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’ll find these updates useful for your prayers and your own walk with the Lord.
Book Recommendation
Rebecca Friedlander is an American prayer warrior, writer, speaker, musician, film-maker and retreat leader with a hearty commitment to Celtic Christian spirituality. She has even visited us here on Arran. One of Rebecca’s recent books, ‘Altar of Uncut Stones: Cultivating Places of God’s Presence’ is one that speaks right to the heart of all we are seeking God for here at Sannox Christian Centre. We’re not just about a beautiful little retreat centre…we are passionate about the pursuit? of God’s presence, worship and prayer, seeing God’s Kingdom advance on Arran and in the nations. Rebecca’s book takes a biblical journey through places of encounter, blessing and consecration in scripture, and invites us into the adventure of making our lives and the places we inhabit ‘altars of prayer’. You can get it online here: ‘Altar of Uncut Stones’ Some of our events and retreats later this year and next year will be devoted to these ideas…you will be very welcome to join us.
BUILDING OUR HOUSE TEAMS
Life at Sannox Christian Centre (SCC) is always evolving as we build from the future. We’ve had many blessings and good developments in recent years, and we give thanks to the Lord for his leading. Our range of day and residential retreats, teaching programme, and creative projects are growing, and we are continually exploring new opportunities for the future. This can only develop in line with our volunteer capacity and valuable input from others.
Over the next few months in our News Updates, we want to highlight a few new ‘House Teams’ we are seeking to develop that you may feel able to be a part of. Some will be suited to those resident on Arran, whereas some can be participated in from a distance or as part of your visit to us. Check September’s prayer email update for more information about these two teams:
Host, Hospitality and Housekeeping Team
Communications Team
Come and Visit Us
Bookings at SCC are always open! Come aside and enjoy some rest and restoration, with time away from it all. Or, you might need 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!
October Prayer Gathering
Our next Friends of Sannox prayer gathering will be at 8.00pm on Monday 6th October. We hope you can join us for a time of prayer and worship on Zoom – contact us for details.
Giving thanks for Ray Simpson
The ‘Celtic Chrisitan’ stream recently lost one of its leading lights to Glory! Ray Simpson, was the founding Guardian of the Community of Aidan and Hilda, and a prolific writer on Celtic Christian spirituality, mission and saints. Ray was convinced our Celtic legacy in these lands has so much to say to us about how we navigate faith and life in the 21st century. We remember and honour his legacy, and all his dear ones. If you’re interested in exploring Ray’s writings, we recommend ‘St Aidan’s Way of Mission’, ‘Soul Friendship’, and especially ‘New Celtic Monasticism for Everyday People’.
Sannox Website Redesign
If you’ve clicked on to Sannox.org recently, you’ll have noticed that we’re in the midst of a website refresh. Our current site has been active for around 6 years, and over that time many things, at the Centre, have made significant moves forward, and in the digital world things look dated quickly! We’re grateful to Pete Kirkwood who is working with Andrew to develop the site. Keep an eye on the website for when it is relaunched soon!
PRAYER REQUESTS
Give thanks for:
– Another great Sannox Stitches Retreat in early September, and the folks already booked in for our Sannox Stitches in March and September 2026
– A good day retreat on prayer walking in mid-September
Please pray for:
– The autumn’s residential and day retreats
– Bookings for the Sannox programme for the rest 2025
– Preparation of the Sannox programme for 2026
– The development of ‘House Teams’ to take the work of the Centre forward
– Ongoing plans for the Beehive Chapel, funding for the Manse, and ongoing running costs
– An individual who could be on the Sannox Board as a Trustee and Treasurer, working with Heidi, our Administrator who looks after our bookkeeping
– God to call people to serve as Trustees on the Board from Arran and beyond, to ensure continuity in the future, bring new skills and strengthen our representation on Arran
Upcoming Events and Retreats
Sannox Saturday
Our next Sannox Saturday takes place on Saturday 4th October. As usual, we will start at 2.00pm 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! Andrew Clark will be speaking this month, continuing the theme of building altars of prayer.
Day Retreat: ‘Open the Book’: Saturday 18th October
This retreat was initially planned for 2024, but the weather wasn’t cooperating! We’re now pleased to get it back in the schedule for the rest of 2025. The day will be a devotional orientation to the story of the scriptures – a refresher of God’s great, epic story. We’ll also explore ways to read the various biblical genres and a number of tools to enable us to get the best of engaging with the Bible.
Those coming to participate are invited to give a donation towards the work of the centre – suggested donation £25.
If you’re planning to come from further afield, you’d be most welcome to come and stay for a night – our suggested donation towards the ongoing ministry of Sannox is £40pppn. To book for the day, and also any accommodation, please email Heidi at admin@sannox.org
Day Retreat: Celtic Advent: Saturday 22nd November
The Celtic saints, like the Orthodox traditions, celebrated a 40 day period of Advent. Come and share in some Celtic Christian flavoured reflections as we head towards Advent 2025, which will culminate in a reflective sharing around the Lord’s table using beautifully poetic Celtic liturgy.
Those coming to participate are invited to give a donation towards the work of the centre – suggested donation £25.
If you’re planning to come from further afield, you’d be most welcome to come and stay for a night – our suggested donation towards the ongoing ministry of Sannox is £40pppn. To book for the day, and also any accommodation, please email Heidi at admin@sannox.org
Christmas at Sannox – Wednesday 24th December
We will gather for carols at Sannox on Christmas Eve again this year – come along and sing some of your favourite carols, reflect on scripture and prepare your heart for the Christmas celebrations. We start at 2.00pm with refreshments, with the carol service beginning at 2.30pm. Come early for a seat!
Looking for a Christmas getaway?
If you’re looking for an alternative Christmas, why not come and stay in Dundarroch Cottage and have some peace away from all the hustle and bustle? Dundarroch is also a great way to get the family together over Christmas, with 9 beds available in 4 rooms.
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
