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“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40: 27-29 Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that December is here once again! But now is a good time for reflection on the year that has flown by - and for looking ahead. Here at Rochester L’Abri we have much that we are thankful for, and we stand in awe at all that God has been doing. For some time, we have been praying about preparing this branch for the future. And He has heard our prayers! We have seen his provision of wonderful staff – and now also the Carriage House , which - thanks to the continued generosity of the donor – we are expecting will be finished by Spring. Our experience with construction in Missouri is coming in handy, as we are designing the apartment in the style of a Swiss Chalet, as per the donor’s wishes. Jock and I love going to hardware stores and looking at all the options, and we have picked out the kitchen and bathroom styles, gas fireplaces, doors, and paneling etc. The donor wants things to be good quality with solid wood ceilings, floors and cabinets. It’s a new experience not having to sweat over the cost of these things and we are deeply grateful and can look forward to having more wonderful accommodation for this branch. This development is truly a miraculous thing as it has been hoped for ever since the first purchase of the Rochester property in the early 90’s. As I write, the L’Abri International Tustees are gathered at Canadian L’Abri and our prayers are with them, for clarity and fellowship as they carry the responsibility for this growing international work. We regularly pray for some of our newer, more far flung branches, now in South Brazil, South Africa, Australia and Korea. While Jock is away, I have been taking time to reflect on the early days of L’Abri and rereading some of the Schaeffer’s letters. It is very moving to look back and see the unfolding of God’s purposes for their lives as they wrestled with the uncertainty of choices and pressures from home, as well as from the Swiss canton. I am reminded again of the golden thread of God’s leading them, their willingness to be used by Him and what grew out of their faithful daily choices. Especially moving was Schaeffer’s letter home to a member of the mission board, expressing a renewal of the sweetness of his early days of faith. He wrote “… as I walked, I looked up at the Dents (mountains) with their swirling mists so high above me. I thought how our dear Lord comes into a more proper perspective in our thinking in such a place as this - for the higher the mountains the more understandable is the glory of Him who made them and holds them in His hand. But, the other side is also true, man also comes into a more proper place - as the Lord gains in greatness in comparison to the mountains, so man diminishes. And as it is with space, it is also true of time.” On Monday mornings, we have been working through the Psalms , taking turns leading the study. Again and again, we see the psalms give God’s perspective on our experience of human joys and sorrows. We become preoccupied by the everyday challenges, but when we turn to God’s Word we are reminded of His ‘mountain top’ perspective, that He is holding this world and our life in His hands. His majesty and our humanness are a theme that never grows old. His ability to enter in - always for good - is a deep comfort. And we are strengthened by the fact that we have seen prayers answered repeatedly. Do you remember when the L’Abri well failed and we needed $50,000 to connect to city water? The money came in so quickly and that step was actually an essential building block for the development of the carriage house, as all new builds have to be on city water. In addition, shortly afterwards, the city changed local zoning laws to promote the development of secondary dwellings, another essential building block. Did we know that this would all unfold? No, but God did! We have seen and known his faithfulness in both the small personal things as well as in the historical development of this work. It is one of the great encouragements that comes with getting older. Even though we do get tired and weary, our lived experience of God’s faithfulness grows. Remembering His specific answers to prayer is a biblical pattern and His faithful work in the history of L’Abri is indeed a demonstration of the truth and reality of the God who is There, just as Schaeffer wanted L'Abri to be. Recently I was talking about this with a woman who is an Episcopal priest, as we sat in the chairs looking out over Rochester. I was at first a little nervous - she is a very intelligent Yale graduate, but as I talked about the reality of answered prayer, we quickly just became two people enjoying talking about God. Everyone He sends here is significant and a person made in the image of God. Another man has encouraged us all as we have seen significant changes in his life over the last few years of his regular visits. There is nothing better than seeing people discovering the riches of life in Christ. There are so many stories we could tell of significant conversations, answered prayers and the like, all despite our very frail humanness. The constant is our God who is renewing us all and bending us to His purposes. This entering in and taking on our humanity is what we are celebrating this Christmas . What a wonder and joy it is to celebrate this consummate act of loving kindness. May this joy be with each one of you this Christmas. In Christ Alison.
"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end” - Ecclesiastes 3:11 Dear Friends, August’s hot sun has tempered into September’s pleasantly chill dawns and cool dusks. The geese have begun to mull a trip south amidst the gently honking flocks gathering across Rochester’s many lakes and rivers; their wings whispering overhead in silhouetted formations across pastel orange skies each evening. I am reminded of King Solomon’s pensive words on seasons and their testament to the wise timing of our Lord in all things. The year at Rochester continues to bear witness to this truth as many things longed for and prayed for are realized. Alison wrote in June of our day of prayer and fasting as we sought God’s provision for Rochester L’Abri, especially in the smooth transition of Debbie from California. We are overjoyed to report that she joined us at the beginning of the July term! Her joining the team as a worker has been an answer to prayer for all involved - for Debbie, the fulfilment of a long held and carefully considered desire to serve L’Abri and, for the existing team, God’s provision of a single worker to takeover Mercy’s role in the Main House. Debbie came just in time for the fullest term in a few years; one which saw a return to pre-pandemic numbers. The past few weeks have been a wonderful example of just how broad a demographic the Lord brings to L’Abri. We hosted a family, a retiree, several younger people (some with profoundly challenging histories), a pastor facing a crisis of faith and numerous day visitors exploring Christian community. All came seeking shelter in difficult and confusing times and, by the grace of God, found it here at L’Abri. I was personally very thankful for a few students with good practical skills, especially in the removal of a large dead oak overhanging the Main House. Of course, just as the answered prayer for another worker creates additional financial need, so too does God’s gift of more students increase our need for greater energy and sustenance from Him. Please join us in lifting these things to Him as we spend a few weeks resting and catching up on projects that have been put on the back burner, prior to the Fall Retreat in Missouri. As well as praying for the provision of Workers, we had also been petitioning the Lord for helpers . Unusually, no one had requested to become a helper for the second summer term. We have since received two applications to become helpers at Rochester from the November term onwards. This was an encouraging development. Both as reminder of God’s attentiveness to our prayers and a relief that the team will be blessed with another person or two with whom to share the work. Please pray for them as they move and settle into their roles here. Being a helper is a wonderful but sometimes heavy load and a big adjustment. September marks the fulcrum of our year here as we tip away from the steady tempo of our two long summer terms and into the staccato rhythm of Autumn and Winter which will see a Fall Retreat, a short November Term at Rochester, the December Trustees meeting, a Christmas break and then the Winter Retreat. The crescendo culminates in the L’Abri Conference in February which will likely see 400-500 delegates. Many moving parts which require the help of our Heavenly Father. Prayer for the conference in particular would be much appreciated. There have been some changes to costs at the normal venue which priced us out. Providentially, another wonderful downtown location has been found but the additional time spent organizing all this has caused unavoidable delays. Please pray for Jock as he fills the roster and takes care of many administrative tasks. Pray also that good numbers would attend and that the conference would be a time of real nourishment for the attendees and speakers alike. The theme of the 2025 Rochester Conference is “Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times” and the dates are February 14 th & 15 th . Mercy’s garden has been well used by Imogen this year, who has taken over its care. It is wonderful to see the things Mercy left continue to bear fruit. In particular a volunteer squash plant has been prolific at spreading itself around half of the garden and is also producing a large number of fruit. She has enjoyed watching the garden grow into organized chaos as the season has progressed and has also felt the frustration of weeds being much stronger than some of the other plants. Imogen is now in the midst of making a legion of preserves: the cucumbers in particular have been productive, and she has made more jars of pickles than are medically advisable to consume within the space of a year. But we will try. As the shift towards the winter half of the year occurs, we are reminded of the gratitude we carry towards all of you who help keep this work going. It is good to know that we are upheld in the work, and to have a strong foundation of prayers from you all as we strive to bring the love of God to those who come to us in need. Warmly and on behalf of the Rochester team, James
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95 Dear Friends, On this beautiful summer day, on the first day of our July break, we are indeed thankful. We have put behind us another term of hospitality, teaching, tutoring, tree felling, gardening, laughing, crying, wrestling and listening. We are tired and thankful for the ways God has again provided and sustained us. Many times, as Jock and I walk this property, we are drawn to see all the things which need doing and fixing, and we find ourselves somewhat tired just thinking about it all. But yesterday, during a day of prayer and fasting , I chose to consciously focus on the things that are good, and that we have to be thankful for. Psalm 95 was the focus of my prayers; ‘let us come before him with thanksgiving’ . Instead of seeing weeds to pull, I was thankful that they had such pretty flowers all around them. And what a view from the point, even though the ground around the firepit needs lots of woodchip. Yes, we have lost many trees, but we still have so many healthy beautiful ones. We do have many things on our mind, including concerns for the future, yet focusing on thanks and the God whom we serve is always the right place to start our prayers, and keeps our feet in the here and now. We did see a good number of students coming through, two for the whole term and many others coming and going. Our finances were sufficient for our needs, and we had great help from our helper Cherie and from our colleagues the Lowes , who stepped up as Debbie, who was coming to work with us had to postpone. James has been invaluable taking down so many dead trees as we have had so many tree losses, first the elms, then the ash and now we are losing a number of oaks. Thankfully, we also had an arborist come as a student and he will be back to treat the oaks by the house that can be saved. We are so thankful for the beauty of this place, as it helps create a sense of shelter for those that come. We have had visits from pastors on sabbatical, women dealing with trauma, young people looking for direction and older, retired folk also figuring out what’s next. And so, we try to create a place for them all, with peace, beauty, rest and work - and discussion flows through it all (along with many cups of tea). Adding to the mix are four lively and affectionate kids, a big friendly dog and a cuddly kitten. A bundle of life that God uses to bring about comfort and healing. One lady even wept, simply sitting at a dining table for lunch, as she had been living in a less than ideal situation, and that simple act of hospitality at a table was something that even she didn’t know she was longing for. We never know what God will use, but as we perform these simple everyday acts, God in His mercy orchestrates healing by His presence. There are many things that occupy our minds with regard to the future , and we are hardly alone in this. Lately I have been reflecting on how I often worry about the things over which I have no control, while neglecting the daily requirement to focus on and do the everyday simple acts of faithfulness. I find little appeal in doing dishes, another load of laundry and writing emails, but these are the things I have some control over. Humbly putting one foot in front of the other in the everyday things is where the faithfulness required of us often lies. Kindness and helpfulness to our family and neighbors, setting the table and helping with housework may feel mundane and unimportant, but so often this is where we find God. Self-control and discipline are not glamorous but in God’s eyes they are beautiful. Oh, to see as He sees! I remember one day I was frustrated and angry with having to clean the toilet yet again. My attitude matched the job I was doing, Jock was away, and I was tired and grumpy. Then the doorbell rang, and I had to remove the rubber gloves and go to the door, WHAT NOW! It was a box being delivered and I couldn’t resist opening it right away. Lo and behold - I was reminded that my loving God has a perfect sense of timing. In the box was a gift that was richly fragrant - a Hawaiian Lei of fresh pulmonaria flowers from a friend in Hawaii! I finished the toilet laughing with my neck adorned in fragrant flowers. Never before or since has that happened, but it is a reminder of the kind of God we serve. We do feel great encouragement as a branch . We have seen God’s faithfulness in so many ways, including the provision of the carriage house . The building’s benefactor has promised another good amount to get it near completion, and we are just now waiting on the contractors, who have been absent for the past few months. Please pray for the timely completion of this lovely new home. Looking to God’s faithfulness, we have been praying in particular about the future provision of staffing for this branch - and the financial means to cover that . With additional accommodation, we now have the space to grow, so we would appreciate your prayers for God to provide the right families and resources to build the work for the future. This is in His hands, and we entrust it to Him. In the wider world, we see the old order of things becoming increasingly destabilized and it is hard not to be concerned for the Western world. Whether it is the culture, politics, or war, there is much to be concerned about. We do pray for those who are at the coalface in these grave matters and are so thankful that we can bring even these very large things to God. He is Lord and He is Mighty, so we can turn to Him in prayers that rightly end with “Come Lord, come!”. We are a people whose hope for a future home is secure and so can seek to simply be faithful in this part of our journey. Let’s lean into this world, in its glory and its ruin, seeking to be faithful in the place God has us for now. In Christ, Alison
