Thu	1	MU&OG. 'Up the Nile' with Selwyn. Church Centre	8.00 pm
Sat	3	Eucharist	9.00 am
		Annual Service for May Queens	12.00
SUN	4	TRINITY 4'The Messiah' in Church	6.30 pm
Mon	5	Magazine Panel meets at 35 Vanguard Way	6.00 pm
Tue	6	NO Bible Discussion Group held today
Wed	7	St Mary's Guild. A talk about 'Chile'	2.30 pm
SUN	11	TRINITY 5 (Warning! Car Boot Sale this morning)Sunday School Summer Picnic in Beddington Park following the 9.30 am service. (Note: Last Sunday School before the summer break. Recommences on 5 September).
Tue	13	Sutton Deanery Synod Social Evening at Christchurch, Sutton	7.15 for 7.30 pm
		Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
Wed	14	Social Committee meets at 2 Caraway Place	8.00 pm
Thu	15	MU&OG 'Dining Out' Evening	8.00 pm
SUN	18	TRINITY 6(Carew Manor and St Mary's open for visitors)Choral Evensong (last until 5 September)	5.00 pm
Mon	19	PCC meeting. Church Centre	8.00 pm
Tue	20	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road	8.00 pm
Wed	21	MU Corporate Eucharist	10.00 am
SUN	25	ST JAMES
Tue	27	Bible Discussion Group meets at 24 St George's Road (Note: Last meeting before summer break. Recommences in October)	8.00 pm

Carousel

Don't forget that on Sunday, 4 July at 6.30 pm, the choir will be performing Handel's "Messiah". Admission will be free, with a retiring collection in aid of the Tower & Bells Fund afterwards, and there will be refreshments in the Centre during the interval. The performance will include about two-thirds of the oratorio, though omitting some of the longer choruses in the Passion music. The soloists will be David Menezes (tenor), Joanna Soane (soprano) and Leon Berger (bass) - all young professional operatic and recital soloists, and well known to St Mary's audiences as members of Chimes Musical Theatre. Please come and bring your friends for what promises to be a memorable evening.

Thursday 1 July MU&OG meet in Centre at 8:00 pm. This is the annual Rector's Evening, and I will be taking you on "A Trip up the Nile".

Sutton Deanery Synod will be holding its summer social evening for members on Tuesday 13 July, 7:15 pm at Christchurch, Sutton. Synod members are invited to bring their partner and/or a friend or two. Musical entertainment, in the form of a sideways look at churchy activities, will be supplied by Chimes Musical Theatre.

On Saturday 14 August, at 7:30 pm in the Centre, there will be another evening of recorded music, with wine and nibbles, under the title "These You Have Loved As Well" - following the runaway success of the similar evening in January. Do you have (another) favourite piece of classical music? Would you enjoy playing it to others, and listening to their choice? Bring the CD with your chosen piece (not more than about 10 minutes long), and, if you like, be prepared to say a few words about why you are so attracted to your particular choice. Or just come and listen, and be entertained and uplifted by the choices others have provided. Entrance £4, all proceeds to the Shopping List. If you would like to take part, please give your name, your money and the title of your piece to Selwyn by the previous Sunday, August 8th.

Readings for Sundays in July

Sunday 4 July Trinity 4

Isaiah 66: 1014 (page 932)

Galatians 6: 7-16 (page 933)

Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20 (page 934)

Sunday 11 July Trinity 5

Deuteronomy 30: 9-14 page 938)

Colossians 1: 1-14 (page 939)

Luke 10: 25-37 (page 940)

Sunday 18 July Trinity 6

Genesis 18: 1-10a (page 943)

Colossians 1: 15-28 (page 945)

Luke 10: 38-42 (page 946)

Sunday 25 July James the Apostle

Acts 11: 27-12: 2 (page 1115)

2 Corinthians 4: 7-15 (page 1117)

Matthew 20: 20-28 (page 1118)

