As a Connexion church family, apart from the annual Conference, there are not many opportunities when individuals can meet together, and the Trustees are often thinking about ways in which this can be encouraged.

A few years ago the Ministers in Sussex decided to meet up for lunch every couple of months to get to know one another better and to spend time sharing and praying for each other. The Cluster now includes Simon Allaby at Bolney Village Chapel, Peter James at Turners Hill Free Church, Peter Earle at Shoreham Free Church, David Batchelor at South Street Eastbourne, Martin Brown and Dave Sweetman at Hailsham Gospel Mission, 'CK' at Ote Hall Chapel and Gordon Hamilton.

On Friday 9 May five of the members were able to have a quiet day at Penhurst Retreat Centre, which is set in the beautiful East Sussex countryside. The group met at 10am and spent some time in worship and prayer before giving 'CK' some time to introduce himself and speak about how he and his wife seem to have been called to Ote Hall Chapel. (More about this story will follow at a later date.)

After lunch there was time to go for a walk, sit in the sunshine or get creative in the art room, before sharing and praying together again and then leaving at 4pm.

It was a wonderful day and we are thankful to the Cheshunt Fund for covering the cost. It is definitely something to be repeated in the future and maybe next time extending the visit to 24 hours.

The Connexion Trustees are hoping to facilitate similar clusters in other parts of the country where geography allows (and on Zoom where it doesn’t!)