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1v3 Dear Friends, This year has already been flying by, with March arriving in what seems like the blink of an eye. It feels like Spring really is finally around the corner. I can already see signs of life outside, with the daffodils starting to push their way out of the earth, and so many critters visiting our yard. The chipmunks are awake and up to no good already, and I keep seeing the bunny that lives under our deck out and about. The deer seem to have expanded their gang and keep wandering around the neighbourhood in search of food. And the squirrels… well, they’re always up to something nefarious. There are signs of new life everywhere; a timely reminder that Easter comes at the end of this month. A celebration of the light overcoming the darkness, and the new life that comes with Jesus’s sacrifice in our stead. Our Winter Retreat went very well. There was good attendance and Jock, Alison, James and our helper Elizabeth did a wonderful job of hosting the students there. The children and I ended up staying behind, which meant more free space at the retreat centre, and also meant that the kids were able to continue attending their co-op and Rose was able to go to her American Heritage Girls awards evening. Thankfully we only had one good snowfall, so there wasn’t much shovelling to be done (much to the consternation of the kids who still find it fun). My parents also took the opportunity to visit during the second half of January which was special. The students were grouped in such a way that it left almost an entire week free in the middle of the Retreat. Elizabeth had some time all by herself at Ebenezer which she said was necessary and wonderful but isn’t something she often gives herself. Jock and Alison visited some of their friends nearby and had a lovely time with their goddaughter. And James drove back up to Rochester to spend some time with the children and me which was such a gift. The Retreat drew a lot of students for whom this was their first time at L’Abri, six of whom came on someone’s recommendation. There was a lot of singing in the evenings as quite a number were musical, and some fledgling friendships were formed which is always a privilege to witness. Jock ended our last prayer letter by asking for prayers for the Rochester L’Abri Conference . We are now a few weeks past the Conference; it was well received and all those who attended spoke highly of their time. The speakers wove a picture of a creation crying out for us to work with God to create order out of chaos, and some showed a devastating picture of a world being ruined by our greed. Others spoke beautifully of the many ways in which we can work towards healing creation. They did a wonderful job of striking the balance between the panic and apathy that are found in society, and suggested praise as a foundation for ecology. I think all went away both heartbroken and hopeful. We are very thankful to all who spoke and all those who helped behind the scenes. The number of attendees was unfortunately a little short of what was needed to balance the books, a trend we would appreciate prayer for, but it was all still very much worth it. We are now almost a week into our ‘Spring’ term , although it has been said it should probably be called ‘False Spring Term’, as usually at this time of year Rochester is still lying under a blanket of snow. This year, the weather has taken pity on our fragile English bodies and let us enjoy a much milder winter than usual, so that we could acclimatise slower than we would otherwise have had to. It has been rather discombobulating for the Minnesotans who live here, and we have heard many talk about how unusual the weather has been. No one seems to quite know what to do with themselves: normally they would be ice fishing or cross-country skiing, so it’s a little jarring. The mild winter has meant that some projects which would have typically had to wait for warmer weather have actually been able to carry on. The carriage house project was one which may have had to wait for spring, but is coming along at a fast pace, with the house framed and wrapped and nearly all of the windows in. The roof went on this week, just in time for some rain. It’s been a wonder to see it all go up within just a few months, and the workmen have done a great job. There’s still a lot to be done but I can confirm that it will definitely be a house now that I can see the shape of it. James has been working over the winter to take down a number of the dead Ash trees , as Alison mentioned in the November newsletter. A good amount of them had straight trunks, so they have been de-branched and are piled up waiting for a local friend to take them away in order to mill for use to build their house. We have our first student arriving tomorrow, and the numbers are looking very quiet for the rest of the term. Please do pray for the students we have coming, that they would meet God and be nourished by their visit. And please pray also for more students to come and keep our quite large team busy. For, unusually, we have 3 very able helpers (Elizabeth, Cherie and Debbie), alongside our 4 workers. And of course, the 4 (Lowe children) hinderers are often up to mischief too! We are looking forward to all that this year will bring for the branch. We hope you will join us in thanks for all the wonderful work God has done over this past year, and in praying for His provision and guidance over this next year as we trust in his leading and follow him into the unknown. With love, Imogen Lowe
“…at that time you were separate from Christ…without hope and without God in the world” Eph 2:12 Dear Friends, In the very early days of L’Abri, at the height of the counterculture, streams of intellectually curious and searching young people made their way up the steep mountain road to the L’Abri community in Huemoz. Among them were many Jews. Most were nominal or secular, but with a hunger for more - and, wonderfully, many became Christians. Edith Schaeffer, in particular, developed a life-long love for the Jewish people, writing her wonderful book ‘Christianity is Jewish’ and visiting New York and its vibrant art scene as often as possible to see her many Jewish friends there. Times change and we don’t see as much of that today, but with that legacy very much in mind, I was delighted about 15 years ago to befriend a young Jewish medical student . We had many long (and difficult) conversations over a period of a couple of years before he graduated. He was in a PhD program, with a deep love of scientific research and rational thought. Thoroughly secular, he was much taken with the writings (and arguments) of what was then referred to as the ‘New Atheists’ – those, like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who inherited the mantle of a Scientific Naturalism from the likes of Carl Sagan, but who were much more critical of all religion, finding it incomprehensible and even dangerous that in the light of evolutionary biology, folk could cling to ‘outdated myths’. My young friend was an able sparring partner and certainly put me through my paces. But as passionate as he was for science, he was also animated by a deep sense of the injustice suffered historically by the Jews – and sadly, with more than just cause. Here our conversations became incredibly delicate and many times, as his anger mounted at my stubborn Christian convictions, I thought I had ‘blown it’ and would not see him again. I prayed a lot for him and was glad that he was always willing to come back for more, but when he finally left and we lost contact, he was still as dug in as ever. Imagine my delight then, when after more than a decade, just a week before Christmas, he contacted me out of the blue. Now well established in his medical practice and with a young family, he told me that he often thought back on our long conversations/arguments and wanted to pick up on them again. And, most wonderfully, he wanted to tell me that he was now firmly convinced of the existence of God - and had turned from what he now saw as the vanity and meaninglessness of Atheism. Furthermore, in doing so, he had found his deep anger giving way to a new peace and even hope. Significant in his journey was seeing the growing moral chaos in a culture benighted without God. Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to picking up our conversations again. I share all of this for several reasons. First, it is a wonderful reminder that though we may till the hard ground, plant the seed, and water it with great care, it is the Lord who ‘gives the increase’ – and many seeds lie buried deep and hidden from sight for long periods before, seemingly spontaneously, and always surprisingly, they suddenly burst forth with the shoots of new life. That is why, as we patiently bear witness to the Truth with as much Love as we can muster, it is actually Faith that is most important – to take the opportunities that the Lord gives us, but to trust him for the outcome, much of which will remain hidden. And talking of seeds, there is a plant in Southern Africa called a protea, some species of which have seeds that will remain buried for years and only sprout when the harsh heat of a raging bush fire germinates them. Something of the cauldron of contemporary culture seems to have had just such an effect on my friend – and he is not alone. And that is my second point. The ‘New’ Atheism , which was riding so high just a short time ago seems now very ‘old’ and worn. Its arrogant disdain giving way to bewilderment as even the intellectual elites now increasingly distance themselves from its arid reductionism. It was always the case that Materialism and a Mechanistic view of Life, whatever the undoubted benefits of science and technology, could never provide a base for Morals or Meaning. And now, as theory becomes reality and the Liberal order built on naturalistic foundations shows itself increasingly incapable of undergirding a moral framework for civilized life - and the Western world slides deeper into the insanity of ‘expressive individualism’ and the inhumanity of the ‘will to power’, reasonable thinkers are beginning to rethink their presuppositions. Surprising developments in the thinking of people like Paul Kingsnorth and Tom Holland among others, are now surpassed by the amazing, very recent, and very public conversion of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A Somali woman, raised as an Islamic extremist, she famously renounced Islam and embraced the New Atheism. With her life always in danger she became a very public political intellectual and human-rights advocate, speaking out very bravely, if controversially. And now, she has converted to Christianity! In her recent article ‘Why I am now a Christian’ she is clear that it is in large part due to her recognition that the very ‘Western’ values she so ardently defends are in fact the fruit of Christian thought and cannot be grounded in a scientific atheism. Let’s pray that more and more honest thought leaders in our culture will travel this same road. But it is not only secular elites that are having a rethink, the Jewish community also is under great duress. This is an area I know far less about, and I would not dare to generalize, but I cannot help but notice that my Jewish friend’s recognition of just how illiberal Liberalism has become in our contemporary culture, appears also to be a growing concern in the wider Jewish community. The values of tolerance and equality, of such critical historic importance to Jews, and once guaranteed by western Liberalism, now no longer seem so secure. After all, that ‘all men are created equal’ is only self-evident if in fact there is a Creator - and once our unalienable rights become anchored below rather than above, they are significantly less unalienable. Please do pray for my conversations with my friend - and all the many conversations that are the hallmark of our L’Abri ministry. Nothing is more low-key than simple hospitality and straight-forward conversation, but together they can have a powerful affect in the many folk that continue to visit our branches. Giving ‘honest answers to honest questions’, speaking the Truth in Love, meeting people ‘where they are at’, is a ministry of small moments – but moments that can have eternal significance. The past year has been full of blessing for the Rochester branch - good student attendance, steady finances, wonderful work colleagues and timely help – with the additional excitement of breaking ground on the Carriage House! But, looking ahead, we covet your prayers for new workers – with Mercy now married and the Lowe’s time of departure rapidly approaching, we need more long-term help. Pray also for the Rochester L’Abri Conference coming up shortly. With expenses always increasing, we need good attendance to balance the books. Please spread the word – ‘In Pastures Green : The Creation Mandate and a Mandate for Creation’ – February 16 & 17 . Yours in Christ, Jock
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name . Psalm 33:20-21 Dear Praying Family, I was about to sit down and start this prayer letter this morning but was waylaid by a couple who were about to leave, and as it often goes, one thing led to another and we ended up sitting in our living room in the sun and I was being fired with questions about L’Abri, its history, how we operate and why we do what we do. I was happy to be interrupted, as the husband of this retired couple is a non-believer, here with his Christian wife. Their 3 days here has left an impression, and he is hungry for more - thankfully they live in the twin cities, so it’s a possibility. I do so enjoy talking about the stories of God’s faithfulness, and seeing how God is orchestrating things together. The wife heard about L’Abri after picking up the ‘The God Who is There’, and though she found it hard to understand she looked up the website and found we were nearby. Another retired man arrived just last night, and he recounted his conversion story at high tea. While reading ‘Genesis in Space and Time’ on a train heading out West nearly 50 years ago, he wept learning about Jesus in the Old Testament for the first time. He left as a young rebel and arrived a believer, going on to become a Lutheran pastor, a missionary in Africa and a seminary professor in Minnesota. This weaving of the tapestry carries on and on, and the stories point to our Faithful and good God and continue to witness to unbelievers and encourage the faithful. The Summer Term ended with a beautiful wedding, with Mercy and Leif Eastvold joining their lives together. It was a small family wedding in a beautiful little country church that Mercy grew up in. Both their large families were joining together with a sweet sense of continuity. They are now happily settled, harvesting together on their farm in North Dakota – we miss her terribly, but are so happy for them both. Something that has been much on our minds lately is the theme of waiting as we ponder the future. There are so many times that God’s people are encouraged to wait. It is a choice and an act of faith and trust, to not light our own fires, but to place the future in God’s hands. I find that not doing something is hard, and oddly can take more effort than self-reliance. But when we restrain ourselves and are patient, we can place our confidence in God’s present supernatural activity, in the here and now. Rather than distracting detours, the quiet stance of prayer bears much fruit. I don’t find it easy, but at times it is necessary and by his grace the Spirit helps us to discern and be patient. With Mercy leaving, and the Lowe’s on a short-term visa, our prayers have been particularly concentrated on asking God to send the workers of his choice, to help us in our immediate need, and also to provide for the long-term future of this branch. In fact, this Thanksgiving week, we will be having a special Day of Prayer & Fasting to focus on that need especially. Please do join your prayers with us in this matter as we wait on the Lord. Waiting on God, however, does not mean complete inactivity - in fact life is very busy . Hosting people between here and Missouri takes up most of our time, but that is only a part of what is going on. Currently the carriage house has started to be built (something longed for, for 30 years) and it is marvelous, but keeping Jock busy. All our ash trees have died and all Summer James, Jock and the students have been removing them. We are glad to have saved quite a few large trunks for a church friend who is building a post and beam home. We are also glad to be hosting the annual Trustees meeting down in Missouri at the Ebenezer Retreat Center - and in conjunction holding another day conference in St. Louis on Dec 2 nd , taking advantage of having them in the area. With the title ‘Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times’ , the conference will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the church where Dr. Schaeffer once pastored. Registration details can be found on our website. And then there are the ongoing preparations for our annual February conference… We are very conscious, amid all this busyness, that God has already been so generous in all that He has provided, and His mercy is sweet. We have two wonderful helpers, Carissa and Elizabeth, the dear Lowe family, and more than enough to occupy us - while we place the future in His hands. In Christ, Alison