Saints in July

Sat 3 Thomas the Apostle

Tue 6 Thomas More, scholar, martyr, 1535

Mon 19 Gregory, Bishop of Myssa, and his sister Macrina, Deaconess, teachers, c394 & c379

Fri 23 Bridget, abbess, 1373

Sun 25 James the Apostle

Mon 26 Anne and Joachim, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sat 31 Ignatius Loyola, religious, 1556

Music at Evensong in July

Sunday 18 July

Canticles: Sumsion in A

Anthem: O Thou The Central Orb - Charles Wood

God Be In My Head - Walford Davies

Sunday 25 July

Evening Prayer will be Said

Sunday 4 July

The Messiah

Sunday 11 July

Canticles: Brewer in D

Anthem: Never Weather Beaten Sail - Shepherd

The choir will be on holiday from 25 July and will return on 5 September. Until then, evening prayer will be said.

PCC Notes

When the first meeting of the new PCC took place on 20 May, it was presented with a problem…no secretary! We heard that Pam Akhurst had offered her services and all agreed she should be co-opted on to the PCC to be the secretary… but we still had a problem, Pam was not with us! So I offered to be secretary for ONE meeting. The PCC could begin.

Selwyn welcomed Margaret Freeman back and Katherine Lawrence on to the PCC. It was confirmed that the 11 elected members would serve the number of years they had picked by lot at the APCM (one, two or three years). When their term ended they would be eligible to stand for re-election for a further three-year term. Anyone who had picked two or three years but wished to resign after one year could do so without any pressure to stand again. Elected members can now serve for two consecutive three-year terms and are then required to have at least one year off before being eligible for re-election.

Officers, committees and representatives of the PCC and St Mary's were elected: there is a complete list on the board under the Tower.

We then reviewed various projects:

The flood lighting and the lighting of the church are now complete although a few problems were noted. Several people had complained that their hymn-books were in shadow. CES, the electrical engineers, pointed out that the positioning of the lights was not as originally proposed - they had been moved above all the wall paintings so that the paintings were not damaged with wires being run across them. However, CES will try to address the problem by adjusting the angle of the lights if possible.

Rewiring of the tower and vestries remains outstanding. CES has talked to all concerned and has submitted plans to the Diocesan Advisory Council for approval. The work will not begin until the bells are re-hung on their new frame, but it is hoped the plans will have approval so all can be finished by the autumn.

The Gothic Knight has been cleaned and laid on the sanctuary step in a new stone slab at a total cost was £4,400. Most of this money came from The Friends of St Mary's. (They have emptied their coffers so please help refill them as there are several projects that need addressing - that's a plea from the Friends Committee). The remainder of the money came from grants and gifts, so no money was needed from the "church purse".

Although many people had expressed a wish that the walls of the church should be cleaned, and the PCC had contemplated this project, starting with the roof, Selwyn had meanwhile spoken with John Burbage, an expert in the cleaning and conserving of wall paintings. He had urged great caution before any such work was undertaken and advised a complete survey would be needed at a cost of about £30,000. And we could not even begin to imagine the cost of the painstaking cleaning that would be needed.

With regard to the Tower and Bells Project, Ian Akhurst, the ringers, the builders and the bell founders have worked hard to address the six points the Chancellor had identified from a report by English Heritage. All points must be resolved before the Chancellor will grant the Faculty to proceed with the re-hanging of our bells. So we wait, pray and hope.

The Treasurer's Report was as made by Cassie to the congregation and reported in the June magazine. We have money, but all the money we have could be spent in several ways. We need to continue fund raising to supplement our stewardship giving which pays for the day-to-day expenses of St Mary's. (Please consider increasing your stewardship, all increases make a difference. If you do not give regularly by standing order, weekly or monthly envelopes please speak to Heather or Pierre …that is a plea from your covenant secretary).

The Fabric Committee continues to address all the elements of the Disability Act we need to consider before 2006 and will report to the next PCC.

The Centre Committee reported on the damp in the Centre wall. The architect is being contacted.

The meeting closed at 10.20pm. Next report from Pam!!!

