Month: November 2020

This message has been forwarded by Graham. Through the pandemic there have been various times when we have been called to prayer. Indeed moving in prayer has been an important and powerful part of our experience.

In Lockdown 2, church buildings have been restricted to quite prayer. But maybe prayer is at the heart of what we do and it not a limiting factor.

Jesus said of the busy temple in the heart of the city of Jerusalem: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? Mark 11: 17, looking back to Isaiah 56: 7

We can pray in church  twice a week, on Monday and Friday mornings between 10 and 12. And we can pray wherever we are in our households, homegroups and personal prayer.

Here are a couple of resources that may help us (you may have some of your own that you could share, if so please send them to mbcnewspics@gmail.com:

Baptists Together have a series of weekly prayer broadcasts

https://baptist.org.uk/Groups/338268/Prayer_broadcasts.aspx

The Evangelical Alliance have produced this helpful guide for praying through the day:

Weave listening and sharing into the daily routine of life.

Lord, today direct my thoughts, inhabit the stillness, give power to my words. In Jesus’ name, amen 

Breakfast

• Pray for those in the caring and emergency services, often tired, discouraged and weary.
• Those in hospital, and those in intensive care.

Mid-morning

• Pray for the bereaved, anxious and fearful.

Midday

Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one.

In Jesus’ name, amen

Matthew 6:9 – 13, NIV

Lunchtime

• If possible, go out and move around and pray for your community, streets and local businesses.
• Those shielding or in isolation. 

Early afternoon

• Pray for the church in the UK, that we would carry the gospel, be salt and light.

Mid-afternoon

• Pray for the poor, unemployed, homeless.
• Those with addictions.
• Those struggling with mental health issues. 

Late afternoon

• Pray for the vulnerable, children, those with disability and their carers.
• Those who are lonely.
• Those who are fearful in their home situation.

Evening

• Pray for those in positions of power and leadership and decision makers.

Night time

Pray:

Lord of grace, 

may your goodness fall in our nations.

Father of love, 

pour out your love on, in and through us.

Spirit of fellowship, 

build and strengthen communities across the UK. 

Have mercy,

heal our land,

extend your kingdom in our day.

In Jesus’ name, amen

As part of our advent journey this year, I am inviting midweek groups to spend an evening with me reflecting upon the themes of advent.

This is a one-off session that I hope will give each group space to receive the message of Advent, through reflection and prayer using the bible, images and music.

I’m gradually getting round homegroups, but if I haven’t been in touch yet please do share this with your group and let me know if you would like to book a date with me.

You don’t need to do anything to prepare for the session, just make sure you have received the zoom link from your group co-ordinator once the date is agreed.

This session is being offered to individual groups on zoom and I am also offering a session on Sunday 29^th November for anyone who is not in a group but would like to take part in this.

If you are not in a group and would like to join the Sunday session on 29^th Nov, please email or call Kate at the church office: admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com

0113 269 3750

Blessings to you and yours as you await His coming…

Shona Shaw

Dear MBC Family,

I will hold the Christlight for you, in the night time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

We are writing to you on the eve of another national lockdown, but this time one that will occur during the darkest months of the year.

The hardship of further isolation weighs heavy on our hearts. We know the hardship, socially, emotionally and physically it can bring to homes, relationships, communities.

In this place, we want to assure you of our commitment to stay connected and to remind you that we are here.

The church continues to offer pastoral care, support and discipleship as we work out how to get through this together.

You are not alone. But perhaps you need someone else to “hold the Christ light for you” so: We will continue to offer a space for private prayer on Mondays and Fridays, book in the usual way, by contacting the church office either by phone or email.

The pastoral team are continuing to provide care through phone calls, and visits by the ministers can be arranged in exceptional circumstances. Please get in touch with us.

Many of our midweek groups are now meeting over Zoom and if you would like to join a group or form one with others for this time please do get in touch.

Graham and Shona will also be available for a virtual cuppa on Mondays and Fridays at 12.30pm. We’d love to ‘see’ you and hear how you’re doing. You can receive a Zoom link for these meetings by emailing the office. 

People may also request a phone call with one of the ministers, please get in touch. And we will be sending out a regular update to keep us connected during this time via email/letter.

If you are in difficulty or distress please get in contact with Graham or Shona or contact the office.

Call or leave a message on the church office number: 0113 269 3750 or send an email to admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com 

And, of course, you can share in our Sunday services on line by going to our website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk and clicking on the links for the services.

With love and blessings to you,

Shona and Graham, Ministers.

 

November 4th, 2020

This Sunday, 8^th November will be Remembrance Sunday. At MBC we plan to commemorate this occasion although our plans have changed in line with the latest Covid-19 guidelines. The Health and Safety team met on Wednesday night and considered guidance from the Baptist Union and the government.* (see links below). Although the original event cannot go ahead, Remembrance is not cancelled. We may not be able to gather together but we can remember together.

