Excitement is building here at Activate HQ as we begin to work on all the amazing details that come together to create our incredible weekend away. We are thrilled to give you a ‘first look’ at the Inside Out programme, with more information being added week on week as we near our time away together.
“Inside Out” takes place at De Vere’s Staverton Park Hotel in Northampton, from Friday, April 24 until Sunday, April 26.
One comment we always receive is that “there was so much to choose from – but we couldn’t do it all.” This is true, we work really hard all year to put together an outstanding line up of speakers and seminar options for you to come to. But instead of seeing it a kind of ‘all you can eat’ buffet, we would love you to come away with us for 48 hours of ‘Pick and Mix’ for your soul.
Throughout the weekend we have four keynote sessions, which include a time of worship, which we all come together for. These are the ones ‘not to miss’.
Dotted between all of these, however, we have three slots where you can choose between seminars, as well as a bonus ‘chat show’ session where we can really lean in and listen to the heart of our much sought after guest speakers, not forgetting the hugely popular daily early morning devotions slot.
We don’t expect you to be at all of these. Why not begin thinking and praying now about which sessions and options would benefit you most – and then punctuate these with spa sessions or a leisurely walk around the hotel’s opulent grounds? You can simply ‘pick’ the ones you know will help you in your pursuit of being a more effective evangelist and then ‘mix‘ your time with other leisurely pastimes.
This year we are also thrilled to be launching our Miss Activate stream for 14s-18-year-olds. We have marked the seminars suitable for our younger delegates with *Miss Activate – but keep your eyes open for other exclusive sessions designed specifically for our Miss Activate young women.
To book a spa treatment for the weekend – which we highly recommend you do in advance – call 01327 302 109.
Are you ready? Then here we go…
Friday /
2pm onwards: Rooms ready from 2pm
3pm onwards: our welcome team will be at the entrance with your goody bags, badges and our chocolate fountain.
7pm: Light buffet supper followed by worship by our talents new worship team, led by Hannah Mills and opening message from Activate’s own Sarah Parker.
Late night: (optional) Popcorn and Pyjamas: “Frozen sing-a-long”. An interactive experience where you can ‘Let it go’ whilst enjoying your own Olaf themed goody bag. Come in pyjamas or a Frozen charter costume if you dare!
Saturday /
7am onwards : breakfast buffet
8am: devotions with Julia Crellin
9.30am: Keynote Session One with worship by Hannah Mills and guest speaker Laurence Singlehurst
11am: First Seminar Choices
- Fiona Castle: “God in my ordinary day”
- Bex Lewis: “Everyday, Ordinary Women: Online” // *Miss Activate
12 noon: Second Seminar Choices
- Bekah Legg: “Talking about Jesus within your own (complicated!) family”
- Sheila Bridge: “The whole me” – a holistic approach to how we bring ourselves to God in worship
- Exclusive *Miss Activate ’round table’ event with guest speaker Kiera Phyo
Lunch – 12.45-1.45pm
1.45pm – Speakers’ Chat Show with guest speakers Laurence and Kiera (optional)
This is a bonus session aimed at women who have an interest in speaking and preaching, where our father and daughter guest speaker duo will share from their own experiences as speakers, and from Laurence’s heart to equip and see more women released in this field.
2.45pm: Third Seminar Choices
- Mandy Catto: “Having an outward focus with your life” – using Unlocking the Door as a tool for effective friendship evangelism // *Miss Activate
- Sarah: “The miracle of the jars” – an insight from Unlocking the Door in how effective evangelism begins with how connected we are to our communities
4pm: Keynote Session Two with worship and guest speaker Kiera Phyo
6.30pm: Invite Only “Champagne Reception”: it is our great pleasure to be able to take some time at each annual weekend away to honour and thank those of you have supported us financially, through regular monthly contributions. We will be personally inviting all such women attending Inside Out to join us before the Gala Dinner. Please bring your exclusive invitation to allow you to attend this short function with our president and team. (People signing up to a regular donation during the Inside Out weekend will also be invited to this gathering.)
7.15pm: Gala Dinner and evening entertainment from August Wildflower: A chance to dress up – or down – as you fancy, the three course gala dinner is a great way to celebrate together the difference we are making through friendship evangelism in our communities. Sit down and relax with fine food, new friends and an evening of incredible entertainment from singer-songwriter Sharon Cooke, also known as August Wildflower. There may even be a few surprises thrown in on the night too!
Sunday //
7am onwards: breakfast
8am: devotions with Gill Stott
9.30am – “Easy Like Sunday Morning” Remember the last time you didn’t rush around getting ready for a busy day with family or at church on a Sunday morning? No, neither do we. And so back by popular demand is our relaxing Sunday morning option, “Easy Like Sunday Morning.” Choose between reading the Sunday papers, craft tables, card-making, jewellery workshops, book-club ideas, a dedicated prayer table or just having a coffee and a catch up with a friend… enjoy. This is one Sunday morning you can relax.
11am: Final keynote session – including worship and or last inspiring Inside Out talk from Activate’s own Lindsay Bruce
12:30pm: Lunch and home – one last meal together before heading home, equipped and ready to change our world.