Heather Cosgrove

Daily prayer topics in July

Thu 1 Our Mothers Union and Open Group

Fri 2 Children with special needs and their families

Sat 3 Our churchwardens

Sun 4 Our Rector on the 22nd anniversary of his Ordination

Mon 5 The Red Cross and The Red Crescent

Tue 6 Peace between peoples of different faiths

Wed 7 Our Happy Hands and Young Families Group

Thu 8 Children abducted and trained to be child soldiers

Fri 9 The General Synod

Sat 10 'Police Partnership in the Park' at Manor Park, Sutton

Sun 11 The Church's Ministry to Seafarers

Mon 12 Vocations in the religious life

Tue 13 The Deanery Synod Meeting tonight

Wed 14 Single parents, teenagers living alone and families on low incomes

Thu 15 Our local shops and industries

Fri 16 Destitute asylum seekers in the UK

Sat 17 Couples being married at St Mary's this month

Sun 18 Carew Manor, students and staff

Mon 19 Our PCC Meeting tonight

Tue 20 All who help asylum seekers and refugees to find regular employment

Wed 21 Children who are on the verge of exclusion from local schools

Thu 22 Young people leaving school and seeking employment

Fri 23 Holiday clubs for children

Sat 24 'Soul in the City' launch in Sutton

Sun 25 That we may speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves

Mon 26 Fair trade and sustainable development for the Third World

Tue 27 Tearfund as they campaign on behalf of the poor

Wed 28 The Church Army and all evangelists

Thu 29 The Society of Martha & Mary

Fri 30 Judges, magistrates and all who work in the legal professions

Sat 31 Our link dioceses in Zimbabwe

Prayers for the sick

If you come to St Mary's regularly on Sunday mornings, you probably noticed immediately after Easter that the list of people we were praying for by name, either because of illness or some other cause, had got very long indeed. One Sunday morning there were 39 names. It's also true that sometimes people remain on the intercessions list for a very long time, often because no-one can remember who originally asked for their name to be included, and so no-one knows who to ask how they are. Having spoken to Heather, Jenifer and the wardens about this, I'm proposing that we try a new system for a while, just to see if it works.

From the first Sunday in July onwards, we will keep the names of all those who have already been on the list for some time unless previously someone has said that for whatever reason their names should now be taken off. Any new name, however, will be on the list for a month unless the original contact asks us to go on praying for that person for longer, and we will make sure that there is a record of who the original contact was. This is the same procedure which operates in the case of names written in the intercessions book by the votive stand.

It is probably worth saying that, of course, people are prayed for by name at any midweek Eucharists, as well as on Sundays; and that there is quite a number of people who take the Sunday notice-sheet home and use it as a guide to things and people to pray about privately during the week. A great deal of prayer is regularly offered for those whose names have been 'commended' to us. The new system should just ensure that the list doesn't get over-long again, and therefore repetitive.

Selwyn Tillett

Reflections on two Quiet Days (Part One)

St Mary's Abbey, West Malling

On a beautifully bright Saturday morning a small group gathered in the peaceful surroundings of the Carew Chapel to say Morning Prayer at the start of our parish quiet day.

From our own St Mary's where people have worshipped for nearly a thousand years,we travelled to St Mary's Abbey, West Malling, It is thought to be one of the first houses for women to be established after the Norman Conquest and was founded by Bishop Gundolf of Rochester, who was also responsible for the building of Rochester Cathedral and The White Tower at the Tower of London.

Our first view as we drove into the car park was of the impressive 14th century gatehouse with its imposing double gates firmly closed to the outside world. As we entered the Abbey grounds through a side gate I was aware of entering a very special place, a place of history, Christian witness and prayer. We were warmly welcomed, by the smiling, fully robed and veiled guest sister who escorted us to PAX House for morning coffee.

The theme and focus of our day was The Holy Communion. In the first talk The Rector reminded us that week by week and in some places daily, our Lord invites Christians to meet him in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and he reflected on the aspects of taking, giving thanks, breaking, and sharing. He left us with two questions to consider during the first period of silence. How do we meet our Lord in the Eucharist, and how do we take Him with us from the Eucharist out into the world? This gave us plenty to ponder as we dispersed.

