Extended Ministry Team Meetings:
Practical start-and-finish opportunities to support us praying, exploring, and sharing
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 they have a specialist interest in the matters being discussed.On several occasions through the year, a wider invitation is issued for anyone involved in the life of the Northstowe Church Network to join an Open Ministry Team Meeting, This page describes upcoming opportunities in more details
- 7pm Monday 3rd June: Branding across the Northstowe Church Network
- 7pm Monday 12th August: Advent and Christmas 2024 Planning
- 7pm Monday 11th November: Lent and Easter 2025 Planning
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.
Do you have an opinion on how we evolve our branding and marketing?
We are keen to find ways to show both the unity and diversity of our different worshipping communities. Should we use the Northstowe-colour logo just for whole-network events, and adapt or recolour it for the individual worshiping communities? Little Explorers has already adapted it’s logo.. but what colours should it focus on? Should the Pathfinder logo use school colours? Have a chat with us, and, if you are interested, join a one-off meeting on Monday 3rd June at 7pm at the Mellows' to progress this, ready to print new advertising banners over the summer.
We are keen to find ways to show both the unity and diversity of our different worshipping communities. Should we use the Northstowe-colour logo just for whole-network events, and adapt or recolour it for the individual worshiping communities? Little Explorers has already adapted it’s logo.. but what colours should it focus on? Should the Pathfinder logo use school colours? Have a chat with us, and, if you are interested, join a one-off meeting on Monday 3rd June at 7pm at the Mellows' to progress this, ready to print new advertising banners over the summer.
More details
Back in 2019, we worked with graphic designer Andy Boothman to develop the original branding for Pathfinder Church Northstowe: our familiar compass-cross drawing on our vision, values, and local context and history - the rich history of the Pathfinder Squadron, as well as ideas linked to the Way of Life Cross.
This logo has served us well, and is widely recognised - so we don't want to stray too far from this! However, as we expand into the Northstowe Church Network, we're keen to grow the branding to suit this next phase of Northstowe's development. Our thinking is to keep the familiar logo, but to encourage each worshipping community to put their mark on it - so that they are clearly part of the whole but free to be distinctive.
One place for inspiration is the colour-coding of the Northstowe Learning Community: their high-level logo picks up on the colours of their trust, and each school community has it's own small group of colours. For example, Northstowe Secondary College use purple, Martin Bacon has green, the new primary has orange, and the 6th form will be red. Each of the communities also use the white version of the logo, overlaid over their particular colour pallet. Is this something we want to do for our worshipping communities?
One place for inspiration is the colour-coding of the Northstowe Learning Community: their high-level logo picks up on the colours of their trust, and each school community has it's own small group of colours. For example, Northstowe Secondary College use purple, Martin Bacon has green, the new primary has orange, and the 6th form will be red. Each of the communities also use the white version of the logo, overlaid over their particular colour pallet. Is this something we want to do for our worshipping communities?
Like most early Northstowe groups, we used colours similar to the original Northstowe Brand colours. In the early days, groups weren't allowed to use the exact brand set, but subsequently this has changed (examples from Community – Northstowe Hub - no affiliation)
However, this year the Northstowe branding has switched to use colours from the broad brand-set in bold monochrome:
Already, Little Explorers have adapted the logo for their context, adding images that reflect the things that shape them. They've primarily used blues and pinks - but have experimented with changing the logo seasonally (e.g. going purple in advent and lent).
Have a think, have a pray, and come and join the conversation.
Afterwards, we might delegate a few people to do some more work, before we bring mock-ups to Church Council and the Church Meeting to make some decisions.
All in time to print new posters and banners over the summer!
Afterwards, we might delegate a few people to do some more work, before we bring mock-ups to Church Council and the Church Meeting to make some decisions.
All in time to print new posters and banners over the summer!
Do you want to help shape both our community-focused activities and worship during Advent and Christmas. for the last few years now we've gathered for a festive get together in the middle of the summer to eat Christmas snacks while planning for the winter months. Key questions
Community focused:
Community focused:
- What will be the theme for this year's Advent Windows (and does anyone want to help run it behind the scenes
- What will our involvement in the Lantern Parade and Switch On Look like
- Final details for our Beer and Carols around the Northstowe Tess on the Green (Friday 20th Dec)
- Any other partnership opportunities? Or things we should stop?
- What do we want on this year's Christmas Card (delivered to every house in Northstowe, and all the schools)
- What theme should we explore through Advent (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 Christmas Eve (another Scratch Nativity?), Midnight Communion (another campfire), and Christmas morning (another Christmas Breakfast with short act of worship?)
- Do we want a Christingle?
- How do we want to mark Epiphany?
- Anything else? Or what should we stop?
- Does anyone want to offer their particular gifts to help shape things? E.g. Music, graphic design, Christmas Card Delivery Organizing, Cooking etc...
Do you want to help shape both our community-focused activities and worship during Lent and Easter. Key questions
Community focused:
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?
- 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?
- 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.
