Prayer News August 2022

Prayer News August 2022

“Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.”  [Ps 89:14]

There is no doubt that this is a difficult time for the UK (and for many other nations) as we listen to the news each day. Throughout the world we desperately need leaders we can trust and respect, people who will clearly demonstrate that they have honesty and integrity as well as compassion for the ‘widow and the orphan’, peacemakers, people who can lead and make decisions that are righteous and just, in the best interests of society and people who are guided by God.

Righteousness and justice are key qualities God is looking for in us all.  They were qualities that made the early Church, including the Celtic Christians, stand out from the pagan world around them.  They are also key qualities underpinning the Sannox vision as we build the Sannox Christian Centre – both physically and spiritually.

This month we start a new chapter in the unfolding Sannox story with the arrival of Andrew Clark as Centre and Ministry Team Leader and also as Pastor to Arran Baptist Church.  Andrew takes up his post on 1 August and will be the speaker at the Sannox Saturday afternoon gathering on 6 August.  His background as a pastor and his knowledge and understanding of Celtic spirituality will strengthen the staff team and enable us to continue creating a special place for the hosting of God’s presence on Arran, building into its foundations of righteousness, justice, love, compassion, faithfulness and  other Christian qualities to mark Sannox out as a place dedicated to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In partnership with Jim, Heidi and Michelle he will help build community at and around the Centre, reaching out to the towns and villages of Arran and beyond.

We look forward to continuing this amazing journey with you all!

Lord, we give You thanks for…

  • Your faithfulness in sustaining and providing for Sannox over the last 10 years;
  • Your timing and provision in the appointment of Andrew Clark, the provision of a teaching post on Arran for his wife Tracey and the provision of temporary accommodation;
  • The staff team You have brought to Sannox to serve the vision;
  • The faithful folk on Arran, in Scotland, the UK and overseas who support the Sannox vision in so many ways – through prayer, volunteering, hosting and financial giving;
  • The success of the recent concert with Celtish, and the Song of the Island event with Francis McFaul and his group Fresh Manna;
  • The many answers to prayer over the years – increasing our confidence that there are more answers to come!

Please pray for….

  • An increased flow of resident guests and new day visitors;
  • The events programme – see below; in particular the new ventures of the Open Days and reception for the artists taking part in Arran Open Studios;
  • The Sannox Saturdays – that more new visitors will be drawn to attend – and the ongoing development of the events programme;
  • A permanent home of good quality, the right size and at a reasonable cost for Andrew and his family;
  • Favour on the Manse renovation plans which have been re-submitted to North Ayrshire Council planning department following their request for an amendment, that there will be no significant delays in granting approval;
  • Our fundraiser Kevin who is developing a Business Plan with George and Alistair in preparation for submitting bids for both capital and revenue funds for the Manse renovation and general running costs;
  • 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 the general running costs.

Project 200 Special Events Week (6 – 15 August)

Please pray for, and join us if you can, this week of special events at Sannox:

Saturday 6 August – The week begins with Andrew Clark, our new Centre and Ministry Team Leader, speaking at 2 pm telling his amazing story of how God called him to Arran and Sannox Christian Centre.

Tuesday and Wednesday 9 and 10 August – are Sannox Open Days with prayer, worship and reflective activities in the church, the Sannox Exhibition in the vestibule, a guided walk, massage, storytelling for children, box making, rainbow hearts and refreshments. The Open Days are  from 10 am to 4 pm.

Thursday 11 August – we will set up our exhibition for Arran Open Studios. Our artists this year are Ronnie & Barbara McNeice, Angie Farrell, Angela Brookens and Moira Shirreff. On the Thursday evening we are hosting a reception for the artists and organisers of Arran Open Studios in Sannox church.

Friday 12 August to Monday 16 August – The art exhibition – an Arran Open Studio venue at Sannox, will be open to the public. Please pray particularly for many guests to attend and opportunities for conversations.

Please note that we have a spare room in Dundarroch from Thursday 11 to Monday 16 August for an individual or couple.  If you would like to join us and be part of the team during Arran Open Studios, please contact Heidi on admin@sannox.org  .

Sannox Saturdays

The monthly Sannox Saturdays – special afternoons of worship, prayer and teaching – continue on the first Saturday of each month up to the end of the year at 2 pm in Sannox Church.  The programme for the rest of this year is:

6 August – Andrew Clark (see above)

3 September – Rev. Maggie Lane The miracle of resurrection is usually told at Easter, but what if you have your own resurrection story to tell, of dying and coming back to life again. Of being somewhere in those in between moments of life and death, of seeing and experiencing something so real and transformative as to never be the same again. To meet Jesus and be given a commission to fulfil, like ‘Mission Impossible’. This was my choice – I could stay and be with him or return and fulfil what was being asked of me to give the church in our nation a message of repentance, hope and healing but with the promise that He would be with me, no matter how scared I was of doing this. I said  yes! Can I invite you to come and let me share my story with you.

1 October – Andy Hall (details to follow)

5 November – Andrew Clark (details to follow)

3 December – Andy Hall (Andy will be leading a conference on the ‘2nd Advent’ from 2 – 4 December]

Put these dates in your diary and plan to come if you can.

Financial Management

Jim McKay, who has served Sannox, and in particular the Board of Directors, faithfully in a voluntary basis as Finance Manager for 10 years, is stepping down at the end of September.  The Directors are currently seeking two people. Firstly, a new Board member with a finance or accounting background to oversee this key activity.  Secondly, and more urgently, we are looking for someone to carry out the ‘finance admin’ function – ideally someone with experience of the Xero finance software system as we are in the process of transferring our finance records from Excel spreadsheets to Xero.  Please do pray about this and if you know of someone, or you feel God is ‘nudging’ you towards either of these positions, please contact either George Hazel at george@georgehazel.com or Alistair Barton at alistair@sannox.org for an initial chat.

August prayer gathering

Our next Friends of Sannox prayer gathering is at 8.00pm on Monday 1 August.  We look forward to praying and worshipping together with as many of you as possible next Monday.  Andrew Clark starts work with us on the 1 August so it’s a chance to join us and welcome him to Sannox! Please join us.

The login details are;

Topic: Sannox Christian Centre Prayer Gathering
Time: Aug 1, 2022 08:00 PM London

To Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86341996305?pwd=ZC9lYWR1c2FwVnk1NVplbm5PMURKdz09

Meeting ID: 863 4199 6305
Passcode: 634960
One tap mobile
+15642172000,,86341996305#,,,,*634960# US
+16465588656,,86341996305#,,,,*634960# US (New York)

 

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

The Directors of Sannox Christian Centre