I found a quiet spot beside the stream within view of Gundolf's tower, the only remaining part of the original Abbey church. The distinctive sense of peace of a place that has been a place of prayer for many years was very evident, with the sound of the stream and the birds it was not difficult to understand why people past and present have come to St Mary's in search of inner peace and quiet.

At Noon we gathered in the visitors area of the community's modern chapel to hear the Nuns sing the office of Sext. After a period of private prayer we retired to the Abbey orchard to eat our packed lunches and share some time in conversation.

After lunch we were joined by the guest sister for a very interesting history walk in the grounds. She told us how after the dissolution the Abbey site fell into a ruinous state until in the 18th century Frazer Honeywood made the Abbey his country seat, building a fine Georgian mansion using stone from the ruined church. She also told how in 1892 Charlotte Boyd bought the Abbey site and set up a trust to ensure restoration of the buildings and the re-establishment of a nunnery on the site. The present order of enclosed Benedictine nuns moved to West Malling in 1916.

In the second talk of the day entitled Holy Joy, Jenifer reflected on the life of the sisters and she told us that The Holy Communion is central to the daily life of the community. It blesses their day. Life for the sisters is not just being aware of the presence of Christ in the Holy Communion, but in every aspect of their lives.

As our period of silence resumed, we dispersed to prepare for our own Holy Communion that we would share together in the Pilgrim Chapel.

Earlier the guest sister had told us that it wasn't known why the Pilgrim chapel was so named as it wasn't on a Pilgrim route. I feel now on reflection that it is named very aptly as we, along with many others, had arrived at the Abbey as pilgrims at different stages of life's journey. We were refreshed and nourished by the peace and tranquillity of that special place and finding the inner silence and peace in ourselves where the Holy Spirit resides, we were invited to continue on our pilgrimage with the reassurance and knowledge of God's abiding presence.

As we left St Mary's Abbey after tea and some very tasty scones provided by the sisters. I felt strengthened and relaxed and ready to face the outside world.

Driving back to Beddington I was reminded of the 17th century Carmelite Lay brother, Brother Lawrence, who worked in the kitchen of his monastery and lived his life practising the presence of God and seeing God's presence in everything. For Brother Lawrence, the sisters at St Mary's Abbey and for all Christians, life was, is and should be the recognition of God's presence at the centre, in the Eucharist and in the taking of him out from the Eucharist into our daily lives, sharing him with, and recognising him in, all whom we meet.

Thank you Jenifer and Selwyn for a very thought provoking day in a very special place.

Linda Wood

To be continued next month with Day Two : A quiet day at St Paul's, Roundshaw

Combined Magazine issues

You will probably have noticed that I haven't combined the July/August issues of the magazine this year. Instead, the December/January issues will be combined. Getting a magazine out between Christmas and the New Year fair dampens my Christmas spirit, so we're trying something different this year.

Chris Morgan

Mr Handel and the Foundlings

Whether it is busking or Band-aid, carol singers or Chimes Musical Theatre, making music for good causes has a long and honourable history. The music is as varied as the performers, but Handel's "Messiah" has always been a favourite. It was Handel himself who first gave charity performances of "The Messiah" in a sort of eighteenth century Live-Aid - for a charity very close to his heart, the Foundling Hospital in London.

The Hospital was built by Captain Thomas Coram and opened in 1739. Captain Coram had come home from America, where he had been a shipwright, to retire. But arriving in London he saw and was appalled by the sight of the many abandoned babies, just left out on the streets. It took him 17 years, but Captain Coram finally got a Charter to build his hospital (we would now call it an orphanage) to rescue the babies and give them a home and education. And he made an inspired choice for his fellow governors: William Hogarth, the artist, and George Frederick Handel.

