From the editor
The term ‘community’ keeps cropping up recently. It’s a theme in the current Sunday Bulletin, and recurs time and time again in the recent television series ‘The Monastery’ and the subsequent programmes set in the Poor Clare convent in Arundel. It was quite exciting for the ‘In Touch’ team, therefore, to receive a letter from Denis O’Brien, proposing a way of deepening our sense of community at St Columba’s. Do take a moment to read it.On the subject of ‘The Monastery’, Abbott Christopher has produced a book, ‘Finding Sanctuary’, which I can recommend. Selsdon library has a copy. I wonder if one of the sisters at Arundel might feel called to write – I’m sure it would be worth reading if so.
Congratulations to Georgia Syms, who produced the winning entry for the writing competition. The judges all liked Georgia’s original approach, and her way of making the concept of ‘a good Samaritan’ relevant in a modern setting. The prize-winning entry is featured here.
We hope you enjoy your prize, Georgia, and that you will write for us again soon.
Thanks to all our contributors, and my thanks to the editorial team for their cheerfulness and hard work. I hope you enjoy reading the results.
Tricia Steel
tricia_steel@hotmail.com
Contents
The diary of James Smith - the 'Good Samaritan' in a modern setting
Update on the church hall - a brief update on progress in refurbishing the hall, and details of how to book it
Problems with prayer - some helpful advice from Deacon Philip
Art group exhibition - a report on the recent exhibition from St Columba's Art Group
Volunteering at Mayday hospital
Trees - a poem from one of our younger parishoners
The Da Vinci Code - David de Souza examines this topic in detail
Gift aid - an important message for tax payers
Hurrah for summer - our back page poem