'This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.' Ps. 118:23, 29 Dear Friends, Summer at the Rochester L’Abri is flying by, and as our second summer term gets underway I wanted to update you all on what our team has been up to over the past couple of months, and particularly about some changes that will be taking place in my ( Mercy’s ) life very soon. After seven wonderful years of being part of the Rochester L’Abri team, I will be wrapping up my time here at the end of August. While it is painful to think of leaving this place and the people that have meant so much to me and helped me to grow and learn in so many ways over the years, I’m also excited about the new adventure I will be embarking on – I am planning to get married in September! To make a long story short, I recently reconnected with a childhood friend, Leif Eastvold, whom I hadn’t seen in years. We were childhood sweethearts, but then life circumstances caused our paths to go in different directions (his family moved to North Dakota some years ago) and we grew up and moved on. The ensuing years were full and busy, and I never expected to see Leif again, but apparently the Lord had other plans, and in His perfect timing He brought our paths together again! So, we have spent the past year getting reacquainted, and both sense that this new relationship is the Lord’s doing. Leif grew up farming, and farms now in partnership with two of his brothers. After the wedding I will be moving up to North Dakota to join him in the family operation. I am looking forward to returning to farming and the wonderful way of life it provides. This turn of events has brought home again to me how the Lord is at work in every detail of our lives. We live our lives day to day and make choices about the things we’ll do and the places we’ll go, and it can sometimes feel like the things that happen in our lives have no rhyme or reason. But in looking back, I see how many specific details had to fall into place for me to get to this point, and I am reminded of how the Lord in His steadfast love and infinite wisdom is at work in every individual life, weaving a beautiful tapestry . Edith Schaeffer often used the analogy of a tapestry when talking with people about the twists and turns of their lives, and it is an apt one indeed, since often in the moment it feels like we can only see the back side of the tapestry with its confused tangle of threads. But from time to time we get a glimpse of the front, and we can look forward to one day seeing the whole beautiful tapestry, and how the Lord wove each of our lives together into one beautiful whole. The timing of the Lowe family’s arrival is to me another example of the Lord intricately weaving the threads of the tapestry in this tiny part of His work called the Rochester L’Abri. I am so glad they are here and that they have had several months to settle in before I leave. They are a perfect fit for the Rochester team, and they have settled well into their new home and their role as workers here. They are becoming acquainted with the beauty and the wide-open spaces of this country too – they spent a couple of weeks in the July break road tripping west as far as Denver, CO and then back east as far as Chattanooga, making stops all along the way to visit friends and L’Abri acquaintances. After a nice break in July, we’ve reopened for our second summer term , and have a good number of students booked in over the next few weeks. It’s nice to have a bigger student group again, and we’re glad for the extra help to keep on top of summer projects – there is always plenty of outdoor work to be done in the summer months! With the Lowes here we have been able to tackle other projects too. One project that has been on the to-do list for a while now is the launching of a Rochester L’Abri podcast , for the purpose of making our lecture collection available to a wider audience. Jock and James have been working together on creating the website, and it has just recently gone live through Podbean! We will be posting lectures weekly, drawing from our regular Friday night lectures as well as from our large collection of lectures from past L’Abri conferences. If you would like to check it out, you can find it at https://rochesterlabri.podbean.com/ . Jock has also begun work on organizing the 2024 Rochester L’Abri conference , which will be on the theme of Creation Care under the provisional title ‘The Creation Mandate and a Mandate for Creation’ . We will once again be in The Kahler Grand Hotel and the date is set for February 16-17 th , 2024. We would appreciate your prayers for the Rochester L’Abri during this time of transition . Please pray for the right person to come and take my place in the main house in the Lord’s perfect timing. He has already provided for the short term – Debbie Shoemaker, who has been a helper here in the past, will be coming in late August to help out for a spell. I’m thankful to know that she will be here, as I am leaving during a very busy time – besides the normal routine of L’Abri work, there are several other events in the works, including a one-day L’Abri conference in St. Louis later this year! We would also appreciate your continued prayers for the carriage house project. Progress there continues to be very slow as we wait on the city of Rochester to issue the building permit. We’re hoping the builders will still be able to make a start on it sometime soon. And I would value your prayers for me in this time of transition , as I wrap up my time here in Rochester, say goodbye to this season of my life and the many people who have been dear friends to me here, and make the big move to North Dakota. It has been a great privilege to be a part of the work of L’Abri here, and a privilege to get to know some of you in person and others through writing. We are grateful for each of you, and for your support that continues to make this work possible. In Christ, Mercy Winnes
Dear Friends Mercy began our last prayer letter describing the gentle flurries of snow which graced the end of the winter season. As I ( James ) write this, accompanied by the sounds of the water main being replaced on the street, I am reminded that we are now well into Minnesota’s other season - Roadworks - which has begun with gusto! Above the din, at Jock’s request, I would like to take some time to introduce myself, Imogen and our children as we settle into our new lives here with L’Abri amid the verdant Minnesotan spring. We hail from a pair of small towns in the south of England equidistant north and south from English L’Abri. Imogen and I met as teenagers and married just a few days into our twenties in 2010. We moved that year to Nottingham for my University course. After completing my degree in communication studies, we remained in Nottingham where I worked as an EMT until 2021 when we began our tentative journey with L’Abri. We started this with a three month stay at Swiss L’Abri as students and began to test out the calling we felt towards this work. (As you may remember from previous updates, we then came here to Rochester as Helpers in winter 2022 - and then began the long wait for visas). The idea of working at L’Abri first occurred to us in 2019. There were three things which drew us strongly, beyond the wonderful input which English L’Abri had been over the years. Firstly, I had the sense, working as an EMT, that so many of the medical issues I encountered through work were downstream of social issues and that those were often the result of spiritual issues. The notion of dealing with the source of so many ills through hosting people who were perhaps struggling with their faith began to appeal greatly. Secondly, (and this was particularly evident in the summer 2020 as society fractured across the topics of lockdowns, elections and critical theory), strongly articulated secular ideas were increasingly finding their way into our everyday life and the lives of our friends. We wanted a place to engage these ideas and to serve those who also wrestled with them. Lastly, the thing which encouraged us that this might be a good decision was that we found ourselves often opening our home to others - even to live with us at times - as it felt natural to embrace the whole person, serving good food in a loving environment as a place to bring anxieties and questions to the fore. This is not to say, however, that we think we are here purely through volition or logic; there have been two separate occasions where we have sought God for provision to get here - in part as a sign that it’s his will for us - and he has undeniably done that each time, so we can say with confidence that it is ultimately a place we are called to. It was with some trepidation that my wife Imogen contemplated the move from England to the States. She, like many of us, finds herself in the tension of loving the familiar but being intrigued by the adventure to which God calls us as we trust in Him. She is a Hobbit at heart. As such she loves creative endeavours - especially knitting - and curling up whenever possible with a good book. Her gardening and walking fulfil her deep need to spend time in nature. She is observant and well read, taking in much from the culture around her and chewing it over carefully. We often find ourselves talking late into the night as we ponder society’s latest thing. The major obstacle to these delightful endeavours is our four dear children! Their ages range from nine down to three and Imogen spends a good portion of her time homeschooling them and caring for their daily needs, making most of the food and dispensing most of the bandaids. She loves opening our home to others and has found L’Abri a good fit as she so naturally engages with people holistically, be it a physical, emotional, spiritual or intellectual need. The aforementioned children are Rose, Malachi, Koa and Aurelia . They arrived over the past decade with alarming punctuality, having almost exactly two years between each of them. As you might expect, raising them is our greatest challenge and yet a great joy. Our eldest, Rose, like all our children, is extremely gregarious and physically active. Life with L’Abri suits her well with the constant buzz of new people to meet. She loves to get lost in books and colouring and long games of make believe. Malachi (seven) is a deeply feeling boy who, when he’s not pretending to be a ninja, loves to cuddle and fight his dad. (This normally takes the form of a surprise attack for which my ageing back is poorly prepared). His younger brother Koa (five) will happily while away the hours building train sets and is slowly learning that punching is not an acceptable form of greeting. Such is the life of the father of a five-year-old boy! Aurelia (three) gets her name from the Latin for ‘golden one’ and she really is a ray of sunshine who never fails to wake up with a smile. She spends her days copying her siblings and telling us ‘I do it!’ whenever we try to help! I myself am a family man who loves the company of his wife and children (as long as it’s after my 7am coffee). I have an enduring fascination with our cultural sweeps and the Christian response to them and I enjoy writing fiction and non-fiction and getting outdoors on a bike or a kayak. I’m discovering that I may be an American trapped in the body of an Englishman and have particularly valued the warmth of the people here and the wide-open spaces. A midlife career change has its challenges, and it is my hope to begin further theological studies to facilitate this transition. Well, briefly, that’s us. Looking forward to saying hello in person or writing again soon. Much love from us all, James, Imogen, Rose, Malachi, Koa and Aurelia Lowe
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Dear Friends, As I write this letter I am watching a blanket of fresh snow cover the icy, dirty half melted piles accumulated from previous snows. Though there are promising signs of spring, such as lengthening daylight hours and birds beginning to sing their spring songs, it appears that we will have to endure a few more weeks of winter weather before spring arrives in earnest and the promise of new life and new growth become a reality. But, while we wait for the arrival of spring, there has been a new arrival here at the Rochester L’Abri about which we are all very excited! The Lowe family has finally made it here from England, after what turned into nearly a year long process of getting their work visa approved. You will remember that they spent three months with us early last year and were a great blessing. They are settling quickly into the 11 th Avenue house where they stayed previously and that is perfect for their family of four young children. Ever since Jock & Alison moved out of this house that so conveniently backs onto the L’Abri woods, we have prayed for another family to join us and we’re looking forward to having their able help to keep the Rochester L’Abri running smoothly, as well as making their home a place of shelter and welcome for those who come to spend time with us. We are giving thanks for their safe arrival, but please do keep them in your prayers as they make the adjustment from England to Minnesota. Looking back over the year so far, we’ve kept busy with our normal winter routines, hosting our Winter Retreat in January and our annual Rochester Conference in February. Since Karen Alston settled into her new home in Sheridan at the end of the year, and the Lowes were busy wrapping things up in England, it looked like we would be without help for the first part of the year. So we were very grateful that Carissa Francoeur , who hails from New Hampshire, joined us at Ebenezer to help out for a bit. Her hard work and attention to detail have been a blessing to us, both as she helped to host the retreat and also to handle the many details of hosting the conference. The retreat went well, though there were a couple of unexpected adventures – one of them being a snowstorm which, although there was no heavy ice or severe wind, nonetheless caused a widespread power outage that left us without power for a full day. One of our guests, a theology student from Ethiopia, was a bit alarmed at being in backwoods Missouri with the only heat source in the building being the fireplace in the Greatroom, but we were able to stay warm and even cook meals without electricity – and this student said that when he returned to Ethiopia the story of “the night without lights” would be at the top of his list of stories to tell! The other unexpected adventure came in the form of a fluffy white dog that limped to our door one morning, begging us to help him. He must have wandered a long way, as his feet were quite sore and he was hungry and thirsty. A search through the surrounding community revealed, much to Alison’s delight (and Jock’s consternation!), that no one knew where he came from or where he belonged. They have nursed him back to health and he has now firmly established his place as a part of the McGregor family. We decided to call him Moses, and he is proving himself to be a natural fit in our L’Abri community with his gentle, friendly personality and mischievous sense of humor. We returned home from Missouri to finish preparing for our February conference , this