Welcome to this month’s News and Prayer Updates email. We’re so grateful for your partnership in all God is doing at Sannox Chrisitan Centre, and we hope you find these updates useful for your prayers and your own walk with the Lord.
Betwixt
This January newsletter will likely be winding its way to you in those days in between and around Christmas and New Year – that in-between time, where no one really knows what day it is, or whether they are coming or going! We hope and pray whatever Christmas or New Year Celebrations you are having are filled with love and the joy of Christ. All of our days, in reality, are found in a ‘betwixt’ time – Christ has come, and we celebrate that – but as Christians we continue to look to the horizon for his coming in glory. Even if that is not in our lifetime, the anticipation of Jesus each and every moment is not a frustrating wait, but an expectant and hopeful wait. Whatever lies before us, however wonderful or challenging it is, we have the blessing of knowing that the ultimate reality is simply ‘Christ’ and his renewed heaven and earth. What a hope!
We trust 2026 will be filled with Christ for you and yours. We hope to see you at Sannox Christian Centre at some point through the year! Every blessing!
Changes Afoot…
This year will bring a number of changes at Sannox Christian Centre, the most significant of which will be the retirement of Heidi Nicklin in April. Heidi has served us so well as Administrator and Bookkeeper for a number of years and will be sorely missed! Much more will be said in future days, but I know you will pray as we begin to work through all the important transitions, search for a new staff member, and for Heidi who will be adjusting to the idea of retirement! There will be more information about the job vacancy in due course.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Give thanks for:
– A blessed ‘Celtic Advent’ retreat at Sannox
– A lovely Christmas Eve carol service at Sannox
– The staff, volunteers and local people who invest so much time, prayer and presence at Sannox through the year
– Our financial supporters, who make our work possible
– The successful granting of the Stage 1 warrant for the foundation design of the Beehive Chapel, Cave and new drainage for the whole site, and for the opportunities to move to the next part of the process!
– Regular and occasional donors to the work at Sannox throughout 2025.
Please pray for:
– The Sannox programme for 2026
– The development of a ‘House Team’ to take the work of the Centre forward and those who are responding
– Heidi as she prepares to hand over responsibilities, and for a new member of staff to take over her work
– An individual who could be on the Sannox Board as a Trustee and Treasurer, working with our Administrator who looks after our bookkeeping
January Prayer Gathering
Our next Friends of Sannox prayer gathering will be at 8.00pm on Monday 5th January. We hope you can join us for a time of prayer and worship.
Come and Visit Us
Bookings at SCC are always open! Come aside and enjoy rest and restoration, with some time away from it all. Or, you might need to just have some time to seek God in this season and explore what he is saying to you just now. You can join in with daily morning worship and prayer, explore the island, take light or challenging walks, see the wildlife and seek after God in this beautiful island. The team look forward to welcoming you!
Upcoming Events and Retreats
Sannox Saturday
Our next Sannox Saturday takes place on Saturday 3rd January. As usual, we will start at 2pm with coffee, then a time of worship, prayer and a message following. We look forward to seeing all who are able to gather with us as we get 2026 off to a good start! Andrew Clark will be speaking this month.
Day Retreat: Praying the Bible – Saturday 17th January 2026
Explore ways to pray using God’s word as our springboard and inspiration, allowing the text to shape our calling out to God and seeking to pray according to his will and purpose.
Email admin@sannox.org to book. Bring your lunch – hot drinks provided
Suggested donation: £25.
Creative Day Retreat: Freehand Celtic Knotwork – 21st February 2026
Come along and take part in a relaxing creative art day, exploring how to create beautiful free-hand Celtic knotwork. You can use it to make cards, decorate text, or however else your imagination suggests! Art supplies will be provided, but you can also bring your own. Donations for this day retreat will be £30 (to cover supplies, refreshments, etc). Bring your own food for lunchtime. To book, contact us on admin@sannox.org
Sannox Stitches – 10th – 12th March 2026
Join us for a relaxing few days of knitting, conversation and personal refreshment at our 6th Sannox Stitches retreat! Open to all knitters, crocheters, spinners…in fact, whatever fibre craft you do! We include space to walk, visit the local craft shop, and encourage you to see a little of the island whilst you’re with us. Our retreat is built around a gentle rhythm of morning, midday and evening prayer which is optional to attend – all are warmly welcome.
Accommodation: We have 9 beds in 4 rooms at Sannox. To maximise attendance possibilities, we encourage you to be willing to share where possible. There are local Airbnb and the Corrie Hotel nearby.
Food: We are mainly self-catered, but we will include an evening meal together on the central evening.
SUGGESTED DONATION: We suggest a donation of £150 for the whole (2 nights) event to cover operational costs, food and the retreat programme (£100 if staying off-site). We don’t want finance to be a barrier – give what you can.
For more information or to book, please email admin@sannox.org
Shared Solitude: Pilgrimage on Iona – 20th to 25th March 2026
Over the past few months, we have been talking to group of Christians who are developing a network of pilgrim routes all over Scotland, including a potential route on Arran. One of our contacts is Sarah Akehurst, who lives on Iona. Sarah is organising a pilgrimage in March on Iona and has asked us to let our Friends of Sannox know about it. It involves walking and individual spiritual accompaniment. Places are limited, probably 6 – 8, as there are just two people offering accompaniment. You can find out more by clicking on this link –
https://mullanotherway.co.uk/pilgrimage-on-iona.
The Sannox Prayer
“Today I choose to stand in this place you have called me to,
And I declare that You are a Mighty God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.
Your Kingdom shall endure and will never be shaken.
Open the windows of Heaven and pour out Your promised blessings in this generation.
Revive us, restore us and heal our land.
Thank you for going before us to open the way and remove all obstacles.
Increase our Faith, stir up Hope and keep us grounded and walking in Love.
Thank you that You are creating a dwelling place for God and man here – in Sannox, on Arran, for the nations.
Amen”
We bless you in the name of Jesus, to receive all that the Father has for you, and we thank you for your continuing support of His work at SCC.
The trustees and staff of Sannox Christian Centre
