The juvenile has a greyer head with no band and their eyes have a grey iris.

This penguin usually nests in forest or scrub. It feeds mainly on blue cod, red cod, opalfish, sprat and squid.

The current status of this penguin is endangered, with an estimated population of 4,000. It is considered one of the world’s rarest penguin species. The main threats include habitat degradation, introduced predators as well as environmental changes. It is thought to be the most ancient of all living penguins[citation needed].

In spring 2004, a previously undescribed disease killed off 60% of Yellow-eyed penguin chicks on the Otago peninsula and in North Otago. The disease has been linked to an infection of corynebacterium, a family of bacteria that also causes diphtheria in humans. It has recently been described as diphtheritic stomatitis. However, it seems as if this is just a secondary infection. The primary pathogen remains unknown.

Several mainland habitats have hides and are relatively easily accessible for those wishing to watch the birds come ashore. These include beaches at Oamaru, Moeraki light-house, a number of beaches near Dunedin, and The Catlins. In addition commercial tourist operations on Otago Peninsula also provide hides to view yellow-eyed penguins.

Talents Great and Small

“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”-Matthew 25:21, 23

Here comes Whitefield, the man that stood before twenty thousand people at a time to preach the gospel, who in England, Scotland, Ireland, and America, has testified the truth of God, and who could count his converts by thousands, even with one sermon! Here he comes, the man that endured persecution and scorn and yet was not moved-the man of whom the world was not worthy, who lived for his fellowmen and died at last for their cause. Stand by, angels, and admire, while the Master takes him by the hand and says, “Well done, well done, good and faithful servant: enter into the joy of your Lord.” See how free grace honors the man whom it enabled to do valiantly!

Hark! Who is this that comes here? A poor, thin-looking creature, who on earth was a consumptive. There was a hectic flush now and then upon her cheek, and she lay three long years upon her bed of sickness. Was she a prince’s daughter, for it seems heaven is making much stir about her? No, she was a poor girl who earned her living by her needle, and she worked herself to death! Stitch, stitch, stitch, from morning to night! Here she comes. She went prematurely to her grave, but she is coming, like a shock of fully ripe corn, into heaven. Her Master says, “Well done, good and faithful servant: you have been faithful in a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

She takes her place by the side of Whitefield. Ask what she ever did, and you find out that she used to live in some back garret, down some dark alley in London. There used to be another poor girl who came to work with her. That poor girl was a gay and volatile creature when she first came to work with her. This consumptive child told her about Christ. They used to creep out evenings to go to chapel or to church together when she was well enough. It was hard at first to get the other one to go, but she used to press her lovingly. When the girl went wild a little, she never gave her up. She used to say, “O Jane, I wish you loved the Savior.” When Jane was not there, she used to pray for her. When she was there, she prayed with her. Now and then while stitching away, she read a page out of the Bible to her, for poor Jane could not read. With many tears she tried to tell her about Jesus, who loved her and gave Himself for her. At last, after many days of hard persuasion, many hours of sad disappointment, and many nights of sleepless, tearful prayer, she lived to see the girl profess her love to Christ.

She left her and took sick. There she lay until she was taken to the hospital, where she died. While she was in the hospital, she used to have a few tracts which she gave to those who came to see her. She would try, if she could, to get the women to come around, and she would give them a tract. When she first went into the hospital, if she could creep out of bed, she would get by the side of one who was dying, and the nurse used to let her do it. At last she became too ill. Then she would ask a poor woman on the other side of the ward, who was getting better and was leaving, if she would come and read a chapter to her. It was not that she wanted her to read to her on her own account, but for the other’s sake. She thought it might strike her heart while she was reading it. At last this poor girl died and fell asleep in Jesus. This poor, consumptive needlewoman had said to her, “Well done.” What more could an archangel have said to her?

See then, the Master’s commendation, and the last reward will be equal to all men who have used their talents well. If there are degrees in glory, they will not be distributed according to our talents, but according to our faithfulness in using them. As to whether there are degrees or not, I know not. But this I do know: he that does his Lord’s will, shall have said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Spurgeon, R. C. H. Words of Wisdom

More Church Bloopers

Oldies but goodies from the old church blooper reel…

Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at The Calvary Memorial Church in Racine.  Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

Announcement in the church bulletin for a National PRAYER FASTING Conference: “The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals.

Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the school recreation hall. Come out and watch  us kill Christ the King.

Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I Will Not Pass This Way Again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

“Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale.  It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house.  Don’t forget your husbands.

Next Sunday is the family hayride and bonfire at the Fowlers’. Bring your own hot dogs and guns.  Friends are  welcome! Everyone come for a fun time.

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water”
The sermon tonight will be:   “Searching for Jesus”

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions.  She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack’s sermons.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing “Break Forth into Joy.”

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you, and hopefully they will respond.

Don’t let worry kill you - let the Church help.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church.
So
ends a friendship that began in their school days.

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday  evening in the church hall.  Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?”
Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

The senior choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoy sinning to join the choir.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The Lutheran men’s group will meet at 6 PM.   Steak, mashed potatoes, green
beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.

For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.

Attend this meeting and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.  Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 P.M. …prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

This evening at 7 P.M. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the
Church.   Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM.  All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning.

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 8 PM. Please use the back door.

The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Church basement on Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church.  Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital  this week for testes.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan
last Sunday:   “I Upped My Pledge - Now Up Yours.”

Mark of Divine Approval

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: forwhen he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life,which the Lord hath promisedto them that love him.”—James 1:12
Yes, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till he has been anointed with heavenly eyesalve. But he must endure it, and neither rebel against God, nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire and has not been consumed as a counterfeit.

When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval, “the crown of life.” As if the Lord said, “Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting.” Life is the reward: not mere being—but holy, happy, true existence—the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love.

The Lord hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the Lord will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy Lord? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried, but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it. Lord, let thy love nourish mine to the end.

Spurgeon, C.  Faith’s Checkbook