Prayer News – April 2023

“See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.
The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me.”

Song of Songs 2: 11 – 13

Winter seems to be holding on a little here on the Isle of Arran.  We are still seeing snow on the mountains, and the occasional flurry at lower ground.  And yet, as Albert Camus said, ‘Once in the midst of a seemingly endless Winter, I discovered within myself an invincible Summer.’

As believers in the Lord Jesus, we find that we have an ‘invincible Summer’ that goes by another name: resurrection life!  The death and resurrection of Jesus mark an entirely new season in the Spirit.  In entering into his life, we move into the new creation that springs up
from within us with a new and living hope!

The world around us groans, and there is trouble all around, but within us is a confidence in Jesus whose Kingdom has begun, is now, and will be fully here in the future!  We hope and pray that you will know the rich blessings of the Risen Jesus this season and always.

Lord, we give you thanks for..

• Signs of a significantly improved ferry service for the island with the return of the MV Caledonian Isles in early April.
• The faithful folks who support the Sannox vision in so many ways – through prayer, volunteering, hosting and financial giving.
• Exciting plans developing for our summer Open Days, Arran Open Studios, and Brodick Highland Games.
• The unfolding of the Sannox vision, knowing that You are in complete control of the timing and the provision – knowing that we can trust You for everything!

• The flow of resident guests and day visitors to continue and increase in 2023 and for the preparations the staff are making to welcome folks back in hopefully greater numbers.   Pray specifically for more bookings for April and May.
• Our upcoming events around the Easter Weekend, that they will be a time of blessing and celebration of our Risen Lord (see below).
• The programme of Retreats – that there will be a good response to each one.
• For our local Church of Scotland friends who are facing challenging closures and mergers – pray for smooth joining together, good relationships and for the communities that will be without places of worship.
• God to open doors to funds from Trusts and other grant-giving bodies to provide the finances required for the Manse renovation and new regular donors to lay a solid foundation in support of our staff and the general running costs.
• Scotland in the transition of leadership at a national level.
• For our staff – Andrew, Jim, Heidi and Michelle – and our volunteers who faithfully support the work of SCC.

This year Easter weekend is Friday 7 April to Sunday 9 April.  We always enjoy people coming together from the island and the mainland to be with us at Easter.  The key events to note are:

• 2 pm Good Friday, 7 April – Arran Churches Together “Walk of Witness” from Holy Cross RC Church to St Brides Church of Scotland in Brodick. We join with the churches of Arran in this silent Walk of Witness on Good Friday.
• 2.30 – 4 pm Saturday 8 April – Prayer walk around Sannox Christian Centre grounds and the beach following the story of Easter.  The walk has a number of stations where we stop, pray and ponder.  This was devised a number of years ago by our Farsi guests and is a powerful and moving experience.  Arrive between 2.30 and 4 pm and follow Jesus’ path to the cross using guided notes.  Tea and coffee will be provided.
• 6.30 am Easter Sunday – Sunrise service on Sannox beach followed by breakfast in Dundarroch Cottage.
• 2.30 pm Easter Sunday, 9 April – A service of worship and praise in Sannox church led by Andrew and Jim, followed by tea, coffee and chat.

Please pray for these events.

Our next Friends of Sannox prayer gathering is at 8.00pm on Monday 3rd April 2023.  We look forward to praying and worshipping together with as many of you as possible.   Prayer underpins all we seek to do for the advancement of God’s Kingdom – please join us if you can.

‘Sannox Stitches’ Knitting Retreats
25 – 27 April and 8 – 10 September
Join us for a few days to rest, restore, renew and refresh…and knit!!

Each day is framed with times of worship, reflection and prayer but with plenty of time to knit and chat together. There will be chance to take part in a Knitalong, or to work on your own Works-In-Progress!  We hope to include demonstrations and workshops with local island fibre artists too.

The retreat is open to those who want to stay at Sannox and to those who want to stay offsite.

Suggested donation for the three-day retreat programme: £30

Suggested donation for accommodation per person per night if staying at Dundarroch: £35

Please note: to maximise our capacity, we suggest you come with a friend and share a room. Priority will be given to those able/willing to do that. You will be welcome to add extra days either side of the retreat dates.

Journaling as a Spiritual Practice
In-person day retreat at Sannox – Saturday 29th April

Christians have been putting ‘ink on paper’ for centuries as a way of processing the movements of the heart in relation to faith. Whether exploring what we believe, expressing ourselves to God on paper, or just navigating or recording our life’s experiences, journaling can be a valuable tool to encourage us in our spiritual lives.

Join us for this day retreat where we’ll explore some insights and exercises in journaling. The course is led by Andrew, who has had a consistent journaling practice for over 10 years.

We begin with morning prayer at 9.30pm going through to 3.30pm.  Bring a packed lunch – drinks provided.

Suggested donation: £20.

WILD GOOSE:  Life in the Spirit
In-person day retreat at Sannox – Saturday 20th May

The Celts depicted the Holy Spirt to be like the wild goose – entirely free and unpredictable!

On the approach to Pentecost weekend, come and explore some of the ways of the Spirit in our lives.

The day begins with morning worship at 9.30am and closes by 3.30pm. Bring a packed lunch. Drinks will be available.

Suggested donation: £20

The monthly Sannox Saturdays – special times of worship, prayer and teaching – continue on the first Saturday of each month. We start at 2 pm with a cuppa and a catch up and we enter into worship by 2.30pm.  We usually finish by 4pm

Our next Sannox Saturday is on the 1st April 2023, and links in with our Easter events with a focus on the Cross.

“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.  Be blessed and protected in all you do for the Kingdom, in the mighty and beautiful name of Jesus.

The Trustees of Sannox Christian Centre