In the light of this, here is what we can do…

• Make a poppy, paint a poppy on a pebble, put a poppy on a stick, colour in a picture of a poppy and leave it up in the church car park by the outdoor cross at some point from this weekend over the week of the 8^th (I know many of you have your poppies ready which is great)
• Find your local cenotaph over the week of the 8^th November
• Have a ‘Remembrance walk’ (you can combine this with taking your poppy to church or finding your local cenotaph). Whilst you are on your walk…
  • Thank God that He walks with us every step
  • Ask God to walk with someone who comes to mind right now as you walk
  • Do you see something peaceful? Thank God for it
  • Do you see any conflict, pray for it
  • Look out for anything red that stands out to you on your walk…talk/listen to God about anything that comes to mind
• Colour in a poppy and put it in your window at home. We’ll have some printed off at church in a box in the car park that we have already given a donation for but you can also get hold of one on the Royal British Legion website  https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
• Join in with church on live Facebook on the Moortown Baptist church Facebook Page at 10.45, then pause for 2 minutes at 11am on Remembrance Sunday in your home or on your doorstep.
• Join in the Church at Home playlist on YouTube on Sunday 8^th November after the 11am silence.
• Pause for 2 minutes on Remembrance Day on the 11^th
• Thank God for those past and present who gave their lives and pray for all those who work for peace in all sorts of situations.
• Give to the Poppy appeal. You can give online, by text, phone or post.

Online

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate

Text

To donate £2 text POPPY2 to 70545, To donate £5 text POPPY5 to 70545, To donate £10 text POPPY10 to 70545 (Texts cost £2, £5, or £10 plus one standard network rate message (typically 97% of the donation amount goes to the Royal British Legion).

Phone 0345 845 1945

*Useful links

https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/570475/Coronavirus_essential_advice.aspx

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday

Below are two prayers which Shona suggests you may like to use during your time of remembrance 

A prayer of petition for those affected by war. 

God of justice and peace,

we pray for those who have been injured or disabled through war.  

For those who have lost homes and security through conflict; 

for those who have lost loved relatives in wars; 

for those who face danger and take risks for peace; 

for all those, especially children, caught up in current conflicts; 

for refugees and all those in need of aid and other help.  

God of encouragement and Saviour of the despairing, comfort those who remember past sacrifices 

and guide us in building a just and peaceful community for all. 

Amen.

A prayer for peacemakers

History can inspire or trap.

Walls can protect or divide.

Words can encourage or inflame.

Power can free or destroy.

Touch can comfort or violate.

Peace can be shared or withheld.

Gracious God, on this day,

when we remember past and present conflicts,

we pray for the divided peoples of the world,

that leaders, governments and each one of us

may use our resources,

our opportunities and our lives

in the service of reconciliation,

for the sake of future generations

and to the glory of your name.

Amen.

Never one to let something as inconvenient as a national lockdown spoil the fun Shelley, together with Rowan and Daisy (and not forgetting pyrotechnic technician Nathan) laid on an impromptu Bonfire Night party that fizzed and banged as good as any I’ve been to. 

As banana bread took the place of parkin some amazingly simply yet stunningly effective craft saw chalk fireworks shooting out of a black card sky, and when it came to singing much imaginative adaptation saw the big red tractor explode into Catherine wheels, rockets and the like.

In the last ten days Moortots has presented a pumpkin party and a bonfire special, all I can say is rock on Christmas!

I grew up knowing that my Dads brother, my Uncle Joe, had died during the war in France. As I got older we remembered every year and I heard about the lovely kind man he had been.

The family had been sent a photograph of his grave with a simple cross following the end of the war but the War Commission eventually replaced the cross with their signature head stones. His bears the Navy anchor.

Joe had been picked to play for Glasgow Rangers football team just before ‘call up’. He loved sports and was a great swimmer too.

However he felt he had to go and fight for freedom for his family. He was a Christian and although he hated fighting he felt it was his duty to go.

Joe trained in the Navy and was sent to Canada to learn how to use some big guns. He volunteered for a mission to ram the harbour at St. Nazaire. German u boats were being built there and coming out into the North Sea to fire at British ships.

The HMS Campeltown set off in February 1942 and achieved its aim of ramming the harbour. Unfortunately the Germans were able to fire at the men and many were shot in the water. My uncle actually saved two people before he disappeared. My father met one of them after the war and he praised Joe for his unselfish actions.

