East Mountain UK Director’s Report May 2021-May 2022
The period of May of 2021 to May of 2022 saw (literal!) ground-breaking activity as well as the addition of a new migrant worker family and the opening of a new ministry venue and exciting new possibilities for the community. In the continuing world of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions; followed by a slow return to normalcy, East Mountain UK community gives thanks to God for His hand on us during this time of growth, challenge and opportunity!
Spring and Summer 2021:
The East Mountain UK community welcomed the King family (Jessica, Vinny and their two children) immediately before this reporting period began. The month of May saw the King family come out of their imposed quarantine after international travel and begin their life in Scotland with a 3 week stay at the Furrs. During this time, they recovered from a recent bout with Covid and the shock of moving a family with small children internationally after almost 7 years of work to get here! They then moved into a rental house and began the process of settling in. Their adjustment to life in Scotland continued through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. They are a welcome addition to the East Mountain UK community!
During the late spring and early summer, East Mountain continued to clear the land in the front garden of Wall End to create a “Prayer Garden” space and a spot for the building of the Shepherd’s Hut. By July, three different spots had been cleared, weeded (with roots of nettles and brambles dug up by hand), covered in weed-proof membrane and then with either pebbles or mulch. The main, centre portion was covered with gravel for the Shepherd’s Hut space with the two adjoining spaces either for flower planting or a fire pit. This was months of hard work, but the results were so satisfying.
In May of 2021, Chris Furr was informed that the Church of Scotland was planning to sell Whitekirk, a medieval church in East Lothian with a long history of pilgrimage connected to the earliest days of Christianity in this part of Scotland. This began a process of inquiry in which East Mountain, in conjunction with Discovery Church in Dunbar and 24-7 Prayer Scotland began discussing what it might look like to join in partnership to see this church purchased, restored and renewed in our day as a centre of pilgrimage, prayer and the arts. Later in the summer of 2021, we were introduced to Tommy Dale, who subsequently formed the Whitekirk NewLife Trust and invited Chris to participate on the board and to write the mission and vision of the Trust. In July of 2021, Chris and Kirsten returned to the US and presented the ministry of East Mountain UK, including the Whitekirk project to a US supporting/partner church. There was much excitement about the Shepherd Hut and Whitkekirk. This has since turned into a growing number of donors from the US to the Whitekirk project through the NewLife Trust.
Autumn and Winter 2021:
In September of 2021, Chris and Vinny began the construction work on the Shepherd Hut. East Mountain purchased a partial kit for the Hut from a company in Essex. Numerous people (friends and partners of the EM UK community) offered their help and expertise to help landscape, paint and build the hut. The project was quite a learning curve for both Vinny who had a good deal of building experience but had never tackled a project in the UK and for Chris who was learning how to do construction. Thankfully, EM UK had generous donors from the US who gave through Paraclete (the Furrs’ sending organisation) to cover the complete cost of the Shepherd’s Hut.
The EM UK community welcomed back the Deep Community Experience team (Dale Phillips and Keith Keller) back to Scotland to lead a community process (Phases 1) for the EM UK team plus John Timms, pastor of Discovery Church Dunbar. It was a wonderful experience and deepened our community connection.
Winter and Spring 2022:
The Shepherd’s Hut was completed in February of 2022. We decorated the hut, planted early spring flowers and prepared for our March 5 grand opening party by inviting several friends to come and to experience the space. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. The men and women who spent time in the Hut all commented on the fact that they experienced the
presence of God in the Hut and that it was a “thin space.” On March 5, we hosted almost 80 people in the Prayer Garden and had a beautiful day of music, presentations, prayer and good food. The weather was beautiful, and there was nothing but positive feedback for the Hut. The website for the Hut (www.theshepherdshut.org) was launched and Jessica King began her job of managing bookings. The Furrs cleaned and stocked the hut, as well as welcomed the majority of the guests who began to come. This ministry continued to grow through the spring and summer.
The Deep Community team (Dale and Carmen Phillips) returned in the spring to do Phase 2 of DCE with the EM UK team. We were able to go even deeper in our stories, community connections and relationship with God. Phase 3 is on schedule for Autumn 2023.
In April, Jess and Vinny King celebrated their first year in Scotland as a part of East Mountain UK. They had been through a one-year period of Noviciate into the community and had their year review. It was concluded that the Kings had integrated well and were truly making good inroads into life in Scotland and had become important members of the community. Jess was beginning to take on more and more responsibility as the coordinator of the Shepherd Hut ministry and Vinny was learning more about what it would take for him to work as a joiner/handyman in the area. Their boys had integrated well into nursery.
In conclusion, the year period of May 2021 to May 2022 was full of exciting movement forward, despite the continuing confusion in the UK and world due to Covid-19. The integration of the Kings, the building of the Prayer Garden and Shepherd Hut, the two DCE seminars and the possibilities of Whitekirk going forward were all highlights of the year.
Chris Furr Director, East Mountain UK
East Mountain UK Registered Charity number 1174595 Accounts 6 May 2021-5 May 2022
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Date: Details: In: Out: Bank
Balance:
beginning 2021 Balance in Bank £57.14
22 Mar SumUp Pymt Shepherds 0.98
22 Hut
22 Mar SumUp Pymt Shepherds 39.32 97.44
22 Hut
23 Mar SumUp Pymt Shepherds 5.90 103.34
22 Hut
25 Mar SumUp Pymt Shepherds 19.66 123.00
22 Hut
31 Mar SumUp Pymt Shepherds 10.00 133.00
22 Hut
1 April SumUp Pymt Shepherds 10.00 143.00
22 Hut
21 Apr SumUp Pymt Shepherds 10.00 153.00
22 Hut
4 May SumUp Pymt Shepherds 9.83 162.83
22 Hut
Totals £105.69 £ 00.00 £162.83
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£162.83 Income/ Receipts £00.00 Expenditure in fiscal year 2021-2022 year ending 5 May 2022
There are no loans, or outstanding bills due. Signed by Chair of Trustees
Trustees expenses- £ 0.00 Employers insurance £ 00.00 UKVI Certificate of Sponsorship £ 0.00
Rev Gary B Seithel 11 Feb 2023