Dear Friends,
We had an amazing three weeks of Summerfest, and it was lovely to welcome so many people over the summer. We are now settling back into a regular pattern of life having enjoyed a week together with just Community.
Please do let us know if there is anything we can do to be praying for you at: prayer@scargillmovement.org
We would very much value your prayers as we begin afresh this autumn, and we are still praying for more community members to join the adventure.
If you wish to learn more about Community and life at Scargill then please do listen to our Podcast – episode 3 has been released this week which is a conversation about Hospitality: click HERE [Spotify link]
Director post advert
You may be aware that we have released our advert for a new Director, to be joining us next April, with interviews this autumn. If you know anyone who might be interested in applying then do please direct them here for further information:
https://scargillmovement.org/community/join-community/director/
We would very much value your prayers!
There are a few things we would like to highlight on the advertised programme for the next couple of months:
Wed 24 to Fri 26 September – We are working in partnership with ReSource and this is a two day retreat for clergy and church leaders. There is still space for you to book – see here:
https://scargillmovement.org/visit/event/clergy-and-lay-leaders-inspired-by-the-psalms/
Our September Online Quiet Day has moved from Wed 10th September to now be on Sat 27th September to join in with National Retreat Week. This Quiet Day will be led by Shaun Lambert. See here to book (free and donation tickets): https://scargillmovement.org/visit/event/online-quiet-day-for-national-retreat-week/
Mon 20th to Fri 24th October ‘loaves and fishes, gifts and grace’ led by Annie Naish is no longer running online, but there are plenty of spaces in the house for you to join us: https://scargillmovement.org/visit/event/loaves-fishes-gifts-grace/
Here is Di’s latest reflection. Enjoy!
I have always loved this beautiful photograph that Phil found a few years ago. It was taken by Sebastian Leon Prado. It speaks to me of the companionship of being with another, of respect and, joy, of friendship and trust. Of how sitting alongside can be sacred and so often a blessing.
In Chapel this morning I was ‘trying’ to quieten my restless mind and soon found myself saying the mantra ‘Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner’ with, to be honest, little success. I did not want to be continually reminded of my sins. What I really wanted, was to have Jesus come and sit beside me and me with him.
Of course, I need mercy and I certainly know I am a sinner. But this morning I just desired to feel God’s presence, to feel His love, His forgiveness, His understanding and so I began to pray, ‘Jesus Christ Son of God will you sit with me? May I sit with you? And for a few precious moments we sat together.
After breakfast I was of half a mind to share this in our morning meeting but felt it was trivial, only to have another community member reference Revelation 3:20! Which in The Message version says:
“Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.”
But before this soul-stirring invitation there is verse 19:
“The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!”
Here is a picture of the Laodicean church, where those who were called by Jesus now had Jesus on the outside, knocking to be let in. They have forgotten and were now, sadly and foolishly, looking for satisfaction elsewhere. So here is their ‘wake-up call’, an invitation to a crowded church where Jesus is on the outside! What a sad and sobering reality for many of us.
The call is for the church in Laodicea to repent for having lost their first love of Jesus, to repent from departing from the gospel of the kingdom which Christ had given them to proclaim. And Yes, the call is to the Church of Laodicea, but it is really an individual call for each of them. This is not a call or an invitation to a crowded church meal, no, the church at Laodicea like all our churches was made up of individuals and so we have an invitation, a personal invitation to each believer. “The people I love, I call.”
There is also a personal invitation for each of us. An invitation to choose to be alone, alone with our truest spiritual Friend who is on the outside knocking, in love; waiting for repentance, waiting for us once again to open the door to His love and forgiveness.
If we open the door, and if we call, Jesus will come in. Jesus is eager to come in, and be with us, and eat with us “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you.” This is not simply a commoner dining with a king it is also a king dining with a commoner. Like in Sebastian’s photo there’s a beautiful mutuality, a coming together that is full of grace and forgiveness.
Can you hear Jesus knocking? I prayed ‘Jesus Christ Son of God will you sit with me? May I sit with you?’ and we did and so can you.
With love and prayers from Phil, Di and the Scargill Community