year on the topic of Higher Education. We were encouraged to see an increase in attendance over last year, and especially encouraged to see a good number of new faces as well as old friends, and many young singles. The speakers did an excellent job of addressing the topic, treating various aspects of the history of education, its roots in Christianity, what it has become today, and how we as Christians can and should engage in our cultural moment. The feedback from attendees was very positive and from what we could see the talks generated much productive thought and discussion. We were able to produce our own recordings again this year, and the collection will soon be available for anyone interested in purchasing a copy. Our March term is underway, though it has been unusually quiet so far. But we have seen so many times how, as we trust the Lord to bring the people of His choice, He also brings them in His timing. The commitment to trust the Lord to orchestrate our lives gives us opportunity to see His faithfulness demonstrated in many ways. The faithfulness of the Lord has been on my mind often the last few months as I have been reading through the Old Testament prophets and see how often faithfulness, or steadfast love, is spoken of – both as the promise of His steadfast love for us, and as His requirement that we show steadfast love to one another. I’ve been thinking about the word ‘steadfast’ a lot lately, and about the rich meaning conveyed through it. It communicates a sense of constant-ness, of an unwavering perseverance. The promise of the Lord’s steadfast love, the reminder that He is for us, is an immovable anchor that will always be there for us to cling to, no matter how topsy-turvy our world might feel, how confused or discouraged we may be, no matter how distant He may seem at times. It is as reliable as the knowledge that the sun will rise every morning. And it enables us to give each other the gift of steadfast love through the ups and downs, the little irritations, the joys and struggles we encounter daily. It is a difficult practice, since it involves having grace for one another’s imperfections, and the daily acts of kindness or forgiveness or acting in one another’s best interest can seem insignificant in comparison to what the world around us tells us is important. But to know that I can wake up tomorrow without the fear that the Lord will have grown tired of bearing with me, to know that He enables me to show that kind of faithfulness to others, is perhaps the best gift we can give or receive. I have seen repeatedly in L’Abri how often it is the small, seemingly insignificant acts of care that have the most profound impact on people’s lives. Looking ahead, we’re beginning to make plans for the spring and summer. Jock and Alison will be going to the Netherlands in April to participate in the annual L’Abri Member’s Meeting, and shortly after they return we’ll be heading to Ebenezer to host our Spring Retreat. The plans for the carriage house construction continue to move forward as well, and Jock is working with the contractors on the permitting process. Lord willing, they will be breaking ground by late May. We would welcome your continued prayers for this process. We thank each of you for your steadfast faithfulness and support, which allows us to continue this work. Yours in Christ, Mercy
“Take hold of instruction, do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:13 Dear Friends, As we look forward to another year, for the Rochester L’Abri branch it is with a deep sense of gratitude . The Lord has been faithful. Last year, as you will remember, was filled with accidents and setbacks, the most serious being the near-fatal car accident that Mercy had. Yet we ended the year all well and back to full health. For Mercy there was a lovely Christmas at home with her whole family gathered, back to full strength and more settled than ever in her invaluable role in our team. For Alison and me, it meant a long-awaited trip back to Australia to reconnect with her growing family down-under. After the Covid years and an absence of six years, it was wonderful to catch up with newly-wed family members and meet the newest little ones – and a chance for a good rest. For our dear friend and faithful helper, Karen, she ended her year and a half with us by relocating to a lovely little retirement cottage, right near her close family, in Sheridan, Wyoming. We could not have made it through last year without her help. With the covid years behind us now, we saw a return to better student numbers both here in Rochester and also down at the newly completed Ebenezer Retreat Center, and our faithful supporting community helped us end the year once again with a solid financial picture. But even as we ended the year with a sense of relief at God’s protection and provision, the year ahead looked challenging. With Karen gone, we had no helpers in sight and the Lowe’s were still stuck in the UK waiting for a visa that might never come. If the last year proved anything, it showed that our small team desperately needs help. So, what joy it was, the week before Christmas, to get word that the visa application had been approved! And, as always, the Lord’s timing is perfect. In the interim, this dear family had been able to help out at the English L’Abri, gaining valuable experience, but also getting precious time with family who live nearby. There are still a few practical hurdles to get through, but James and Imogen Lowe and their four kids are headed our way – and not a minute too soon. Do please pray for all the logistics, for safe travel, and for them to settle well into the home we have already had prepared and waiting for them for over a year now. Pray also that our monthly gifts will grow to meet the challenge of adding this large family to our payroll. But, most of all, simply give thanks with us for this significant development in the Rochester branch. Not long after that good news, we also got good news regarding the Carriage House project . You may remember that a generous donor gave a large donation to fund this project and earlier this past year we had a set of plans finalized and a contractor on board. We were ready to start in the Fall. But then came the sticker-shock, as we got the actual bid from the contractor! I’m sure you are all fully aware of the steep rise in building supply costs and the increase in construction costs. The whole project looked prohibitive, and we were back to the drawing board. But, as we start this new year, I’m happy to say that yet another generous gift from the same donor, and some negotiating with the builder, means we can indeed move forward in the Spring with this project. The plan is now to build the shell of the building with the money we have as phase I and then look to the Lord for the rest to come in for a phase II completion later. We also had the good news that the Rochester City just introduced new zoning laws, starting this year, that will significantly help us get permitting approval. Please keep praying for this. So, as I said, we look forward now to this new year with deep gratitude to God, and a spring in our step. Tomorrow, we head down to MO for our usual January Retreat at Ebenezer and are looking forward to the students that God always sends. We have several internationals booked in this time, some new faces and then the many who like to return time after time. Some will remember Billy Hastings, who interned with us for two years – we are very much looking forward to seeing him again at the Retreat and meetings his wife and their new baby. Larry Snyder will also be coming out – we take great joy in the continuity of relationships we have built over the 20 odd years we have been doing these Retreats in the St Louis area. When we come back, it will be all hands on deck for our next Rochester L’Abri Conference – our 29 th ! The theme this year could not be more current or important - the challenges within our higher education system. The University is actually a fruit of the Christian worldview and for centuries was an arm of the Church. But in our modern/postmodern secular age, it is now beset by difficulties and an increasingly challenging place for believers. For some time now, Christians have been focused on doing better for our children’s education, and at the K-12 level there are good options, but the challenge at the tertiary level is arguably much greater and given the influence of the Academy in the wider culture, perhaps of more consequence. What should a Christian response look like? We are thankful for many Christian professors who maintain a faithful presence in the Academy, often under great pressure, we will have many speaking at the Conference. We are thankful too for the growth of the Christian Study Center movement that provides a link between Church and University and a great support to our young Christian students – a number will be represented at the Conference. But there are other creative efforts out there also, gap-year programs, church-based models, Christian alternatives, and so on – we hope to bring some of these to the fore, as we look at a multifaceted problem that may well need multifaceted solutions. Education is a Christian mandate and, given the influence of the academy in the wider culture, something that impacts us all – please do plan to join us if you can on February 17/18, 2023, at the Kahler Grand Hotel in downtown Rochester for “From one generation to another: The Christian Education Mandate and its Challenges” . You can get full details and register at www.rochesterlabriconferences.org The challenge of Education is not primarily, of course, a question of models, but a question of Worldview. Do we live in an open or a closed Universe? What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? Is there a Canon or is everything relative? Is the goal of education anchored in Truth or Social Justice? Is Truth Christian or is all Truth God’s Truth? Can we have a telos to Education if we do not have a telos to life? These and many other questions will be front and center at the Conference. And, whilst their ultimate resolution may be complex, for the Christian the ultimate answer lies where this Newsletter started. In gratitude to God – the God who is really there, the Creator God who anchors all reality, in whom all things hold, and who has given us the Book of His Word as a light that illuminates everything, and the Book of His Works, that he invites us to explore - who gives us meaning and identity and telos in all of life, and before whom, if we receive all these things in humble gratitude, lies the possibility of Life, Light and, yes, Learning. Thank you for your support and prayers over the years – please continue to pray for us as we seek to serve Him who has called us to these great realities, and as we serve those He sends our way. Yours in Christ, Jock McGregor
“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40: 27-29 Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that December is here once again! But now is a good time for reflection on the year that has flown by - and for looking ahead. Here at Rochester L’Abri we have much that we are thankful for, and we stand in awe at all that God has been doing. For some time, we have been praying about preparing this branch for the future. And He has heard our prayers! We have seen his provision of wonderful staff – and now also the Carriage House , which - thanks to the continued generosity of the donor – we are expecting will be finished by Spring. Our experience with construction in Missouri is coming in handy, as we are designing the apartment in the style of a Swiss Chalet, as per the donor’s wishes. Jock and I love going to hardware stores and looking at all the options, and we have picked out the kitchen and bathroom styles, gas fireplaces, doors, and paneling etc. The donor wants things to be good quality with solid wood ceilings, floors and cabinets. It’s a new experience not having to sweat over the cost of these things and we are deeply grateful and can look forward to having more wonderful accommodation for this branch. This development is truly a miraculous thing as it has been hoped for ever since the first purchase of the Rochester property in the early 90’s. As I write, the L’Abri International Tustees are gathered at Canadian L’Abri and our prayers are with them, for clarity and fellowship as they carry the responsibility for this growing international work. We regularly pray for some of our newer, more far flung branches, now in South Brazil, South Africa, Australia and Korea. While Jock is away, I have been taking time to reflect on the early days of L’Abri and rereading some of the Schaeffer’s letters. It is very moving to look back and see the unfolding of God’s purposes for their lives as they wrestled with the uncertainty of choices and pressures from home, as well as from the Swiss canton. I am reminded again of the golden thread of God’s leading them, their willingness to be used by Him and what grew out of their faithful daily choices. Especially moving was Schaeffer’s letter home to a member of the mission board, expressing a renewal of the sweetness of his early days of faith. He wrote “… as I walked, I looked up at the Dents (mountains) with their swirling mists so high above me. I thought how our dear Lord comes into a more proper perspective in our thinking in such a place as this - for the higher the mountains the more understandable is the glory of Him who made them and holds them in His hand. But, the other side is also true, man also comes into a more proper place - as the Lord gains in greatness in comparison to the mountains, so man diminishes. And as it is with space, it is also true of time.” On Monday mornings, we have been working through the Psalms , taking turns leading the study. Again and again, we see the psalms give God’s perspective on our experience of human joys and sorrows. We become preoccupied by the everyday challenges, but when we turn to God’s Word we are reminded of His ‘mountain top’ perspective, that He is holding this world and our life in His hands. His majesty and our humanness are a theme that never grows old. His ability to enter in - always for good - is a deep comfort. And we are strengthened by the fact that we have seen prayers answered repeatedly. Do you remember when the L’Abri well failed and we needed $50,000 to connect to city water? The money came in so quickly and that step was actually an essential building block for the development of the carriage house, as all new builds have to be on city water. In addition, shortly afterwards, the city changed local zoning laws to promote the development of secondary dwellings, another essential building block. Did we know that this would all unfold? No, but God did! We have seen and known his faithfulness in both the small personal things as well as in the historical development of this work. It is one of the great encouragements that comes with getting older. Even though we do get tired and weary, our lived experience of God’s faithfulness grows. Remembering His specific answers to prayer is a biblical pattern and His faithful work in the history of L’Abri is indeed a demonstration of the truth and reality of the God who is There, just as Schaeffer wanted L'Abri to be. Recently I was talking about this with a woman who is an Episcopal priest, as we sat in the chairs looking out over Rochester. I was at first a little nervous - she is a very intelligent Yale graduate, but as I talked about the reality of answered prayer, we quickly just became two people enjoying talking about God. Everyone He sends here is significant and a person made in the image of God. Another man has encouraged us all as we have seen significant changes in his life over the last few years of his regular visits. There is nothing better than seeing people discovering the riches of life in Christ. There are so many stories we could tell of significant conversations, answered prayers and the like, all despite our very frail humanness. The constant is our God who is renewing us all and bending us to His purposes. This entering in and taking on our humanity is what we are celebrating this Christmas . What a wonder and joy it is to celebrate this consummate act of loving kindness. May this joy be with each one of you this Christmas. In Christ Alison.
