Consultations, Prayer and Vision Sessions, and extended Ministry Team Meetings:

Practical start-and-finish opportunities to support us praying, exploring, and sharing

On several occasions through the year, an invitation is issued for anyone involved in the life of the Northstowe Church Network to join an extended Ministry Team Meeting - which might take the format of a focused prayer and vision session, or (depending on the topic) be in the format of a meeting., Here are the next such opportunities:

Online until 8th Nov: Pathfinder Church Consultation: listening together for where God is calling us next
10am for 10.30am, Saturday 9th November: Pathfinder Prayer and Vision Morning
7pm Monday 9th December (TBC): Lent and Easter 2025 Planning

Alongside these, the Ministry Team meet throughout the year to focus on specific topics and issues that impact the life of the church. These meetings are often chaired by the Warden, and attended by the minister and those who have been invited because of their link to the matters being prayed for and discussed.

If you would like to send comments, or come along in person to a discussion group about any of these topics, please drop us a line.

Express your interest

Pathfinder Consultation

Whether you can join us on our vision morning or not, we'd value your input on this short form before we meet.

At the last church meeting some church members raised the option of moving our weekly Sunday Gatherings to mornings.

After discussion, we said we'd invite feedback, pray it over, and bring it back to a future church meeting before anything changed!

If we were considering mornings, people in the room preferred an earlier start (leaving the rest of the day free to be present in the community or with their families) - closer to 9am than 11am. What do you think?

We also discussed setting up teams to run hospitality - lots of people were keen that this should happen and wanted to sign up so we are confident the burden won't be too high.
Which suggests other teams too - so here is an opportunity to *express interest*.

We'd love you to prayerfully respond. Nothing is pre-determined here! We're taking the temperature as we listen for God together.

Tell us what you think

Saturday Morning: 9th November: Pathfinder Prayer and Vision Morning

If you would like to join a small group praying and discussing the next steps for the Pathfinder worshipping community, please get in touch. Even if you can't join us in person, please be praying from wherever you are that we would listen carefully and make wise decisions about next steps as our community continues to follow Jesus, The Pathfinder"

VENUE: Bar Hill Church

Approximate timings

10am: option to meet in Bar Hill Costa to pick up a coffee and socialise, before walking over to the church to start promptly at 10.30
10.30am Opening Contemplative Prayer in Bar Hill Church
11am Reflecting (individually) with Psalm 146 - Prayerfully asking "What does the future hold for Pathfinder?"
12 noon Sharing what we've noticed from God
12.30pm Concluding with a meditation "Called to the Edge" from Ian Adam's Running over Rocks
1pm: Our booking ends

(Note, there is a 3 hr parking restriction if you park at Tesco - we recommend sharing lifts and parking elsewhere)

As you prepare, you might like to pray with this collection of "treasures" from our recent Pathfinder Afternoon Gathering

7pm Monday 9th December (TBC): Lent and Easter 2025

NOTE: This has been postposed from November to allow us to focus on the Pathfinder Prayer and Vision morning before turning our attention to next year. Date to be confirmed.

Do you want to help shape both our community-focused activities and worship during Lent and Easter. Key questions

Community focused:

How will we run this year's Pancake Party?
Do we want to do Hot Cross Bun Afternoon Tea on Good Friday again?
Any partnership opportunities?
How do we want to advertise events?

Worship focused:

What theme should we explore through Lent (e.g. pick up one of our partner denominations' resources?)
Do we want any special events (e.g, a communion meal, or a gathering particularly focused on sung worship)
How/where do we want to mark Ash Wednesday (ashes to go?? joining with the villages?), Palm Sunday (wild church?), Holy Week (nightly compline's?), Maundy Thursday (communion meal?), Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday (sunrise, and another Breakfast with short act of worship? or something different)
Do we want to any special Lent courses/shared resources?
How do we want to mark Ascension and Pentecost
Anything else? Or what should we stop?

Skills:

Does anyone want to offer their particular gifts to help shape things? E.g. Music, graphic design, Organizing, Cooking etc...

The Northstowe Church Network is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Safeguarding Officer. The Diocese of Ely’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our SO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.