The Scargill Community are continuing to welcome guests through our doors, who are enjoying the refurbished Marsh Lounge, seeing all the other fruit of the building work labours of the past year, and continue to receive from God via the experience of meeting here, walking in the beautiful grounds, listening to inspired speakers, and sharing conversation over meals.

Swifts and Swallows, our Summer bird visitors, have returned and it is a joy to see them soaring in flight over the site, and watch the change into Summer revealed by the plants, trees and creatures that call Scargill their home.

Phil and Di have enjoyed the first month of their sabbatical, and are to be away for another two months of sabbatical time. Di has taken time to write a reflection on knitting – see below.

We are preparing for the release of our latest combined Momentum magazine and Programme covering new events running from September 2024 to February 2025, and is due out on Monday 13th May in the morning (during office hours).

Our website events pages will be made live to coincide with printed copies of our publication starting to reach your doorstep. When the programme is released, do put in your booking requests via the website (rather than by ‘phone) to help our lovely Admin Team deal with your booking requests in the order that they are made, and we thank you in advance for your patience as we work through each booking in turn.

In the meantime, do look at our website for online and in-house events (May to August 2024) that still have space – we would love to see you!

We would like to highlight the following on-line events for you to join from the comfort of your own home:

Monday 13th to Thursday 16th May – Living gently and generously ONLINE – led by Roy Searle
Saturday 25th May – Online Quiet Day May 2024

Here is Diane’s reflection on knitting – Enjoy!

Marjorie knitting by Leonard Fuller

So our sabbatical has started and I have given myself the task of learning how to use a circular needle to knit a jumper. Not a very challenging or inspiring task you may say, but one that has already led me to reflect and learn.

The last jumper I attempted to knit was several years ago and it came out square!!!!!!!!!!  I had bought a pattern, the correct wool and as far as I know followed the instructions to the tee – often, as you can imagine, drinking a cuppa as well. It was all very disappointing.

But here I am loving the challenge and the circular needles; so easy to hold and at last I have reached a section where all I do is go round and round in circles knitting away, which may I quickly say is not the profound part. No, enlightenment came when all was not as it should be, when all was not plain sailing, by any means. You see it took me several attempts to cast on using a Swedish method and then I found ‘making a stitch’ quite demanding, my fingers failing to be either dexterous or nimble and to top it all I keep losing my markers. But on I go, why? because I have a lovely supportive friend who is always there on the end of an email offering advice and encouragement.

Now the book of Proverbs gives us much sound advice about friends:
Friends give pleasant, sincere advice, seeking our highest good (Proverbs 27:9; Proverbs 12:26); Friends challenge each other to meet the highest good (Proverbs 27:17). They also command us to, “… not forsake your friend” (Proverbs 27:10). Mine certainly hasn’t.

But what really came to mind were the lyrics from a great old hymn – “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” written by Joseph Scriven, a native of Dublin, Ireland (1820-1886).

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Here is the reminder that God is our refuge and strength, an ever–present help in trouble (Psalm 46v1). We can take all our concerns and needs to Jesus in prayer. Jesus who also calls us friend.  In John 15 we read: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.”

So, my friends, much to reflect and be grateful for. Not only in the richness of true friendships here on earth but also in the knowledge that we have a heavenly friend and saviour who cares and loves each one of us.

With love and prayers from

Phil, Di and the Scargill Community

Dear Friends

We would like to wish you a very joyful Easter.

We have just finished our Holy Week and Easter Weekend event, which was a moving and joy-filled experience. You can hear my talk from Easter Sunday here.

Di and I have just begun our three-month sabbatical, but be encouraged to know that Di wants to carry on with her monthly reflections.

Please pray for the Community during this time as they continue to welcome guests.

Below is Di’s reflection. Enjoy!

Diane writes:

Happy Easter all.
We have travelled through Holy Week, waited through Holy Saturday and celebrated our risen lord on Easter Sunday. Chocolate eggs, or rabbits have been eaten and we can now look forward to Spring, to new life in Christ. 

But just before we do, can we have a look at this most beautiful of paintings:
‘Mary and the mother of Judas embrace’ by Nicholas Mynheer, from ‘The Life of Mary’ series 2014, and then read the poem.

Two Mothers

Long time ago, so I have been told,
Two angels once met on streets paved  with gold.
“By the stars in your crown,” said the one to the other
“I see that on earth, you too, were a mother.

And by, the blue-tinted halo you wear
“You, too, have known sorrow and  deepest despair…”
“Ah yes,” she replied, “I once had a son,
A sweet little lad, full of laughter and fun.”

“But tell of your child.” “Oh, I knew I was blessed
From the moment I first held him close to my breast,
And my heart almost burst with the joy of that day.”
“Ah, yes,” said the other, “I felt the same way.”

The former continued: “The first steps he took-
So eager and breathless; the sweet startled look
Which came over his face – he trusted me so.”
“Ah, yes,” said the other, “How well do I know”

“But soon he had grown to a tall handsome boy,
So stalwart and kind – and it gave me so much joy
To have him just walk down the street by my side”
“Ah yes, “said the other mother, “I felt the same pride.”

“How often I shielded and spared him from pain
And when he for others was so cruelly slain.
When they crucified him – and they spat in his face
How gladly would I have hung there in his place!”

A moment of silence – “Oh then you are she –
The mother of Christ”; and she fell on one knee.
But the Blessed one raised her up, drawing her near,
And kissed from the cheek of the woman, a tear.

“Tell me the name of the son you love so,
That I may share with your grief and your woe.”
She lifted her eyes, looking straight at the other,
“He was Judas Iscariot: I am his mother.”

[Author Unknown]

With love and prayers from

Phil, Di and the Scargill Community