Carreg Trust

Dear friends …….

I am sitting now at the desk in my study, looking to the South West out the back of the house. Apart from the usual glorious Llŷn autumnal view of wind and rain, the back garden now also has a very large shed …. we call it Carreg Fawr. It is full of a lot of the things that we had gathered together over the last 7 years to make the other Carreg Fawr on Enlli into Ty Encil Carreg, the retreat house on that blessed island that we have been able to offer to all our visitors as a uniquely good place to make a retreat or holiday, but most especially to find God in the quiet, peace and beauty of Enlli. The whole journey has been very special, remarkable and surprising in many ways, but above all truly a privilege and a pleasure for us as Carreg Trust to be there, part of this short but special bit of the Lord’s work.

As you all know by now, this part of our journey has finished with our lease on Carreg Fawr not being renewed by Bardsey Island Trust. But on the Way, the long journey with Jesus our Lord that is our real life, we can only go in one direction and that is forward. Much of what we will find and what we will be given to do along that Way as Carreg Trust has yet to be seen, but we wait in happy anticipation. But you will find some of that next instalment on the pages of this short newsletter. Thank you dear friends for all you support and looking forward to meeting you once again on Enlli.

Nick Hawkins. Chairman. Carreg Trust.

• Many of you have made the journey across the Sound to Enlli. To the island of 20,000 saints. To the place of holy pilgrimage where in the 14th Century, 3 visits would have been regarded as equivalent to 1 visit to Jerusalem.

• So today, whether they have travelled for holiday, for retreat or just for the day, all visitors are still making their pilgrimage to this holy isle.

• If you have never been or would like to visit again, then maybe 2010 is the year!

• Carreg Trust with many years of experience of encouraging and enabling pilgrimage to Enlli, can offer you help to set up, organise and, if you wish, accompany and guide you or your group for your visit to Enlli.

• If you are visiting North Wales and planning to make a day pilgrimage to Enlli, please contact us for help.

• All visitors planning a day visit are advised that weather conditions can sometimes prevent the boat sailing on the day, so we recommend that you build into your travel plans some flexibility as to which day you hope to go the island.

Dear Friends
We, the Directors, would like to thank all of you for your faithful support of the Trust without which Ty Encil Carreg would not have been able to provide such good facilities and homely atmosphere for our visitors. The lease on the house has now come to an end, and Carreg Fawr reverts to Bardsey Island Trust as part of their housing stock for holiday rentals. However, Carreg Trust will continue to run pilgrimages, day visits and retreats both on Ynys Enlli and the mainland.

From 2010 we will be providing bursaries to people who wish to stay in the Carreg Fawr Hermitage on Bardsey. If you choose to either continue your current regular donation or make an additional contribution to the work of Carreg Trust on this basis, we will be very grateful. We hope that you will continue to support us in this new venture, which we hope will ensure that the Hermitage is used by those on spiritual retreat and seeking a place for prayer and thus continues to be a very special Holy Place.

As always, we would encourage you, if you can, to ‘Gift Aid’ your donations and regular contributions, as this will make a significant difference to our income.

Liz Suter
Friends, donations, and Gift Aid Secretary

If you have any queries please e-mail me at liz.suter@talktalk.net or on 01248-715472.
If needed we can send out new donation standing order forms and Gift Aid forms.

MONDAY 14TH TO FRIDAY 18TH JUNE 2010
Led by Nick and Janie Hawkins and friends.
A pilgrimage on the Llŷn Peninsula

• Visiting some of the holy sites of North West Wales, including Bardsey Island.

• This is a guided pilgrimage.

• Space for both fellowship and silence.

• Walking to suit those of most abilities, maximum of 8 miles in any session.

• Fully catered using the best of local produce.

• The cost will be fully inclusive including all meals, and accommodation and travel to Bardsey.

• Details from Nick Hawkins.

Carreg Trust no longer has the lease of Carreg Fawr or the Hermitage.

Booking Houses
All Houses have to be booked through Bardsey Island Trust
Click HERE for further details.
When booking please let John know that you are a Carreg Trust supporter. All bookings should be made before the end of February 2010, the earlier the better to avoid disappointment.

The Hermitage for private retreat
If you wish to stay in the Hermitage, then you need to apply through the Bardsey Island Trust, Spirituality Committee. Contact the Secretary: Rev Nick Hawkins, Bryn Mor, Llangwnadl, Pwllheli, Gwynedd LL53 8SN
Telephone 01758 770582
nick.hawkins@btinternet.com
If you are able to serve as Island Chaplain, then a subsidised rate is available from Bardsey Island Trust. Your request should be made to Nick Hawkins no later than 15th February 2010 for consideration to be included in the list for 2010.

Others wishing to stay at the Hermitage can apply for a bursary from Carreg Trust. Application should be made before the end of January 2010, for consideration by the Trustees at the February Trustees meeting.
Click HERE for contact details

Pilgrimage
You will need to make your own arrangements for accommodation.
If you wish to make a day trip to Bardsey Island, Carreg Trust may be able to provide a guide for the day. Your day trip to Bardsey Island is very weather dependent and may have to be on any day during your pilgrimage.
Click HERE for contact details

The wildness of God came to play with me today.
Calling me to face the fear of deep places.
Guiding me over my can't do's and into my can do's
Face to face with the wildness of God I was strangely silent,
so deep was the understanding between us, words were reduntant.
So many words blown by wind and wave into silence.
I am out of my element and out of my depth below me another silent world
In this thin place between heaven and earth I wait, suspended
until I find myself held in a curious unapologetic gaze.
I am bobbing on the surface, caught in the moment, I stare in wonder but with a splash of a tail I am invited to dive out of my element and into theirs;
where silently they move with such eloquence and speak to me of a God who calls us into his presence by leaving our element and entering his.