"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 14th & 15th.
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