Hogarth hung his own and others' paintings in the new building and Handel gave concerts there. His annual performances of "The Messiah" raised hundreds of pounds - essential in those days of no state aid. Indeed, the 17 year battle for a Charter indicates that Captain Coram's horror at the plight of the abandoned babies was not shared by the British Establishment.

The Foundling Hospital continued its good work until the 1950s, by which time the importance of a family background for every child was better understood and child care changed its emphasis. The charity is now called Coram Family. As well as being the oldest, it is still one of the most active of children's charities, with thousands of babies, children and their mothers benefiting from its drop-in centres, playgroups, parenting advice and, above all, care for the young homeless.

As for the original building in Brunswick Square, London WC1 (tel no 020 7841 3600) with its grand staircase and eighteenth century plasterwork, it has just opened as a museum of the social history of the Hospital. It is a memorial to Captain Coram and his two unexpected friends whose compassion, sheer hard work and perseverance saved the lives of thousands of children and laid the foundation for continuing work with children in the greatest possible need.

Pat Kingsbury

From the registers

Baptisms

June 13 Isabella Florence Morcombe of 37 Upper Road, Wallington

June 13 Spencer Paul Travers of 41 Bridges Lane, Beddington

June 13 George Daniel Harland of 91 Claydon Drive, Wallington

June 13 Lydia Alice Lily Cummings of 1 Willoughby Avenue, Beddington

Weddings

29 May Lee George Patterson and Niicola Jane Glover of 40 Guy Road, Wallington

29 May Jonathan Mark Gay and Kelly Ann Ray of 34 Whelan Way, Wallington

Funerals

May 21 William Edward Thomas Edmead, aged 77 of Kestral Court, Wallington

May 25 Eileen Ethel Baker, aged 63 of Bristow Road, Beddington

Parish Garden… Encore!

We would like to thank all those who contributed flowers (including the dandelions!) from their gardens, or their favourites from their florist, for our Parish Garden on 6 June. We so enjoyed making the arrangements.

Due to popular demand another Parish Garden Day has been requested and this will take place on Sunday, 15 August.

The flower arrangers will be delighted to receive your flowers and/or greenery in church on Friday, 13 August between 9.30 and 11.00 am so they can be conditioned before being arranged on Saturday. If necessary, flowers/greenery can be collected from your home.

Please contact Sue Ardley (8669 3220) if you would like any further information or have any queries.

Progressions

I do believe that there are several kinds of progressions (including those of an arithmetical nature - ugh!!!). However, the very best sort to encounter was that experienced by some 28 of us on the evening of Saturday, 19 June, viz - a 'Progressive Supper'. As the title implies this did, by definition, involve some movement from one venue to the next and this is exactly what we did.

Our evening started in Diana Harries' home where we were served a delightful selection of starters - prawn cocktails, roasted peppers, chicken liver pate and delicious little pots of mushrooms in a savoury jelly. Diana's father, Reg, made sure that our glasses were kept filled - an excellent start to the evening.

We then progressed to the Rectory where our main course awaited - a selection of dishes from which to choose: moussaka, chicken, salmon, a lamb dish, cous cous, jacket potatoes - absolutely no need for anyone to go away hungry. And, once again, our thirsts were well catered for!!

And so - on to our next venue for the dessert course. This was served to us by Kevin Winstone and one look at the table he had prepared was a feast both for the eye and the palate. There were beautiful bright red strawberries dotted with fresh green mint leaves, pears in red wine, apricot flan, coffee meringue pie, fresh fruit salad and clafouties (cherries in a sweet batter) - all totally mouth-watering. A jug full of delicious fruit cup completed the table - and very welcome it was.

So, by now we were all feeling pretty replete as we made our way to our "coffee stop" which was provided by Reg and Shelagh Willis. As always, they made delightful and welcoming hosts and we were all soon sitting with coffee in our hands (not to mention the chocolate mints!).

The hardier amongst us ventured into the garden where the strains of the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra could be clearly heard playing at the Carew Manor open air concert. At the sound of the traditional "Last Night at the Proms" finale the air was rent with noise and the sky ablaze with fireworks. What a great way to end the evening!

