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UPC GB&I Central District Mens Retreat 2010

At very short notice I was proactively encouraged by Laurence to accompany him to the fourth UPC GB&I Central district men's retreat which took place over the 28th-29th January 2010. Laurence told me that last year they spent the Saturday outside so it would be best to pack warm out door clothing walking boots and fleece jackets etc. As he did not think we would be needing to wear our suit's if the program was going to be any thing like last year.

After work on Friday Laurence picked me up from home  when we got to kidlington it was snowing and as we continued our journey we past places that had snow laying on the ground our destination was the Frontier centre it is set in the heart of England in the village of Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire with stunning views across 600 acres of lakes along the beautiful Nene Valley.  With Accommodation for up to 222 people Fully catered or self catered options. Offering a wide range of optional instructed activities (AALA licensed).

We were greeted by Rev M Gadd and Rev G Ogle. And we were soon settling in meeting and making new friends and renewing old friendships. In the dinning room I was delighted to meet Bethan Gadd and sister Turley who also introducted me to the guest speaker for the weekend sister Sjostrand. We had arrived  later than the program had requested however Rev Mark Gadd had arranged dinner for us before the first session started. It was great meeting up the Bishop of UPC GB&I Leroy Francis we share an active interest in photography and it was very interesting learning how he was progressing in this field.

We spent the weekend in lectures studying  "The four Faces of Man"

Ezekiel 1:4-11 (KJV)

⁴And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.

⁵Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.

⁶And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings.

⁷And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.

⁸And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings.

⁹Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.

¹⁰As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

¹¹Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.