"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end” - Ecclesiastes 3:11 Dear Friends, August’s hot sun has tempered into September’s pleasantly chill dawns and cool dusks. The geese have begun to mull a trip south amidst the gently honking flocks gathering across Rochester’s many lakes and rivers; their wings whispering overhead in silhouetted formations across pastel orange skies each evening. I am reminded of King Solomon’s pensive words on seasons and their testament to the wise timing of our Lord in all things. The year at Rochester continues to bear witness to this truth as many things longed for and prayed for are realized. Alison wrote in June of our day of prayer and fasting as we sought God’s provision for Rochester L’Abri, especially in the smooth transition of Debbie from California. We are overjoyed to report that she joined us at the beginning of the July term! Her joining the team as a worker has been an answer to prayer for all involved - for Debbie, the fulfilment of a long held and carefully considered desire to serve L’Abri and, for the existing team, God’s provision of a single worker to takeover Mercy’s role in the Main House. Debbie came just in time for the fullest term in a few years; one which saw a return to pre-pandemic numbers. The past few weeks have been a wonderful example of just how broad a demographic the Lord brings to L’Abri. We hosted a family, a retiree, several younger people (some with profoundly challenging histories), a pastor facing a crisis of faith and numerous day visitors exploring Christian community. All came seeking shelter in difficult and confusing times and, by the grace of God, found it here at L’Abri. I was personally very thankful for a few students with good practical skills, especially in the removal of a large dead oak overhanging the Main House. Of course, just as the answered prayer for another worker creates additional financial need, so too does God’s gift of more students increase our need for greater energy and sustenance from Him. Please join us in lifting these things to Him as we spend a few weeks resting and catching up on projects that have been put on the back burner, prior to the Fall Retreat in Missouri. As well as praying for the provision of Workers, we had also been petitioning the Lord for helpers . Unusually, no one had requested to become a helper for the second summer term. We have since received two applications to become helpers at Rochester from the November term onwards. This was an encouraging development. Both as reminder of God’s attentiveness to our prayers and a relief that the team will be blessed with another person or two with whom to share the work. Please pray for them as they move and settle into their roles here. Being a helper is a wonderful but sometimes heavy load and a big adjustment. September marks the fulcrum of our year here as we tip away from the steady tempo of our two long summer terms and into the staccato rhythm of Autumn and Winter which will see a Fall Retreat, a short November Term at Rochester, the December Trustees meeting, a Christmas break and then the Winter Retreat. The crescendo culminates in the L’Abri Conference in February which will likely see 400-500 delegates. Many moving parts which require the help of our Heavenly Father. Prayer for the conference in particular would be much appreciated. There have been some changes to costs at the normal venue which priced us out. Providentially, another wonderful downtown location has been found but the additional time spent organizing all this has caused unavoidable delays. Please pray for Jock as he fills the roster and takes care of many administrative tasks. Pray also that good numbers would attend and that the conference would be a time of real nourishment for the attendees and speakers alike. The theme of the 2025 Rochester Conference is “Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times” and the dates are February 14 th & 15 th . Mercy’s garden has been well used by Imogen this year, who has taken over its care. It is wonderful to see the things Mercy left continue to bear fruit. In particular a volunteer squash plant has been prolific at spreading itself around half of the garden and is also producing a large number of fruit. She has enjoyed watching the garden grow into organized chaos as the season has progressed and has also felt the frustration of weeds being much stronger than some of the other plants. Imogen is now in the midst of making a legion of preserves: the cucumbers in particular have been productive, and she has made more jars of pickles than are medically advisable to consume within the space of a year. But we will try. As the shift towards the winter half of the year occurs, we are reminded of the gratitude we carry towards all of you who help keep this work going. It is good to know that we are upheld in the work, and to have a strong foundation of prayers from you all as we strive to bring the love of God to those who come to us in need. Warmly and on behalf of the Rochester team, James
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95 Dear Friends, On this beautiful summer day, on the first day of our July break, we are indeed thankful. We have put behind us another term of hospitality, teaching, tutoring, tree felling, gardening, laughing, crying, wrestling and listening. We are tired and thankful for the ways God has again provided and sustained us. Many times, as Jock and I walk this property, we are drawn to see all the things which need doing and fixing, and we find ourselves somewhat tired just thinking about it all. But yesterday, during a day of prayer and fasting , I chose to consciously focus on the things that are good, and that we have to be thankful for. Psalm 95 was the focus of my prayers; ‘let us come before him with thanksgiving’ . Instead of seeing weeds to pull, I was thankful that they had such pretty flowers all around them. And what a view from the point, even though the ground around the firepit needs lots of woodchip. Yes, we have lost many trees, but we still have so many healthy beautiful ones. We do have many things on our mind, including concerns for the future, yet focusing on thanks and the God whom we serve is always the right place to start our prayers, and keeps our feet in the here and now. We did see a good number of students coming through, two for the whole term and many others coming and going. Our finances were sufficient for our needs, and we had great help from our helper Cherie and from our colleagues the Lowes , who stepped up as Debbie, who was coming to work with us had to postpone. James has been invaluable taking down so many dead trees as we have had so many tree losses, first the elms, then the ash and now we are losing a number of oaks. Thankfully, we also had an arborist come as a student and he will be back to treat the oaks by the house that can be saved. We are so thankful for the beauty of this place, as it helps create a sense of shelter for those that come. We have had visits from pastors on sabbatical, women dealing with trauma, young people looking for direction and older, retired folk also figuring out what’s next. And so, we try to create a place for them all, with peace, beauty, rest and work - and discussion flows through it all (along with many cups of tea). Adding to the mix are four lively and affectionate kids, a big friendly dog and a cuddly kitten. A bundle of life that God uses to bring about comfort and healing. One lady even wept, simply sitting at a dining table for lunch, as she had been living in a less than ideal situation, and that simple act of hospitality at a table was something that even she didn’t know she was longing for. We never know what God will use, but as we perform these simple everyday acts, God in His mercy orchestrates healing by His presence. There are many things that occupy our minds with regard to the future , and we are hardly alone in this. Lately I have been reflecting on how I often worry about the things over which I have no control, while neglecting the daily requirement to focus on and do the everyday simple acts of faithfulness. I find little appeal in doing dishes, another load of laundry and writing emails, but these are the things I have some control over. Humbly putting one foot in front of the other in the everyday things is where the faithfulness required of us often lies. Kindness and helpfulness to our family and neighbors, setting the table and helping with housework may feel mundane and unimportant, but so often this is where we find God. Self-control and discipline are not glamorous but in God’s eyes they are beautiful. Oh, to see as He sees! I remember one day I was frustrated and angry with having to clean the toilet yet again. My attitude matched the job I was doing, Jock was away, and I was tired and grumpy. Then the doorbell rang, and I had to remove the rubber gloves and go to the door, WHAT NOW! It was a box being delivered and I couldn’t resist opening it right away. Lo and behold - I was reminded that my loving God has a perfect sense of timing. In the box was a gift that was richly fragrant - a Hawaiian Lei of fresh pulmonaria flowers from a friend in Hawaii! I finished the toilet laughing with my neck adorned in fragrant flowers. Never before or since has that happened, but it is a reminder of the kind of God we serve. We do feel great encouragement as a branch . We have seen God’s faithfulness in so many ways, including the provision of the carriage house . The building’s benefactor has promised another good amount to get it near completion, and we are just now waiting on the contractors, who have been absent for the past few months. Please pray for the timely completion of this lovely new home. Looking to God’s faithfulness, we have been praying in particular about the future provision of staffing for this branch - and the financial means to cover that . With additional accommodation, we now have the space to grow, so we would appreciate your prayers for God to provide the right families and resources to build the work for the future. This is in His hands, and we entrust it to Him. In the wider world, we see the old order of things becoming increasingly destabilized and it is hard not to be concerned for the Western world. Whether it is the culture, politics, or war, there is much to be concerned about. We do pray for those who are at the coalface in these grave matters and are so thankful that we can bring even these very large things to God. He is Lord and He is Mighty, so we can turn to Him in prayers that rightly end with “Come Lord, come!”. We are a people whose hope for a future home is secure and so can seek to simply be faithful in this part of our journey. Let’s lean into this world, in its glory and its ruin, seeking to be faithful in the place God has us for now. In Christ, Alison
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” 1 Peter 1v3 Dear Friends, This year has already been flying by, with March arriving in what seems like the blink of an eye. It feels like Spring really is finally around the corner. I can already see signs of life outside, with the daffodils starting to push their way out of the earth, and so many critters visiting our yard. The chipmunks are awake and up to no good already, and I keep seeing the bunny that lives under our deck out and about. The deer seem to have expanded their gang and keep wandering around the neighbourhood in search of food. And the squirrels… well, they’re always up to something nefarious. There are signs of new life everywhere; a timely reminder that Easter comes at the end of this month. A celebration of the light overcoming the darkness, and the new life that comes with Jesus’s sacrifice in our stead. Our Winter Retreat went very well. There was good attendance and Jock, Alison, James and our helper Elizabeth did a wonderful job of hosting the students there. The children and I ended up staying behind, which meant more free space at the retreat centre, and also meant that the kids were able to continue attending their co-op and Rose was able to go to her American Heritage Girls awards evening. Thankfully we only had one good snowfall, so there wasn’t much shovelling to be done (much to the consternation of the kids who still find it fun). My parents also took the opportunity to visit during the second half of January which was special. The students were grouped in such a way that it left almost an entire week free in the middle of the Retreat. Elizabeth had some time all by herself at Ebenezer which she said was necessary and wonderful but isn’t something she often gives herself. Jock and Alison visited some of their friends nearby and had a lovely time with their goddaughter. And James drove back up to Rochester to spend some time with the children and me which was such a gift. The Retreat drew a lot of students for whom this was their first time at L’Abri, six of whom came on someone’s recommendation. There was a lot of singing in the evenings as quite a number were musical, and some fledgling friendships were formed which is always a privilege to witness. Jock ended our last prayer letter by asking for prayers for the Rochester L’Abri Conference . We are now a few weeks past the Conference; it was well received and all those who attended spoke highly of their time. The speakers wove a picture of a creation crying out for us to work with God to create order out of chaos, and some showed a devastating picture of a world being ruined by our greed. Others spoke beautifully of the many ways in which we can work towards healing creation. They did a wonderful job of striking the balance between the panic and apathy that are found in society, and suggested praise as a foundation for ecology. I think all went away both heartbroken and hopeful. We are very thankful to all who spoke and all those who helped behind the scenes. The number of attendees was unfortunately a little short of what was needed to balance the books, a trend we would appreciate prayer for, but it was all still very much worth it. We are now almost a week into our ‘Spring’ term , although it has been said it should probably be called ‘False Spring Term’, as usually at this time of year Rochester is still lying under a blanket of snow. This year, the weather has taken pity on our fragile English bodies and let us enjoy a much milder winter than usual, so that we could acclimatise slower than we would otherwise have had to. It has been rather discombobulating for the Minnesotans who live here, and we have heard many talk about how unusual the weather has been. No one seems to quite know what to do with themselves: normally they would be ice fishing or cross-country skiing, so it’s a little jarring. The mild winter has meant that some projects which would have typically had to wait for warmer weather have actually been able to carry on. The carriage house project was one which may have had to wait for spring, but is coming along at a fast pace, with the house framed and wrapped and nearly all of the windows in. The roof went on this week, just in time for some rain. It’s been a wonder to see it all go up within just a few months, and the workmen have done a great job. There’s still a lot to be done but I can confirm that it will definitely be a house now that I can see the shape of it. James has been working over the winter to take down a number of the dead Ash trees , as Alison mentioned in the November newsletter. A good amount of them had straight trunks, so they have been de-branched and are piled up waiting for a local friend to take them away in order to mill for use to build their house. We have our first student arriving tomorrow, and the numbers are looking very quiet for the rest of the term. Please do pray for the students we have coming, that they would meet God and be nourished by their visit. And please pray also for more students to come and keep our quite large team busy. For, unusually, we have 3 very able helpers (Elizabeth, Cherie and Debbie), alongside our 4 workers. And of course, the 4 (Lowe children) hinderers are often up to mischief too! We are looking forward to all that this year will bring for the branch. We hope you will join us in thanks for all the wonderful work God has done over this past year, and in praying for His provision and guidance over this next year as we trust in his leading and follow him into the unknown. With love, Imogen Lowe
“…at that time you were separate from Christ…without hope and without God in the world” Eph 2:12 Dear Friends, In the very early days of L’Abri, at the height of the counterculture, streams of intellectually curious and searching young people made their way up the steep mountain road to the L’Abri community in Huemoz. Among them were many Jews. Most were nominal or secular, but with a hunger for more - and, wonderfully, many became Christians. Edith Schaeffer, in particular, developed a life-long love for the Jewish people, writing her wonderful book ‘Christianity is Jewish’ and visiting New York and its vibrant art scene as often as possible to see her many Jewish friends there. Times change and we don’t see as much of that today, but with that legacy very much in mind, I was delighted about 15 years ago to befriend a young Jewish medical student . We had many long (and difficult) conversations over a period of a couple of years before he graduated. He was in a PhD program, with a deep love of scientific research and rational thought. Thoroughly secular, he was much taken with the writings (and arguments) of what was then referred to as the ‘New Atheists’ – those, like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, who inherited the mantle of a Scientific Naturalism from the likes of Carl Sagan, but who were much more critical of all religion, finding it incomprehensible and even dangerous that in the light of evolutionary biology, folk could cling to ‘outdated myths’. My young friend was an able sparring partner and certainly put me through my paces. But as passionate as he was for science, he was also animated by a deep sense of the injustice suffered historically by the Jews – and sadly, with more than just cause. Here our conversations became incredibly delicate and many times, as his anger mounted at my stubborn Christian convictions, I thought I had ‘blown it’ and would not see him again. I prayed a lot for him and was glad that he was always willing to come back for more, but when he finally left and we lost contact, he was still as dug in as ever. Imagine my delight then, when after more than a decade, just a week before Christmas, he contacted me out of the blue. Now well established in his medical practice and with a young family, he told me that he often thought back on our long conversations/arguments and wanted to pick up on them again. And, most wonderfully, he wanted to tell me that he was now firmly convinced of the existence of God - and had turned from what he now saw as the vanity and meaninglessness of Atheism. Furthermore, in doing so, he had found his deep anger giving way to a new peace and even hope. Significant in his journey was seeing the growing moral chaos in a culture benighted without God. Needless to say, I am very much looking forward to picking up our conversations again. I share all of this for several reasons. First, it is a wonderful reminder that though we may till the hard ground, plant the seed, and water it with great care, it is the Lord who ‘gives the increase’ – and many seeds lie buried deep and hidden from sight for long periods before, seemingly spontaneously, and always surprisingly, they suddenly burst forth with the shoots of new life. That is why, as we patiently bear witness to the Truth with as much Love as we can muster, it is actually Faith that is most important – to take the opportunities that the Lord gives us, but to trust him for the outcome, much of which will remain hidden. And talking of seeds, there is a plant in Southern Africa called a protea, some