Students at our local Comprehensive, reading A Level RE, opted to experience a full-blown retreat with Sistercian Nuns in Lancashire, and had the Rector along as minibus driver and kind of
'chaplain'. A deeply formative time for all of us: students, staff, and Tom.
Having joined in the chanting of psalms morning noon and night for two days, we were given the task of choosing one verse from a psalm and expressing our thoughts on it in watercolour. Here's what
came of it:
SUMMER FAYRE 2009
The Friends of
Holy Cross Ryton
plying the punters
with cool drinks
Tombola with
Maureen,
Beryl,
Christa,
Ann,
Maureen.
Wow the sound!
Steel Band
Newcastle
All Stars
Street
Orchestra
did us proud.
Mayor of
Gateshead
practicing
his striking
skills.
More tea Vicar? If it's with Margaret, Audrey and Ruth well of course.
24-7 PRAYER WEEK September 2009
Youth Vigil worship songs
Sunrise of Adoration: every strip someone's declaration of praise to God
Stick a button on a country, and pray for people known or unknown, there.
Flipchart sheets for declarations, questions, longings, fears; sometimes stumbling always heart-felt prayer.
As the days go on, walls plastered with post-its, cards, drawings.
A place of calm, an opportunity for focus, for the expression of what is deep down, offered in honesty and hope.