We all owe a tremendous vote of thanks to Diana, Selwyn & Cassie, Kevin, and Reg & Shelagh for their hospitality, not forgetting all the chefs who produced the wonderful food. Thank you all very much.

Mary Tapp

St Mary's - from a new angle

Gothic grottoes, grand houses, wartime prefabs, masterpieces from the 1930's, a secret library AND St Mary's Beddington all feature in Lucinda Lambton's second series of 'SUBLIME SUBURBIA' to be shown on TV in July and August.

'SUBLIME SUBURBIA' is an award winning television series in which Lucinda Lambton, writer, photographer and broadcaster, celebrates the wealth of old and new buildings in Greater London and in other towns in the Carlton Television transmission area.

This new six-part series on ITV is not to be missed, if the sequence recently filmed at St Mary's is anything to go by. Present plans are for the series to be shown at 7.30 pm on Thursday 8, 15, 22 & 29 July and 5 & 12 August.

St Mary's will feature prominently in at least one, if not two, of the episodes.

In memory of Stewart

Readers may be interested to know that the final figure sent to the Royal Marsden in memory of Stewart was £1,199. Thank you all for your contributions.

Jean Kimber

We do what? …

Since being admitted as the Presiding Member of Sutton Mothers' Union by Rev Christopher Wheaton, the Rural Dean, at St Mary's on Sunday, 22 February, I have been asked just what the job entails. Well, I see my position as being the link between the seven local groups of the MU. I am invited to all important services and occasions. The main meeting is held at Mary Sumner House twice a year and it is my responsibility to forward information to the branches, including papers which I collect from Trinity House. Our banner is paraded at the annual service held at Southwark Cathedral.

I shall be holding meetings at St Mary's twice a year. A friend took minutes at my first meeting and was amazed at how much is done by the MU. Sadly, we have a reputation for just drinking tea - a myth that we put to effective use for the part the MU played in Rev John Read's leaving concert. We had searched jumble sales for old woollen coats, hats, gloves and stockings. Dressed in these we sang a song about what we do, and every verse ended with "We drink tea"! When the music changed to "The Stripper", out from our sleeves, etc came many other jumble sale goods - undies, corsets, etc - which we waved around our heads and then threw aside. Needless to say we ended wearing smart dresses. It was very popular, but it did have a message: the MU does so much good in the world apart from providing tea:

A letter from a prisoner at Belmarsh Prison thanked us for the toys which were given to visiting children at Christmas.

One branch collects "freebies" of toiletries from hotels for short-term patients at their local hospital to use.

"Away From It All" provides holidays for families who cannot afford one with money raised by collecting pennies and selling our secondhand books.

It was the MU that started "Message Home" through which young people who had left home and didn't want to reveal their whereabouts could let their family know that they were well.

Training courses for Parenting Classes have been running since 2000. It is an intensive course ending with a certificate.

In Africa, especially Burundi and Malawi, a tremendous amount of work has been done to improve literacy. Many women have been taught to read and write and therefore obtain employment. This has been so well organised and successful that the Comic Relief Fund has granted its largest award towards the work.

Each MU group is linked with one overseas. Ours is in the Northern Territories in Australia and we correspond with them regularly.

All the meetings held St Mary's are open to everyone - so if you see a subject which interests you, just come along - you will be most welcome.

Pam Vernon.

Spirits of their age

Some weeks ago, Jackie Egerton ran a second evening of discussion about poetry and spirituality. Unfortunately only a few people could attend, but those who were there read poems both well known and obscure which attempted in a number of different ways to untangle the knotty problem of spirituality.

The poets' responses to the mysteries of faith and grace were examined and all who were there, with varying degrees of sureness, responded to those profound analyses.

Jackie had gone to a lot of trouble to choose a suitable selection of works from the 16th century to a contemporary West Indian poem. These she had compiled into an anthology and all those attending left clutching their souvenir booklet.

