We led the Post Easter retreat this year and had a really special time together using our music & visuals, together with art-work created by the participants (some of whom were initially reluctant but really blessed by what they produced!) Scargill House is such a wonderful base in the North and we long to see it restored to it's former glory (to God's glory!)

We are praying that we'll be taking part in another retreat there one day........

Scargill still has a lot to offer to the church. The vision of a beautiful, restful place, where people come to share the home of community members, to receive their care, to be inspired by worship and Spirit-anointed teaching are the essential ingredients. The community is an expensive 'luxury', but it is the distinctive feature that makes it different. Economics are vitally important, just as many Retreat Houses have had to tighten their belts and find new ways of fulfilling their purpose. Just as Lee Abbey and Scargill experienced in the past, there will be the need for sacrifice initially as the work is re-established, but I do believe this is God's doing.

We were members from 1983 to 1987 and two of our children, Matthew and Naomi, were born there. One day Bishop David of Ripon held Matthew up in the dinning room and he started playing with the lights that hung down. Someone from the community said "Look Bishop David has help Matthew see the light". I think for many this has been their experience of Scargill, a place to see the light. While there we saw many, both guests and community that were loved, supported, helped, challenged, encouraged, envisioned, equipped in their walk and in some cases jog with Jesus. Highlights for me were after a week at Scargill a group of year 10 students left having 10 new Christians and a clash of cultures when B&Q trainee managers fully committed to the material world met similarly aged people fully committed to God.

It really hit me hard when I heard the news of Scargill closing and spent the next three days emotionally thrown about, very saddened, angry, denial, memories and the big question WHY God, so I had an insight into how Nehemiah felt.

Should it continue, who knows?

What is for sure is that this country needs the breath of God to sweep across it. There seem to be many people hammering on the gates of heaven, yet nothing gives. Like a huge lake crying to be released and yet a dam holds it back. So is there a place for a community of single minded people, who would haul heaven to earth? People not shackled by convention but who listen to and follow Jesus, a people who God rejoices with. This does not need to be Scargill community, it is my challenge as I do a half hour commute by car and work a seven and a half hour day. However sometimes like someone held too long under water I need to burst out and take a deep breath of oxygen. I need to return to my natural world, not submersed, but in the air.

So may be there still is a place for a haven, a refuge, where God can restore, nurture, train, equip, encourage and where new life in God can begin.

We will be praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation .... so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.

We are so encouraged to hear about the meeting on Wednesday and we will be praying very much for a positive outcome.

You might be interested to know that the CARE prayer guide has, for Nov 26, a prayer for "those who are trying to reconcile people involved in conflicts, arguments and legal differences" and asks for "divine wisdom" and "ways to rebuild broken relationships and find a place of harmony."

I thought this was rather wonderful as it will mean that people who may never have heard of Scargill could, in effect, be praying for the meeting!

Can I also encourage you all to keep going and not give up. The picture comes to me of a journey, a walk in the country. Setting out, we look at the map and it all looks fairly simple and straightforward on paper. But once we set out and encounter all the stiles, boggy bits, hills, rocks, etc, etc, it is tempting to think why are we doing this? should we have set off? are we going the right way? Of course we are, and we will get there if we just keep going, even if it is harder, and takes longer, than we thought!