Thank you all for your prayers and understanding as we reshuffled things in light of so many people isolating last week. Here’s the Revised Plans:

SUNDAY: Restarting Community Litter Pick and Simon’s Baptism (3.30pm)
A Midweek change: A Summer Prayer Adventure (replacing Evening Encounters)
Updated Summer Plans (Get involved with picnics, litter picks, long walks, and a camp!)
Fruitfulness - have you done the survey yet?
Volunteering opportunities: the Pioneer Café
Pop up youth club through the summer and youth partnership survey

1. SUNDAY: TWO ways to get involved

10.30am Restarting the Community Litter Picks

Pre Covid, we used to run a monthly community litter pick, together with Longstanton Parish Council. Through the pandemic, many of you have been borrowing a kit here and there for an afternoon: Thank You for sticking with it and making a difference! But it’s always more fun with others. This week, we restart them, now partnering with the new Northstowe Town Council, as well as Plastic Free Northstowe and Longstanton. Meet outside 6 Woodpecker Close at 10.30am to get your kit

Learn More

Remember, we never expect everyone to come to everything! We have such different patterns of life - we just hope you can tap into the right range of things to allow you to come together to meet with others; meet with God; and go out equipped to make a difference in the places God has put you!

3.30pm. Believer’s Baptism in the field

We’re trying again! This week, we’ll be in the field, with a faith-on-a-picnic-rug pack for each household (reply now and let us know if you need a pack made up!). We’ve some great reflective colouring sheets too, so please bring something to lean on and your pens/journal if that’s your thing. And our musicians have been compiling music tracks to sing along to. Don’t forget your chair/picnic rug too.

Learn More

2. A Summer Prayer Adventure

All through the Pandemic, we’ve been streaming midweek prayers and news updates. As unlocking continues, we’re able to meet in person more, so there is less need for news. And we’ve got the new “What Just Happened” Vlogs going too.

But praying together is still something we really value! How can we do this well throughout the summer?

We’ve decided to spend July and August on a Prayer Adventure using the Lectio 365 Prayer App. This has written and audio versions of a Morning Prayer and Night Prayer. Why not download it, and give it a try?

What about the “together” bit? We’re posting some links up on our social media channels.. but sometimes a private discussion group is what’s needed. So several of us are forming a WhatsApp Group to share what we notice, and gently encourage each other (recognising that we probably wont all do it every day!). Message the Church Mobile on 07720 330 272 if you want to join in. No long term commitment - try this through July and August and see what you think!

3. Coming Up: Sign up to help run these, or simply mark up your diary!

Full details for events will come out nearer the time. We are confident all these events can run, even at current covid guidance, but will adapt as necessary. Please keep updating our Summer Poll with your availability to help us plan safely. Do get in touch if you want to help plan or run any of these events.

Sunday July 25th: END OF TERM COMMUNION PICNIC (new time - 11.30am)

Read more on facebook: https://fb.me/e/Yg2mdXQc

Off-site during August

Get stuck into our midweek Prayer Adventure, and join us spending our Sundays connecting with our community

1st August [NO LARGE GATHERING]
Why not get together for a meal/ walk with another household ?
8th August 10-3pm Slow Fashion Kids Clothes Swap and Chat Zone, at the Deckchair Listening Project pop up stall outside church house as part of Northstowe Walking Craft Fair [helpers needed!]

15th August 1030am litter pick followed by picnic at Pioneer Park (as covid /weather permits)
22nd August ALL DAY pilgrimage to Ely Cathedral, inc evensong. Either walk from Waterbeach (return by train) or meet in a cafe in Ely first.
28TH - 30th August. Church camp in Willingham (inspired by our cancelled Greenbelt plans), with music, fun, and social justice. Day visitors welcome. (express interest ASAP)

From 5th September covid-permitting, our normal patterns will restart, with our Breakfast Gathering at 10.30am, and afternoons of Northstowe Prayer focus on 1st Sundays of the month; Afternoon Gatherings at 3.30pm on all other Sundays, and litter picks at 10.30am on the 3rd Sunday of the month.

4. Fruitfulness Survey

Have you done the Fruitfulness Impact Survey yet? We really hope as many of you as possible can join in with this. Unless we really understand where we are right now, it’s hard to plan for the future!

https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6384597/Fruitfulness-Framework

5. Volunteer Opportunities

Starting Wednesday July 21st, our friends at Friends of the Wing are launching a new community cafe. Some of you have already signed up to help, but there is still space for more volunteers. And, of course, they will need customers!

Read about the volunteering opportunity, and keep an eye out for menus soon!
bit.ly/pioneercafevolunteers

Watch the launch video on facebook

6. Northstowe’s New Pop Up Youth Club

We’ve been working behind the scenes to help set up the Northstowe Youth Partnership (talk to Beth if you want to know more). One of Northstowe’s young people made this brilliant video to spread the word amongst her peers: if you have a teenager at home, do get them to watch the video and take part in the survey!

Youth Survey Intro: how YOU can make a difference

But already we’ve heard the young people say they want somewhere to go.

Through the summer, the Connections Bus Project are bringing in their Pop Up Youth Club. Can’t wait to see some of our young people down at Pioneer Park, where they will also be able to join in with the consultation and help shape What Happens Next.

Blessings,

Beth and the Ministry Team