species of which have seeds that will remain buried for years and only sprout when the harsh heat of a raging bush fire germinates them. Something of the cauldron of contemporary culture seems to have had just such an effect on my friend – and he is not alone. And that is my second point. The ‘New’ Atheism , which was riding so high just a short time ago seems now very ‘old’ and worn. Its arrogant disdain giving way to bewilderment as even the intellectual elites now increasingly distance themselves from its arid reductionism. It was always the case that Materialism and a Mechanistic view of Life, whatever the undoubted benefits of science and technology, could never provide a base for Morals or Meaning. And now, as theory becomes reality and the Liberal order built on naturalistic foundations shows itself increasingly incapable of undergirding a moral framework for civilized life - and the Western world slides deeper into the insanity of ‘expressive individualism’ and the inhumanity of the ‘will to power’, reasonable thinkers are beginning to rethink their presuppositions. Surprising developments in the thinking of people like Paul Kingsnorth and Tom Holland among others, are now surpassed by the amazing, very recent, and very public conversion of Ayaan Hirsi Ali. A Somali woman, raised as an Islamic extremist, she famously renounced Islam and embraced the New Atheism. With her life always in danger she became a very public political intellectual and human-rights advocate, speaking out very bravely, if controversially. And now, she has converted to Christianity! In her recent article ‘Why I am now a Christian’ she is clear that it is in large part due to her recognition that the very ‘Western’ values she so ardently defends are in fact the fruit of Christian thought and cannot be grounded in a scientific atheism. Let’s pray that more and more honest thought leaders in our culture will travel this same road. But it is not only secular elites that are having a rethink, the Jewish community also is under great duress. This is an area I know far less about, and I would not dare to generalize, but I cannot help but notice that my Jewish friend’s recognition of just how illiberal Liberalism has become in our contemporary culture, appears also to be a growing concern in the wider Jewish community. The values of tolerance and equality, of such critical historic importance to Jews, and once guaranteed by western Liberalism, now no longer seem so secure. After all, that ‘all men are created equal’ is only self-evident if in fact there is a Creator - and once our unalienable rights become anchored below rather than above, they are significantly less unalienable. Please do pray for my conversations with my friend - and all the many conversations that are the hallmark of our L’Abri ministry. Nothing is more low-key than simple hospitality and straight-forward conversation, but together they can have a powerful affect in the many folk that continue to visit our branches. Giving ‘honest answers to honest questions’, speaking the Truth in Love, meeting people ‘where they are at’, is a ministry of small moments – but moments that can have eternal significance. The past year has been full of blessing for the Rochester branch - good student attendance, steady finances, wonderful work colleagues and timely help – with the additional excitement of breaking ground on the Carriage House! But, looking ahead, we covet your prayers for new workers – with Mercy now married and the Lowe’s time of departure rapidly approaching, we need more long-term help. Pray also for the Rochester L’Abri Conference coming up shortly. With expenses always increasing, we need good attendance to balance the books. Please spread the word – ‘In Pastures Green : The Creation Mandate and a Mandate for Creation’ – February 16 & 17 . Yours in Christ, Jock
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name . Psalm 33:20-21 Dear Praying Family, I was about to sit down and start this prayer letter this morning but was waylaid by a couple who were about to leave, and as it often goes, one thing led to another and we ended up sitting in our living room in the sun and I was being fired with questions about L’Abri, its history, how we operate and why we do what we do. I was happy to be interrupted, as the husband of this retired couple is a non-believer, here with his Christian wife. Their 3 days here has left an impression, and he is hungry for more - thankfully they live in the twin cities, so it’s a possibility. I do so enjoy talking about the stories of God’s faithfulness, and seeing how God is orchestrating things together. The wife heard about L’Abri after picking up the ‘The God Who is There’, and though she found it hard to understand she looked up the website and found we were nearby. Another retired man arrived just last night, and he recounted his conversion story at high tea. While reading ‘Genesis in Space and Time’ on a train heading out West nearly 50 years ago, he wept learning about Jesus in the Old Testament for the first time. He left as a young rebel and arrived a believer, going on to become a Lutheran pastor, a missionary in Africa and a seminary professor in Minnesota. This weaving of the tapestry carries on and on, and the stories point to our Faithful and good God and continue to witness to unbelievers and encourage the faithful. The Summer Term ended with a beautiful wedding, with Mercy and Leif Eastvold joining their lives together. It was a small family wedding in a beautiful little country church that Mercy grew up in. Both their large families were joining together with a sweet sense of continuity. They are now happily settled, harvesting together on their farm in North Dakota – we miss her terribly, but are so happy for them both. Something that has been much on our minds lately is the theme of waiting as we ponder the future. There are so many times that God’s people are encouraged to wait. It is a choice and an act of faith and trust, to not light our own fires, but to place the future in God’s hands. I find that not doing something is hard, and oddly can take more effort than self-reliance. But when we restrain ourselves and are patient, we can place our confidence in God’s present supernatural activity, in the here and now. Rather than distracting detours, the quiet stance of prayer bears much fruit. I don’t find it easy, but at times it is necessary and by his grace the Spirit helps us to discern and be patient. With Mercy leaving, and the Lowe’s on a short-term visa, our prayers have been particularly concentrated on asking God to send the workers of his choice, to help us in our immediate need, and also to provide for the long-term future of this branch. In fact, this Thanksgiving week, we will be having a special Day of Prayer & Fasting to focus on that need especially. Please do join your prayers with us in this matter as we wait on the Lord. Waiting on God, however, does not mean complete inactivity - in fact life is very busy . Hosting people between here and Missouri takes up most of our time, but that is only a part of what is going on. Currently the carriage house has started to be built (something longed for, for 30 years) and it is marvelous, but keeping Jock busy. All our ash trees have died and all Summer James, Jock and the students have been removing them. We are glad to have saved quite a few large trunks for a church friend who is building a post and beam home. We are also glad to be hosting the annual Trustees meeting down in Missouri at the Ebenezer Retreat Center - and in conjunction holding another day conference in St. Louis on Dec 2 nd , taking advantage of having them in the area. With the title ‘Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times’ , the conference will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the church where Dr. Schaeffer once pastored. Registration details can be found on our website. And then there are the ongoing preparations for our annual February conference… We are very conscious, amid all this busyness, that God has already been so generous in all that He has provided, and His mercy is sweet. We have two wonderful helpers, Carissa and Elizabeth, the dear Lowe family, and more than enough to occupy us - while we place the future in His hands. In Christ, Alison
'This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever.' Ps. 118:23, 29 Dear Friends, Summer at the Rochester L’Abri is flying by, and as our second summer term gets underway I wanted to update you all on what our team has been up to over the past couple of months, and particularly about some changes that will be taking place in my ( Mercy’s ) life very soon. After seven wonderful years of being part of the Rochester L’Abri team, I will be wrapping up my time here at the end of August. While it is painful to think of leaving this place and the people that have meant so much to me and helped me to grow and learn in so many ways over the years, I’m also excited about the new adventure I will be embarking on – I am planning to get married in September! To make a long story short, I recently reconnected with a childhood friend, Leif Eastvold, whom I hadn’t seen in years. We were childhood sweethearts, but then life circumstances caused our paths to go in different directions (his family moved to North Dakota some years ago) and we grew up and moved on. The ensuing years were full and busy, and I never expected to see Leif again, but apparently the Lord had other plans, and in His perfect timing He brought our paths together again! So, we have spent the past year getting reacquainted, and both sense that this new relationship is the Lord’s doing. Leif grew up farming, and farms now in partnership with two of his brothers. After the wedding I will be moving up to North Dakota to join him in the family operation. I am looking forward to returning to farming and the wonderful way of life it provides. This turn of events has brought home again to me how the Lord is at work in every detail of our lives. We live our lives day to day and make choices about the things we’ll do and the places we’ll go, and it can sometimes feel like the things that happen in our lives have no rhyme or reason. But in looking back, I see how many specific details had to fall into place for me to get to this point, and I am reminded of how the Lord in His steadfast love and infinite wisdom is at work in every individual life, weaving a beautiful tapestry . Edith Schaeffer often used the analogy of a tapestry when talking with people about the twists and turns of their lives, and it is an apt one indeed, since often in the moment it feels like we can only see the back side of the tapestry with its confused tangle of threads. But from time to time we get a glimpse of the front, and we can look forward to one day seeing the whole beautiful tapestry, and how the Lord wove each of our lives together into one beautiful whole. The timing of the Lowe family’s arrival is to me another example of the Lord intricately weaving the threads of the tapestry in this tiny part of His work called the Rochester L’Abri. I am so glad they are here and that they have had several months to settle in before I leave. They are a perfect fit for the Rochester team, and they have settled well into their new home and their role as workers here. They are becoming acquainted with the beauty and the wide-open spaces of this country too – they spent a couple of weeks in the July break road tripping west as far as Denver, CO and then back east as far as Chattanooga, making stops all along the way to visit friends and L’Abri acquaintances. After a nice break in July, we’ve reopened for our second summer term , and have a good number of students booked in over the next few weeks. It’s nice to have a bigger student group again, and we’re glad for the extra help to keep on top of summer projects – there is always plenty of outdoor work to be done in the summer months! With the Lowes here we have been able to tackle other projects too. One project that has been on the to-do list for a while now is the launching of a Rochester L’Abri podcast , for the purpose of making our lecture collection available to a wider audience. Jock and James have been working together on creating the website, and it has just recently gone live through Podbean! We will be posting lectures weekly, drawing from our regular Friday night lectures as well as from our large collection of lectures from past L’Abri conferences. If you would like to check it out, you can find it at https://rochesterlabri.podbean.com/ . Jock has also begun work on organizing the 2024 Rochester L’Abri conference , which will be on the theme of Creation Care under the provisional title ‘The Creation Mandate and a Mandate for Creation’ . We will once again be in The Kahler Grand Hotel and the date is set for February 16-17 th , 2024. We would appreciate your prayers for the Rochester L’Abri during this time of transition . Please pray for the right person to come and take my place in the main house in the Lord’s perfect timing. He has already provided for the short term – Debbie Shoemaker, who has been a helper here in the past, will be coming in late August to help out for a spell. I’m thankful to know that she will be here, as I am leaving during a very busy time – besides the normal routine of L’Abri work, there are several other events in the works, including a one-day L’Abri conference in St. Louis later this year! We would also appreciate your continued prayers for the carriage house project. Progress there continues to be very slow as we wait on the city of Rochester to issue the building permit. We’re hoping the builders will still be able to make a start on it sometime soon. And I would value your prayers for me in this time of transition , as I wrap up my time here in Rochester, say goodbye to this season of my life and the many people who have been dear friends to me here, and make the big move to North Dakota. It has been a great privilege to be a part of the work of L’Abri here, and a privilege to get to know some of you in person and others through writing. We are grateful for each of you, and for your support that continues to make this work possible. In Christ, Mercy Winnes
Dear Friends Mercy began our last prayer letter describing the gentle flurries of snow which graced the end of the winter season. As I ( James ) write this, accompanied by the sounds of the water main being replaced on the street, I am reminded that we are now well into Minnesota’s other season - Roadworks - which has begun with gusto! Above the din, at Jock’s request, I would like to take some time to introduce myself, Imogen and our children as we settle into our new lives here with L’Abri amid the verdant Minnesotan spring. We hail from a pair of small towns in the south of England equidistant north and south from English L’Abri. Imogen and I met as teenagers and married just a few days into our twenties in 2010. We moved that year to Nottingham for my University course. After completing my degree in communication studies, we remained in Nottingham where I worked as an EMT until 2021 when we began our tentative journey with L’Abri. We started this with a three month stay at Swiss L’Abri as students and began to test out the calling we felt towards this work. (As you may remember from previous updates, we then came here to Rochester as Helpers in winter 2022 - and then began the long wait for visas). The idea of working at L’Abri first occurred to us in 2019. There were three things which drew us strongly, beyond the wonderful input which English L’Abri had been over the years. Firstly, I had the sense, working as an EMT, that so many of the medical issues I encountered through work were downstream of social issues and that those were often the result of spiritual issues. The notion of dealing with the source of so many ills through hosting people who were perhaps struggling with their faith began to appeal greatly. Secondly, (and this was particularly evident in the summer 2020 as society fractured across the topics of lockdowns, elections and critical theory), strongly articulated secular ideas were increasingly finding their way into our everyday life and the lives of our friends. We wanted a place to engage these ideas and to serve those who also wrestled with them. Lastly, the thing which encouraged us that this might be a good decision was that we found ourselves often opening our home to others - even to live with us at times - as it felt natural to embrace the whole person, serving good food in a loving environment as a place to bring anxieties and questions to the fore. This is not to say, however, that we think we are here purely through volition or logic; there have been two separate occasions where we have sought God for provision to get here - in part as a sign that it’s his will for us - and he has undeniably done that each time, so we can say with confidence that it is ultimately a place we are called to. It was with some trepidation that my wife Imogen contemplated the move from England to the States. She, like many of us, finds herself in the tension of loving the familiar but being intrigued by the adventure to which God calls us as we trust in Him. She is a Hobbit at heart. As such she loves creative endeavours - especially knitting - and curling up whenever possible with a good book. Her gardening and walking fulfil her deep need to spend time in nature. She is observant and well read, taking in much from the culture around her and chewing it over carefully. We often find ourselves talking late into the night as we ponder society’s latest thing. The major obstacle to these delightful endeavours is our four dear children! Their ages range from nine down to three and Imogen spends a good portion of her time homeschooling them and caring for their daily needs, making most of the food and dispensing most of the bandaids. She loves opening our home to others and has found L’Abri a good fit as she so naturally engages with people holistically, be it a physical, emotional, spiritual or intellectual need. The aforementioned children are Rose, Malachi, Koa and Aurelia . They arrived over the past decade with alarming punctuality, having almost exactly two years between each of them. As you might expect, raising them is our greatest challenge and yet a great joy. Our eldest, Rose, like all our children, is extremely gregarious and physically active. Life with L’Abri suits her well with the constant buzz of new people to meet. She loves to get lost in books and colouring and long games of make believe. Malachi (seven) is a deeply feeling boy who, when he’s not pretending to be a ninja, loves to cuddle and fight his dad. (This normally takes the form of a surprise attack for which my ageing back is poorly prepared). His younger brother Koa (five) will happily while away the hours building train sets and is slowly learning that punching is not an acceptable form of greeting. Such is the life of the father of a five-year-old boy! Aurelia (three) gets her name from the Latin for ‘golden one’ and she really is a ray of sunshine who never fails to wake up with a smile. She spends her days copying her siblings and telling us ‘I do it!’ whenever we try to help! I myself am a family man who loves the company of his wife and children (as long as it’s after my 7am coffee). I have an enduring fascination with our cultural sweeps and the Christian response to them and I enjoy writing fiction and non-fiction and getting outdoors on a bike or a kayak. I’m discovering that I may be an American trapped in the body of an Englishman and have particularly valued the warmth of the people here and the wide-open spaces. A midlife career change has its challenges, and it is my hope to begin further theological studies to facilitate this transition. Well, briefly, that’s us. Looking forward to saying hello in person or writing again soon. Much love from us all, James, Imogen, Rose, Malachi, Koa and Aurelia Lowe
