One Voice - in partnership with Northampton Methodist Church & Methodist Church Northampton District

" I think it's important that we know about the darker side of life that far too many people have to deal with ", says Dawn Smith who volunteers for the Weston Favell Centre Foodbank. Part of The Trussell Trust , the foodbank performs an irreplaceable function and is pivotal in many lives being improved, acting as it does as a signpost for other related services.

Amarjit Singh Atwal is with us too and he sets out where the spirit of selflessness come from that sees him and fellow Sikhs feed the hungry and the destitute on a weekly basis. Their remarkable work also meant they fed many of hundreds of people who had to leave their flooded homes at the tail end of 2020.

You'll also hear about the Third Friday Lunch Club, an integral part of the Kingsthorpe Methodist Church and how they create culinary miracles in the church kitchen !

Could it be that our language around God is impoverished and somehow lacking ? It's one of the avenues of conversation that opens up as we talk to Carys Walsh, curate training officer for the Diocese of Peterborough. Her new book is " Frequencies of God : Walking through Advent with R S Thomas " and in this episode she explains the book's approach and her view of Advent. Carys implores us to "settle into the text" and " surrender ourselves to it ". Only then can his rich and nuanced poetry propel us toward an Advent full of anticipation and contemplation.

The Vice President of the Methodist Conference, Carolyn Lawrence is another fascinating and entertaining guest on the podcast. Fizzing with a need to hear and share people's stories and for them to grow with Jesus, Carolyn discusses The Great Commission, her background as a primary school teacher and how evangelism must be counter balanced by social action.

There's also some hopes and dreams for 2021 by members of our community.

This is what you can expect from the next episode of the podcast, which is out in the next week,

The Methodist Diaconal Order has such a varied and inclusive heritage and Deacon Richard Beckett tells its story to John in the latest episode of the  podcast.

" A really lovely opportunity to return to worship " is how Jenny Brooks describes being able to go back into church between the two lockdowns; her and husband Keith give a really good humoured account of how it's all looked and felt to them.

There's also a conversation with Rev'd Francis Itiiri who always has searching questions of his own role and that of the Methodist Church.

Here's a heady equation : Type 1 Diabetes, social media and the Young Leaders Scheme. Heather spreads the message in a hugely innovative way.

The Rev'd Phil Snelson confesses diplomatic skills as he tells us all about the notion of closer collaboration between churches. Foodbanks, street pastors and other wonderful initiatives are there to be capitalised upon and Phil has some great stories about making this happen.

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Zoom has become invaluable to so many parts of out community and the 3rd Northampton Girls Brigade have been incredibly inventive in the way they've used it and managed to keep a spirit of belonging and togetherness. Sarah Dempsey tells how.

Helen Cameron ( amongst other things ) is Chair of the District for the methodist church in Northamptonshire. She chats at length about her interests, family and the values that underpin the church. Listen out for mentions of her signature dish and a new title that she's managed to achieve !

Methodist Central Hall in Westminster has been reaching big numbers for its online services, something that we talk about in a little more detail in this episode.

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The music entrepreneur behind Rising Star, Tommy Gardener tells us all about a brand new charity album and concert that has a very familiar sounding name.

The Senior Pastor at the New Testament Church of God, Donnovan Allen picks out why the worship in his church is so energised and vocal and then turns his thoughts to racism. He's felt prejudice and discrimination on a personal level and you'll be fascinated to hear his theories. I've never heard the cause of racism identified in an even remotely similar way; it's an extremely revealing conversation.

The podcast also speaks to the Reverend Phil Snelson, who is so tech-minded that an online radio station from his office looks like a distinct possibility ! It's a really funny chat, in which Phil remembers a rather unusual day around A levels involving his car and an unscheduled journey that was to have far reaching effects.

You'll also get to know Sue Clutterham with the Archway Trust - hear John marvel at the creativity in their name and more importantly, the work she's part of and how they're tackling the "eerie world of uncertainty" that some children are experiencing.

" Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world ", says CS Lewis in the film Shadowlands. If that is so, what are the lessons God wants us to learn from the pandemic ? The Rev Romeo Pedro looks into his own personal faith and discusses this profound and searching question.

Deacon Richard Beckett had to self isolate with COVID-19 and in the podcast, there is some personal and revealing insight into how Richard felt and what he reflected on.

We also speak to two volunteers with Emmanuel Church and find out how they've adapted to lockdown and social distancing and still managed to move mountains with the foodbank deliveries.

There's more superb work going on in and around Kingsthorpe, supported by the Rev Francis Itiri - hear his story and what he calls "an emerging global community".

The Rev Romeo Pedro and Rev Francis M'Itiri are part of the team that ministers to the Methodist Churches of Northamptonshire. Both have compelling and engaging stories to tell. Most of all though, they want to hear your stories; stories that connect and resonate and build a renewed sense of community.

In this opening episode to our brand new podcast, hear the challenges and changes they both encountered in moving from Namibia and Kenya respectively. Deep seated prejudice, reconciliation, faith and a restored trust all figure in their remarkable moves.

Recorded just before the lockdown restrictions in the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020, you'll also hear about a sign outside one church that has become the talk of the town for its wit and puns and Northamptonshire based charity Crime to Christ reveal their plans to bring the Knife Angel sculpture to the county.

Connect with us here https://methodist-churches-northampton.org.uk/