As ever with poetry, it was interesting to see how many interpretations of the same lines there were; new light shed upon well known verse as well as the thought provoking poetry itself. Two themes seemed to emerge from a number of the works: that of the struggle between faith and doubt and a perceived restriction of personal liberty seemingly demanded by belief.

It was a challenging and rewarding evening.

Kevin Winstone

Croydon & Sutton Home Organ Club

Dan Dawson-Taylor, one of our tower bell ringers, thought others might like to know about a thoroughly enjoyable evening that is available at the Croydon & Sutton Home Organ Club. Dan (a listener, not a player), recommends it, so…

COME AND LISTEN to the best electronic organ music played by a professional musician.

A two-hour show is held on the 2nd Monday of every month at 8 pm.

Venue: United Services Club Hall,

138 Carshalton Road, Sutton.

Admission: £5.50

Enjoy Big Band, Jazz, Classical, Orchestral, music from shows, Pops, Standards, and a whole lot more!

For information ring: 020 8654 5406 or 020 8651 1690

Don't know nothin'

When Columbus started out, he didn't know where he was going. When he got there, he didn't know where he was. When he got back, he didn't know where he had been. And he did it all on other people's money. Can't help thinking that Columbus reminds me of some teenagers who go on family holidays...

Book Reviews

With the holiday season almost upon us, we thought a book review or two wouldn't go amiss…

More Pause For Thought

BBC, Hodders £5.99

ISBN: 034086320X

Terry Wogan's Radio 2 programme is one of the most popular radio programmes in the country and it's Pause for Thought feature provides listeners with reflections which are often challenging, topical, thought provoking but always inspiring.

The popularity of this feature was emphasized by its huge audience feed back and the wonderful sales experienced by the first collection of 'Pauses'. This second collection makes a delightful treat for the regular listener and an inspiring gift for anyone, whether they are fans of the programme or not. With an introduction by Terry Wogan this book is another treasure chest of inspiration.

Soon

by Jerry Jenkins, Hodders £6.99

ISBN: 0340862483

If you fancy some dramatic fiction for your holiday reading, this might do you well. The plot is certainly wide-sweeping: less than half a century into our future, the world has become a very different place to live. Convinced that religious fundamentalism is the root cause of humanity's problems, religion itself was outlawed following a shattering Third World War.

Christians across the world have been forced underground, meeting secretly and in fear of their lives. A heady mix of action, sci-fi thriller and spiritual conflict, Soon is similarly based on a shocking yet possible premise - a vision of the future that will resonate in the hearts of Christians today. Could this be the destiny of the Church?

The Courageous Cats' Club

by Steve Wood, Lion, £4.99

ISBN: 0745948324

As your children begin the summer holidays, you may want to have these books on hand to keep them busy. Sticks and Stones and The Beast of the Night are the first two adventures of the Courageous Cats' Club.

These entertaining stories gently explore citizenship themes such as bullying, responsibility, friendship, being part of a diverse community, racial prejudice, being different, and being yourself.

The author, Steve Wood, is an experienced writer for children's theatre and television (BBC, Children's Channel and Yorkshire TV).

The Poisonwood Bible

by Barbara Kingsolver, Faber and Faber, £7.99

ISBN: 057120175X

"Africa has a thousand ways to get under your skin", says one of the five narrators of this fabulous book, which chronicles a year in the life of a missionary family, witnesses to the transition of the Congo to independence. Much of what the author has to say comes from deeply affecting, first-hand experience and it took her thirty years of reflection before she felt able to produce the book. She views her characters and their world with an eye as compassionate as it is critical, but what comes over most strongly is her love for the continent of Africa and her belief in its people.

The dominant character, seen through the eyes of his wife and four daughters, is Nathan Price, a self-appointed missionary to the inhabitants of rural Congo. No-one shares his vision, not even his local church in America, who refuse to fund his work. He goes nevertheless and leads his family into what begins as a comedy of errors and misunderstandings but leads, as you know it must, to tragedy.

