Westminster Meeting Weekend Away 2024
King’s Park Centre, 6–8th September 2024
Westminster Meeting is having a weekend away, at the King’s Park Centre in Northampton.
Residential weekends are a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know each other, away from our usual routines, whilst deepening our individual and collective spiritual life. Everyone is welcome, especially children – we will have a children’s worker on hand for much of the weekend, as well as a number of all-age sessions. We also especially welcome those who are new to our community.
Taking our ministry and our gifts into the world
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ― Howard Thurman
Sometimes it’s clear to us what our gifts are and what we have to offer. But we may also have rare qualities that are appreciated or even inspirational to others that we take for granted or barely notice. And we may have untapped potential that can be developed. Every person is unique, and one thing we hope to explore during this weekend is what makes each of us special.
We recognise a variety of ministries. In our worship these include those who speak under the guidance of the Spirit, and those who receive and uphold the work of the Spirit in silence and prayer. We also recognise as ministry service on our many committees, hospitality and childcare, the care of finance and premises, and many other tasks. We value those whose ministry is not in an appointed task but is in teaching, counselling, listening, prayer, enabling the service of others, or other service in the meeting or the world.
The purpose of all our ministry is to lead us and other people into closer communion with God and to enable us to carry out those tasks which the Spirit lays upon us. Quaker Faith & Practice 10.05
The theme of the weekend this year is our ministry and our gifts, and how we take them into the world. We’ll explore together what motivates us to offer service to the meeting or in the world. What does ministry mean for you?
It is a responsibility of a Christian community to enable its members to discover what their gifts are and to develop and exercise them to the glory of God. Quaker Faith & Practice 3.22
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Cor 12:4–7)
On this weekend we will explore these themes, and what it means to each of us to live our lives as Quakers in these times. We hope that we can each take our place in our community, and be in touch with our leadings.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner
On the Saturday afternoon there are no organised events, leaving space for us to relax, chat with other Friends, or explore. The lounge offers a space to gather and chat, do knitting or crochet, have a cup of tea, or simply to sit quietly. We hope that the weather will be dry enough to allow Friends to be outside, go for a stroll and explore the nearby parkland.
King’s Park Conference Centre
Kings Park Road
Northampton
NN3 6LL
Tel: 01604 493111
The King’s Park Centre is on the north edge of Northampton, close to some parkland. When Clare and Gerry visited, we saw bunny rabbits in the grounds outside the bedroom windows.
Booking: It is now too late to book a place but the page has been left up for Friends to check details.
Getting there
Trains to Northampton go from Euston every half hour, and take about an hour. An off-peak return ticket is £41 full-price (£27 with a railcard). Taxis are available at the train station, bus station and town centre. (About 15 – 20 minutes to King’s Park)
A no 7 or 19 bus can be taken from outside of the train station. (About 30 minutes to Northampton University –
Park Campus and 10 minutes walk from the Campus station to King’s Park).
Arrival and departure: Please don’t arrive before 4pm Friday. The weekend ends with lunch on Sunday, which is served at 1pm.
Further information about the programme of events, and so forth, will be sent out nearer the time.
Payment: Bacs to: Westminster Meeting, sort code: 40-52-40, account no. 00004164 Reference: Kings Park (this is important, please include!)
Cost: £183 for adults in shared rooms, and young people 17 years old and over, in shared accommodation. Adults in single rooms pay £222.60, which includes a single supplement of £39.60. Children (5-16yo) pay half price, ie £91.50.
We realise that for a family with children the costs can feel quite high, but since we very much want you to be there, please talk to us about what you can afford.
Since the cost is subsidised by Westminster Friends, the Meeting is happy to accept half the cost, £90–£183 (shared room), £111-£222 (single room) or any amount in between, if the full price is too much, and likewise paying for children. Please talk to Gerry gerrymillar@me.com or Clare if half price is more than you can afford.
We want everyone who would like to attend to be able to, so please don’t feel shy about paying less.