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 Dear Friends, As I write this letter I am watching a blanket of fresh snow cover the icy, dirty half melted piles accumulated from previous snows. Though there are promising signs of spring, such as lengthening daylight hours and birds beginning to sing their spring songs, it appears that we will have to endure a few more weeks of winter weather before spring arrives in earnest and the promise of new life and new growth become a reality. But, while we wait for the arrival of spring, there has been a new arrival here at the Rochester L’Abri about which we are all very excited! The Lowe family has finally made it here from England, after what turned into nearly a year long process of getting their work visa approved. You will remember that they spent three months with us early last year and were a great blessing. They are settling quickly into the 11 th Avenue house where they stayed previously and that is perfect for their family of four young children. Ever since Jock & Alison moved out of this house that so conveniently backs onto the L’Abri woods, we have prayed for another family to join us and we’re looking forward to having their able help to keep the Rochester L’Abri running smoothly, as well as making their home a place of shelter and welcome for those who come to spend time with us. We are giving thanks for their safe arrival, but please do keep them in your prayers as they make the adjustment from England to Minnesota. Looking back over the year so far, we’ve kept busy with our normal winter routines, hosting our Winter Retreat in January and our annual Rochester Conference in February. Since Karen Alston settled into her new home in Sheridan at the end of the year, and the Lowes were busy wrapping things up in England, it looked like we would be without help for the first part of the year. So we were very grateful that Carissa Francoeur , who hails from New Hampshire, joined us at Ebenezer to help out for a bit. Her hard work and attention to detail have been a blessing to us, both as she helped to host the retreat and also to handle the many details of hosting the conference. The retreat went well, though there were a couple of unexpected adventures – one of them being a snowstorm which, although there was no heavy ice or severe wind, nonetheless caused a widespread power outage that left us without power for a full day. One of our guests, a theology student from Ethiopia, was a bit alarmed at being in backwoods Missouri with the only heat source in the building being the fireplace in the Greatroom, but we were able to stay warm and even cook meals without electricity – and this student said that when he returned to Ethiopia the story of “the night without lights” would be at the top of his list of stories to tell! The other unexpected adventure came in the form of a fluffy white dog that limped to our door one morning, begging us to help him. He must have wandered a long way, as his feet were quite sore and he was hungry and thirsty. A search through the surrounding community revealed, much to Alison’s delight (and Jock’s consternation!), that no one knew where he came from or where he belonged. They have nursed him back to health and he has now firmly established his place as a part of the McGregor family. We decided to call him Moses, and he is proving himself to be a natural fit in our L’Abri community with his gentle, friendly personality and mischievous sense of humor. We returned home from Missouri to finish preparing for our February conference , this year on the topic of Higher Education. We were encouraged to see an increase in attendance over last year, and especially encouraged to see a good number of new faces as well as old friends, and many young singles. The speakers did an excellent job of addressing the topic, treating various aspects of the history of education, its roots in Christianity, what it has become today, and how we as Christians can and should engage in our cultural moment. The feedback from attendees was very positive and from what we could see the talks generated much productive thought and discussion. We were able to produce our own recordings again this year, and the collection will soon be available for anyone interested in purchasing a copy. Our March term is underway, though it has been unusually quiet so far. But we have seen so many times how, as we trust the Lord to bring the people of His choice, He also brings them in His timing. The commitment to trust the Lord to orchestrate our lives gives us opportunity to see His faithfulness demonstrated in many ways. The faithfulness of the Lord has been on my mind often the last few months as I have been reading through the Old Testament prophets and see how often faithfulness, or steadfast love, is spoken of – both as the promise of His steadfast love for us, and as His requirement that we show steadfast love to one another. I’ve been thinking about the word ‘steadfast’ a lot lately, and about the rich meaning conveyed through it. It communicates a sense of constant-ness, of an unwavering perseverance. The promise of the Lord’s steadfast love, the reminder that He is for us, is an immovable anchor that will always be there for us to cling to, no matter how topsy-turvy our world might feel, how confused or discouraged we may be, no matter how distant He may seem at times. It is as reliable as the knowledge that the sun will rise every morning. And it enables us to give each other the gift of steadfast love through the ups and downs, the little irritations, the joys and struggles we encounter daily. It is a difficult practice, since it involves having grace for one another’s imperfections, and the daily acts of kindness or forgiveness or acting in one another’s best interest can seem insignificant in comparison to what the world around us tells us is important. But to know that I can wake up tomorrow without the fear that the Lord will have grown tired of bearing with me, to know that He enables me to show that kind of faithfulness to others, is perhaps the best gift we can give or receive. I have seen repeatedly in L’Abri how often it is the small, seemingly insignificant acts of care that have the most profound impact on people’s lives. Looking ahead, we’re beginning to make plans for the spring and summer. Jock and Alison will be going to the Netherlands in April to participate in the annual L’Abri Member’s Meeting, and shortly after they return we’ll be heading to Ebenezer to host our Spring Retreat. The plans for the carriage house construction continue to move forward as well, and Jock is working with the contractors on the permitting process. Lord willing, they will be breaking ground by late May. We would welcome your continued prayers for this process. We thank each of you for your steadfast faithfulness and support, which allows us to continue this work. Yours in Christ, Mercy
“Take hold of instruction, do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.” Proverbs 4:13 Dear Friends, As we look forward to another year, for the Rochester L’Abri branch it is with a deep sense of gratitude . The Lord has been faithful. Last year, as you will remember, was filled with accidents and setbacks, the most serious being the near-fatal car accident that Mercy had. Yet we ended the year all well and back to full health. For Mercy there was a lovely Christmas at home with her whole family gathered, back to full strength and more settled than ever in her invaluable role in our team. For Alison and me, it meant a long-awaited trip back to Australia to reconnect with her growing family down-under. After the Covid years and an absence of six years, it was wonderful to catch up with newly-wed family members and meet the newest little ones – and a chance for a good rest. For our dear friend and faithful helper, Karen, she ended her year and a half with us by relocating to a lovely little retirement cottage, right near her close family, in Sheridan, Wyoming. We could not have made it through last year without her help. With the covid years behind us now, we saw a return to better student numbers both here in Rochester and also down at the newly completed Ebenezer Retreat Center, and our faithful supporting community helped us end the year once again with a solid financial picture. But even as we ended the year with a sense of relief at God’s protection and provision, the year ahead looked challenging. With Karen gone, we had no helpers in sight and the Lowe’s were still stuck in the UK waiting for a visa that might never come. If the last year proved anything, it showed that our small team desperately needs help. So, what joy it was, the week before Christmas, to get word that the visa application had been approved! And, as always, the Lord’s timing is perfect. In the interim, this dear family had been able to help out at the English L’Abri, gaining valuable experience, but also getting precious time with family who live nearby. There are still a few practical hurdles to get through, but James and Imogen Lowe and their four kids are headed our way – and not a minute too soon. Do please pray for all the logistics, for safe travel, and for them to settle well into the home we have already had prepared and waiting for them for over a year now. Pray also that our monthly gifts will grow to meet the challenge of adding this large family to our payroll. But, most of all, simply give thanks with us for this significant development in the Rochester branch. Not long after that good news, we also got good news regarding the Carriage House project . You may remember that a generous donor gave a large donation to fund this project and earlier this past year we had a set of plans finalized and a contractor on board. We were ready to start in the Fall. But then came the sticker-shock, as we got the actual bid from the contractor! I’m sure you are all fully aware of the steep rise in building supply costs and the increase in construction costs. The whole project looked prohibitive, and we were back to the drawing board. But, as we start this new year, I’m happy to say that yet another generous gift from the same donor, and some negotiating with the builder, means we can indeed move forward in the Spring with this project. The plan is now to build the shell of the building with the money we have as phase I and then look to the Lord for the rest to come in for a phase II completion later. We also had the good news that the Rochester City just introduced new zoning laws, starting this year, that will significantly help us get permitting approval. Please keep praying for this. So, as I said, we look forward now to this new year with deep gratitude to God, and a spring in our step. Tomorrow, we head down to MO for our usual January Retreat at Ebenezer and are looking forward to the students that God always sends. We have several internationals booked in this time, some new faces and then the many who like to return time after time. Some will remember Billy Hastings, who interned with us for two years – we are very much looking forward to seeing him again at the Retreat and meetings his wife and their new baby. Larry Snyder will also be coming out – we take great joy in the continuity of relationships we have built over the 20 odd years we have been doing these Retreats in the St Louis area. When we come back, it will be all hands on deck for our next Rochester L’Abri Conference – our 29 th ! The theme this year could not be more current or important - the challenges within our higher education system. The University is actually a fruit of the Christian worldview and for centuries was an arm of the Church. But in our modern/postmodern secular age, it is now beset by difficulties and an increasingly challenging place for believers. For some time now, Christians have been focused on doing better for our children’s education, and at the K-12 level there are good options, but the challenge at the tertiary level is arguably much greater and given the influence of the Academy in the wider culture, perhaps of more consequence. What should a Christian response look like? We are thankful for many Christian professors who maintain a faithful presence in the Academy, often under great pressure, we will have many speaking at the Conference. We are thankful too for the growth of the Christian Study Center movement that provides a link between Church and University and a great support to our young Christian students – a number will be represented at the Conference. But there are other creative efforts out there also, gap-year programs, church-based models, Christian alternatives, and so on – we hope to bring some of these to the fore, as we look at a multifaceted problem that may well need multifaceted solutions. Education is a Christian mandate and, given the influence of the academy in the wider culture, something that impacts us all – please do plan to join us if you can on February 17/18, 2023, at the Kahler Grand Hotel in downtown Rochester for “From one generation to another: The Christian Education Mandate and its Challenges” . You can get full details and register at www.rochesterlabriconferences.org The challenge of Education is not primarily, of course, a question of models, but a question of Worldview. Do we live in an open or a closed Universe? What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? Is there a Canon or is everything relative? Is the goal of education anchored in Truth or Social Justice? Is Truth Christian or is all Truth God’s Truth? Can we have a telos to Education if we do not have a telos to life? These and many other questions will be front and center at the Conference. And, whilst their ultimate resolution may be complex, for the Christian the ultimate answer lies where this Newsletter started. In gratitude to God – the God who is really there, the Creator God who anchors all reality, in whom all things hold, and who has given us the Book of His Word as a light that illuminates everything, and the Book of His Works, that he invites us to explore - who gives us meaning and identity and telos in all of life, and before whom, if we receive all these things in humble gratitude, lies the possibility of Life, Light and, yes, Learning. Thank you for your support and prayers over the years – please continue to pray for us as we seek to serve Him who has called us to these great realities, and as we serve those He sends our way. Yours in Christ, Jock McGregor
Resources
Prayer Letter
“Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40: 27-29 Dear Friends, It is hard to believe that December is here once again! But now is a good time for reflection on the year that has flown by - and for looking ahead. Here at Rochester L’Abri we have much that we are thankful for, and we stand in awe at all that God has been doing. For some time, we have been praying about preparing this branch for the future. And He has heard our prayers! We have seen his provision of wonderful staff – and now also the Carriage House , which - thanks to the continued generosity of the donor – we are expecting will be finished by Spring. Our experience with construction in Missouri is coming in handy, as we are designing the apartment in the style of a Swiss Chalet, as per the donor’s wishes. Jock and I love going to hardware stores and looking at all the options, and we have picked out the kitchen and bathroom styles, gas fireplaces, doors, and paneling etc. The donor wants things to be good quality with solid wood ceilings, floors and cabinets. It’s a new experience not having to sweat over the cost of these things and we are deeply grateful and can look forward to having more wonderful accommodation for this branch. This development is truly a miraculous thing as it has been hoped for ever since the first purchase of the Rochester property in the early 90’s. As I write, the L’Abri International Tustees are gathered at Canadian L’Abri and our prayers are with them, for clarity and fellowship as they carry the responsibility for this growing international work. We regularly pray for some of our newer, more far flung branches, now in South Brazil, South Africa, Australia and Korea. While Jock is away, I have been taking time to reflect on the early days of L’Abri and rereading some of the Schaeffer’s letters. It is very moving to look back and see the unfolding of God’s purposes for their lives as they wrestled with the uncertainty of choices and pressures from home, as well as from the Swiss canton. I am reminded again of the golden thread of God’s leading them, their willingness to be used by Him and what grew out of their faithful daily choices. Especially moving was Schaeffer’s letter home to a member of the mission board, expressing a renewal of the sweetness of his early days of faith. He wrote “… as I walked, I looked up at the Dents (mountains) with their swirling mists so high above me. I thought how our dear Lord comes into a more proper perspective in our thinking in such a place as this - for the higher the mountains the more understandable is the glory of Him who made them and holds them in His hand. But, the other side is also true, man also comes into a more proper place - as the Lord gains in greatness in comparison to the mountains, so man diminishes. And as it is with space, it is also true of time.” On Monday mornings, we have been working through the Psalms , taking turns leading the study. Again and again, we see the psalms give God’s perspective on our experience of human joys and sorrows. We become preoccupied by the everyday challenges, but when we turn to God’s Word we are reminded of His ‘mountain top’ perspective, that He is holding this world and our life in His hands. His majesty and our humanness are a theme that never grows old. His ability to enter in - always for good - is a deep comfort. And we are strengthened by the fact that we have seen prayers answered repeatedly. Do you remember when the L’Abri well failed and we needed $50,000 to connect to city water? The money came in so quickly and that step was actually an essential building block for the development of the carriage house, as all new builds have to be on city water. In addition, shortly afterwards, the city changed local zoning laws to promote the development of secondary dwellings, another essential building block. Did we know that this would all unfold? No, but God did! We have seen and known his faithfulness in both the small personal things as well as in the historical development of this work. It is one of the great encouragements that comes with getting older. Even though we do get tired and weary, our lived experience of God’s faithfulness grows. Remembering His specific answers to prayer is a biblical pattern and His faithful work in the history of L’Abri is indeed a demonstration of the truth and reality of the God who is There, just as Schaeffer wanted L'Abri to be. Recently I was talking about this with a woman who is an Episcopal priest, as we sat in the chairs looking out over Rochester. I was at first a little nervous - she is a very intelligent Yale graduate, but as I talked about the reality of answered prayer, we quickly just became two people enjoying talking about God. Everyone He sends here is significant and a person made in the image of God. Another man has encouraged us all as we have seen significant changes in his life over the last few years of his regular visits. There is nothing better than seeing people discovering the riches of life in Christ. There are so many stories we could tell of significant conversations, answered prayers and the like, all despite our very frail humanness. The constant is our God who is renewing us all and bending us to His purposes. This entering in and taking on our humanity is what we are celebrating this Christmas . What a wonder and joy it is to celebrate this consummate act of loving kindness. May this joy be with each one of you this Christmas. In Christ Alison.
