District News – August 2024

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the Northampton Methodist District's new monthly newsletter. We're delighted to have this new way to share updates and events from across the District with you.

Welcoming Sonia – our new District Chair

On the 3rd August, we welcomed Rev'd Dr Sonia Hicks as our new District Chair. We're thrilled to have Sonia joining us in the District. Please do be praying for Sonia and her husband, Conrad, as they get settled in the Manse and Sonia starts her work.

Greenbelt WhatsApp Prayer Group

It's that time of year again, when the fields surrounding Boughton House become awash with creativity, conversation, music and spirituality. This year a team from the Northampton District will be joining a wider team of Methodists from across the Connexion at Greenbelt Festival. The team will be running the Methodist Venue, the Hope & Anchor, hosting conversations and creating a space for people to engage, encounter and explore.

Would you be interested in supporting the team in prayer throughout the festival? We've set up a WhatsApp where we'll be sharing updates and prayer requests from the fields, so if you're interested in joining, email Naomi Ensor (District Digital Enabler): n.ensor@northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk

Disability Awareness Week resources for Churches

Disability Awareness Week begins on the 15th September 2024, and Through the Roof, a church disability charity, have put together some excellent resources for churches to use on Sunday 22nd September to help raise awareness.

The President of the Methodist Conference, Rev'd Helen Cameron, is encouraging all churches to celebrate Disability Awareness Week (15 – 22 September 2024). Helen supports the disability charity Through the Roof, who invite churches to include local disabled people in Disability Awareness Sunday events on Sunday 22 September 2024, or a day of their choice.

Through the Roof have put together a free church resource called 'Journey with Jesus', featuring Andrew's story of a life-changing accident. Access the resource here.

Leaders Lunch with special guest Paul Nixon

Join the Northampton District and the author of 'I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church', Paul Nixon, at Whittlesey Methodist Church for conversation and reflection for leaders – lunch will be provided!

Date & time: Tuesday 17th September 2024, 11:30am – 2pm

Click here to find out more and book.

Northampton Methodist District Book Club: New Season Invitation

We are excited to announce that the Northampton District Theological Book Club will reconvene on the 10th September 2024, from 4pm – 5:30pm and will be exploring the metaphors and images found in 'God Reflected: Metaphors for Life' by Flora A. Keshgegian.

In her introduction, Keshgegian writes, "This book seeks to explore a wide range of metaphors and images. It asks of these ways of imaging God: What is God like? How does God relate to us and to everything God created? In particular, what kind of power does God exercise and how does God exercise it?"

Book availability:The book is available for Kindles and can be ordered as a paperback--new or second-hand--from Amazon and other retailers. You can also find second-hand copies via Abe Books.

Please join us: If you would like to join the group and have not yet been in touch, please email Kim Shorley at kim.shorley@northamptonmethodistdistrict.org.uk