So meticulous is the characterisation, that you know instantly which of the five women is narrating: the weary mother, Orleanna; her daughters, Rachel, who belongs at High School prom; Leah, clever, clear-sighted and adventurous; her clever, but physically handicapped, twin, Adah; and the baby of the family, Ruth May, who in the artless way of small children, finds a way to communicate with the village children which completely eludes her Bible-bashing father.

As the tale progresses, the characters take us through their steep learning curve, as they adapt to life in the Congo, and then through their varying perceptions of Congolese independence; the suddenness with which Belgium dumped its colony; the election of Patrice Lumumba; the covert activity of America which, as a recent Channel 4 documentary observed, was an active colonial power in Africa; the fragility of an infant democracy; its sudden, brutal end when Lumumba was deposed; and the installation of Joseph Mobutu, a tyrant familiar to us all, in the interests of big business and its control of the Katanga diamond mines. Leah in particular perceives the tragedy that an African leader who at least aspired to using his country's resources to meet the people's needs, was too good and simple to last.

By the end of the book, the girls, like the Congo, have grown up and made independent lives of their own: in Africa, central and south, and in America - all of them profoundly affected by their time in the Congo. Ultimately, the reader too is affected most by the story of the people who, despite malaria, independence, civil war and crippling debt, remained true to themselves and to the vibrant red earth of the Congo to which they belonged.

If you are looking for a great read - for your longhaul flight or to keep yourself entertained at the beach - I recommend The Poisonwood Bible to you and invite you to share the pleasure of a wonderful tale, movingly told.

Araba Taylor

(For suggestions regarding using the internet to save money on book purchase, visit our Booklinks page)

Read ancient Bibles - on the internet

Ancient Bibles and devotional works are some of the items that are now available to browse through on-line, thanks to a British Library initiative.

The 'Turning the Page' system allows viewers to see historic books from the Library's collection page by page at the click of a mouse. The 10 works which have been made accessible include the Lindisfarne Gospels.

Adrian Arthur, head of web services at the British Library, described putting 'Turning the Page' on-line as "an unprecedented opportunity to experience some of the great treasures of our collections in all their glory - not just as isolated reproductions."

Click here to visit 'Turning the Page'.

Even God had trouble with the children

Whenever your children are out of control you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend to God's children.

After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve. And the first thing He said to them was: "Don't".

"Don't what?" Adam asked.

"Don't eat the Forbidden Fruit." God replied.

"Forbidden fruit? We've got Forbidden Fruit? Hey, Eve, we've got Forbidden Fruit!"

"Really?"

"REALLY!!"

"Don't eat that fruit!" said God.

"Why?"

"Because I am your Father and I said so!" said God, wondering why He hadn't stopped after making the elephants.

A few minutes later God saw the kids having an apple break and was angry. "Didn't I just tell you not to eat that fruit?" the First Parent asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you?"

"I dunno," Eve answered.

"She started it!" Adam said.

"Did not!"

"DID!"

"DIDN’T!"

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve should have children of their own.

Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed. But there is reassurance in this story. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give them wisdom and they haven't taken it, don't be too hard on yourself. If even God had trouble handling his children, what makes you think it would be a piece of cake for you?

St James the Apostle: 25 July

James and his brother John were sons of Zebedee and fishermen from Galilee - the 'sons of thunder', as the gospel writers describe their impetuous characters and fiery tempers.

James stands out on three accounts: he was one of the three disciples who witnessed the Transfiguration of Christ. Jesus took him, along with Peter and John, to 'watch' with him in the garden of Gethsemane. Finally, he went on to be the first apostle to die for the Christian faith, when in AD 44 King Herod Agrippa put him to the sword in Jerusalem at Passover time.

In the centuries following his death, James became associated with the evangelising of Spain, and as a powerful defender of Christianity against the Moors. The heyday of the cult of Santiago de Compostela was from the 12th to the 15th century, and the pilgrimage to Compostela became one of the most important of medieval Christendom. This in time transformed the iconography of James, and his emblems became the pilgrim's hat and the scallop-shell of Compostela.

Over 400 English churches have been dedicated to St James.

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