"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end” - Ecclesiastes 3:11 Dear Friends, August’s hot sun has tempered into September’s pleasantly chill dawns and cool dusks. The geese have begun to mull a trip south amidst the gently honking flocks gathering across Rochester’s many lakes and rivers; their wings whispering overhead in silhouetted formations across pastel orange skies each evening. I am reminded of King Solomon’s pensive words on seasons and their testament to the wise timing of our Lord in all things. The year at Rochester continues to bear witness to this truth as many things longed for and prayed for are realized. Alison wrote in June of our day of prayer and fasting as we sought God’s provision for Rochester L’Abri, especially in the smooth transition of Debbie from California. We are overjoyed to report that she joined us at the beginning of the July term! Her joining the team as a worker has been an answer to prayer for all involved - for Debbie, the fulfilment of a long held and carefully considered desire to serve L’Abri and, for the existing team, God’s provision of a single worker to takeover Mercy’s role in the Main House. Debbie came just in time for the fullest term in a few years; one which saw a return to pre-pandemic numbers. The past few weeks have been a wonderful example of just how broad a demographic the Lord brings to L’Abri. We hosted a family, a retiree, several younger people (some with profoundly challenging histories), a pastor facing a crisis of faith and numerous day visitors exploring Christian community. All came seeking shelter in difficult and confusing times and, by the grace of God, found it here at L’Abri. I was personally very thankful for a few students with good practical skills, especially in the removal of a large dead oak overhanging the Main House. Of course, just as the answered prayer for another worker creates additional financial need, so too does God’s gift of more students increase our need for greater energy and sustenance from Him. Please join us in lifting these things to Him as we spend a few weeks resting and catching up on projects that have been put on the back burner, prior to the Fall Retreat in Missouri. As well as praying for the provision of Workers, we had also been petitioning the Lord for helpers . Unusually, no one had requested to become a helper for the second summer term. We have since received two applications to become helpers at Rochester from the November term onwards. This was an encouraging development. Both as reminder of God’s attentiveness to our prayers and a relief that the team will be blessed with another person or two with whom to share the work. Please pray for them as they move and settle into their roles here. Being a helper is a wonderful but sometimes heavy load and a big adjustment. September marks the fulcrum of our year here as we tip away from the steady tempo of our two long summer terms and into the staccato rhythm of Autumn and Winter which will see a Fall Retreat, a short November Term at Rochester, the December Trustees meeting, a Christmas break and then the Winter Retreat. The crescendo culminates in the L’Abri Conference in February which will likely see 400-500 delegates. Many moving parts which require the help of our Heavenly Father. Prayer for the conference in particular would be much appreciated. There have been some changes to costs at the normal venue which priced us out. Providentially, another wonderful downtown location has been found but the additional time spent organizing all this has caused unavoidable delays. Please pray for Jock as he fills the roster and takes care of many administrative tasks. Pray also that good numbers would attend and that the conference would be a time of real nourishment for the attendees and speakers alike. The theme of the 2025 Rochester Conference is “Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times” and the dates are February 14 th & 15 th . Mercy’s garden has been well used by Imogen this year, who has taken over its care. It is wonderful to see the things Mercy left continue to bear fruit. In particular a volunteer squash plant has been prolific at spreading itself around half of the garden and is also producing a large number of fruit. She has enjoyed watching the garden grow into organized chaos as the season has progressed and has also felt the frustration of weeds being much stronger than some of the other plants. Imogen is now in the midst of making a legion of preserves: the cucumbers in particular have been productive, and she has made more jars of pickles than are medically advisable to consume within the space of a year. But we will try. As the shift towards the winter half of the year occurs, we are reminded of the gratitude we carry towards all of you who help keep this work going. It is good to know that we are upheld in the work, and to have a strong foundation of prayers from you all as we strive to bring the love of God to those who come to us in need. Warmly and on behalf of the Rochester team, James
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” Psalm 95 Dear Friends, On this beautiful summer day, on the first day of our July break, we are indeed thankful. We have put behind us another term of hospitality, teaching, tutoring, tree felling, gardening, laughing, crying, wrestling and listening. We are tired and thankful for the ways God has again provided and sustained us. Many times, as Jock and I walk this property, we are drawn to see all the things which need doing and fixing, and we find ourselves somewhat tired just thinking about it all. But yesterday, during a day of prayer and fasting , I chose to consciously focus on the things that are good, and that we have to be thankful for. Psalm 95 was the focus of my prayers; ‘let us come before him with thanksgiving’ . Instead of seeing weeds to pull, I was thankful that they had such pretty flowers all around them. And what a view from the point, even though the ground around the firepit needs lots of woodchip. Yes, we have lost many trees, but we still have so many healthy beautiful ones. We do have many things on our mind, including concerns for the future, yet focusing on thanks and the God whom we serve is always the right place to start our prayers, and keeps our feet in the here and now. We did see a good number of students coming through, two for the whole term and many others coming and going. Our finances were sufficient for our needs, and we had great help from our helper Cherie and from our colleagues the Lowes , who stepped up as Debbie, who was coming to work with us had to postpone. James has been invaluable taking down so many dead trees as we have had so many tree losses, first the elms, then the ash and now we are losing a number of oaks. Thankfully, we also had an arborist come as a student and he will be back to treat the oaks by the house that can be saved. We are so thankful for the beauty of this place, as it helps create a sense of shelter for those that come. We have had visits from pastors on sabbatical, women dealing with trauma, young people looking for direction and older, retired folk also figuring out what’s next. And so, we try to create a place for them all, with peace, beauty, rest and work - and discussion flows through it all (along with many cups of tea). Adding to the mix are four lively and affectionate kids, a big friendly dog and a cuddly kitten. A bundle of life that God uses to bring about comfort and healing. One lady even wept, simply sitting at a dining table for lunch, as she had been living in a less than ideal situation, and that simple act of hospitality at a table was something that even she didn’t know she was longing for. We never know what God will use, but as we perform these simple everyday acts, God in His mercy orchestrates healing by His presence. There are many things that occupy our minds with regard to the future , and we are hardly alone in this. Lately I have been reflecting on how I often worry about the things over which I have no control, while neglecting the daily requirement to focus on and do the everyday simple acts of faithfulness. I find little appeal in doing dishes, another load of laundry and writing emails, but these are the things I have some control over. Humbly putting one foot in front of the other in the everyday things is where the faithfulness required of us often lies. Kindness and helpfulness to our family and neighbors, setting the table and helping with housework may feel mundane and unimportant, but so often this is where we find God. Self-control and discipline are not glamorous but in God’s eyes they are beautiful. Oh, to see as He sees! I remember one day I was frustrated and angry with having to clean the toilet yet again. My attitude matched the job I was doing, Jock was away, and I was tired and grumpy. Then the doorbell rang, and I had to remove the rubber gloves and go to the door, WHAT NOW! It was a box being delivered and I couldn’t resist opening it right away. Lo and behold - I was reminded that my loving God has a perfect sense of timing. In the box was a gift that was richly fragrant - a Hawaiian Lei of fresh pulmonaria flowers from a friend in Hawaii! I finished the toilet laughing with my neck adorned in fragrant flowers. Never before or since has that happened, but it is a reminder of the kind of God we serve. We do feel great encouragement as a branch . We have seen God’s faithfulness in so many ways, including the provision of the carriage house . The building’s benefactor has promised another good amount to get it near completion, and we are just now waiting on the contractors, who have been absent for the past few months. Please pray for the timely completion of this lovely new home. Looking to God’s faithfulness, we have been praying in particular about the future provision of staffing for this branch - and the financial means to cover that . With additional accommodation, we now have the space to grow, so we would appreciate your prayers for God to provide the right families and resources to build the work for the future. This is in His hands, and we entrust it to Him. In the wider world, we see the old order of things becoming increasingly destabilized and it is hard not to be concerned for the Western world. Whether it is the culture, politics, or war, there is much to be concerned about. We do pray for those who are at the coalface in these grave matters and are so thankful that we can bring even these very large things to God. He is Lord and He is Mighty, so we can turn to Him in prayers that rightly end with “Come Lord, come!”. We are a people whose hope for a future home is secure and so can seek to simply be faithful in this part of our journey. Let’s lean into this world, in its glory and its ruin, seeking to be faithful in the place God has us for now. In Christ, Alison
Friday Lecture Schedule
Fall Term 2024:
November 8 Dr. Frank Stootman (via Zoom from Sydney L'Abri) - God is Worth a Second Look!
November 15
Karl Pacholke (via Zoom from Brisbane L'Abri) -
"Who do you say I am?" - The Question of Identity
November 22 Inkyung Sung (via Zoom from Korean L'Abri)
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Elijah's Rest - The 3 Basic Principles of Rest
notifications, please let us have your e-mail address and we will add you to our local listing. Contact rochester@labri.org
Unless otherwise indicated, all lectures take place at the L'Abri house and begin at 7:30pm and are followed by a question and answer time and then refreshments are served. The Lectures are free and open to all - no reservation is required. The L'Abri house is up the steep drive at 1465 12th Ave NE, Rochester. Please drive carefully in our neighborhood. Phone (507) 536-0108.
Each Friday Night Lecture is recorded and the audio MP3 file is uploaded on the following Wednesday morning to our Podcast
Homepage which can be found at https://rochesterlabri.podbean.com/
These uploaded lectures are stored online in a back catalogue and thus can be accessed for online streaming or download at your convenience. In between our regular live Friday Night Lecture series, we will be uploading previous lectures from our back catalogue for your interest.
Audio Lecture Library
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Phone: INT +1 (507)536-0108
Email:
rochester@labri.org
Address:
1465 12th Ave NE, Rochester, MN 55906-4383
Contact info
INT +1 (507) 536-0108rochester@labri.org
1465 12th Ave NE
Rochester, MN 55906-4383
rochester@labri.org
1465 12th Ave NE
Rochester, MN 55906-4383