The body was not found for quite a while. His parents receiving a letter on his 21st birthday telling them he was presumed dead!! Eventually he was found on a small island further down the coast of Northern France. He is the only British servicemen buried there amongst Canadians and Australians. Row 3 Grave 1. L’Epine Communal Cemetery. His family never got to visit but in 2005 I went on holiday to France and searched for the graveyard. There is now a causeway to the small island and residents we asked knew about the British sailor buried there. I found the grave and laid flowers, taking photos for my mother which she treasured.

I never knew Joe but the family will continue to remember him for his bravery. Without his sacrifice and those of the others who fight for our freedom we would not be here today.

Joseph Miller.
Able Seaman. R.N.V.R.
H.M.S. Campbeltown
Died 28.03.1942 aged 20 years.
Son of Joseph and Helen Miller. Glasgow.
Buried in L’Epine Communal Cemetery. France.

Karen 

A memorable journey by Jane and Phil Coates 

I never had the opportunity to meet my grandfather, Herbert Castle, nor did my mother, as she was born a matter of days after he was killed in action in the First World War. However, last year, Phil and I had the opportunity to go to Ypres, Belgium, to visit the Menin Gate and then to find my grandfather’s war grave and to place a bouquet of poppies there, which was a very moving and valuable experience. 

Herbert Castle, born in 1894, had come from a coal mining family and background, in the Wath on Dearne area of South Yorkshire. He joined the Army as a Private in the 5th Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment. (Private 2353) enlisting at Wombwell, Barnsley. Herbert Castle was in the Artillery Unit and was killed in action at Ypres. on Saturday 14th August 1915. It is reported that he died in the trenches and had been suffocated by gas and land fall. 

The notification of his death to my grandmother from The Territorial Force Record Office was dated 25th August 1915 just a matter of eleven days before his daughter was born on the 5^th September 1915. Alice would have faced those last days of her pregnancy alone and in mourning for a young husband. Her daughter and my mother, Margaret Iris Herbert Castle, was born 05.09.1915, 4 weeks after Herbert died. Her father’s name Herbert was included in her Christian names. 

Herbert Castle was buried at Talana Farm War Cemetery, Boesinghe ( now Boezinge) Ypres, Belgium and we were able to locate his grave and to place our poppies there. 

My grandmother had also just had to grieve for the loss of her brother Clifford Boocock (1895-1914). Corporal Clifford Boocock (2413) of the Yorks and Lancs Regiment, died in action in Northern France on 30.12.1914 in the very early stages of the war. He is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) G7 France-near the border with Belgium and only 14.5 km from Ypres, where Alice’s husband was killed. Phil and I were also able to travel across the border from Belgium into France and to find the war grave for Clifford and also to place poppies there. I had kept a promise to myself that I would one day travel to Ypres and to France to visit the war graves there and to find the personal graves of these two important family members. The memorials and war cemeteries are beautifully maintained and peaceful places. They carry so many people’s memories of their loved ones. 

Jane and Phil

I was inspired by Nathan’s reviews and comments on the films that he has been watching with the children to write the following piece. Sorry Nathan- I do not want to steal your thunder!

The story of The Secret Garden, by Frances Burnett, described as a ‘pastoral story of ‘self-healing’, is a children’s classic and has now just been turned into a new film version. In this story, the main character, Mary Lennox, 10 years old, is sent back to the UK from India after the death of her parents to cholera. She is cared for by her maternal uncle at Misselthwaite Manor, Yorkshire, and his young son, Colin. Mary uncovers the secret garden that belonged to the late wife of her uncle, her mother’s sister. Mary had always believed that her mother had no time for her and did not love her, until she discovered some hidden letters written by her mother to the sister and found photographs of the two sisters in the secret garden. The letters transform Mary’s understanding of her mother and make it clear to her that her mother loved her very much.

Watching the film made me consider our grandson Sam and his knowledge of his mum and dad. Richard, Sam’s dad died when Sam had just reached his 5^th birthday and had started in Reception at school. Consequently, his memories of his dad can be sometimes sketchy. At Richard’s funeral  friends and contacts from around the world were asked to contribute to a ‘Jar of Memories’ for Charlotte and Sam.

Inside the jar there must be over 150 personal letters, often with photographs which portray a very clear picture of the kind of man that Richard was. At every mealtime Sam has been selecting out three or so letters that we read out together. This has helped Sam to learn more of the character, strengths, passions, travels, Christian faith, loves, careers and sheer devotion of his dad to Charlotte and to himself and to Jesus His Lord. It has enabled Sam to see his dad more clearly. Many of the stories and memories are very funny and very personal. We have laughed and sometimes been very teary as we have read the memories.

When Charlotte died only a year after Richard, we asked for friends and contacts to do the same for Sam so that he had a jar of memories of his mum and we kept the cards that were given to us at that time. So, we have plenty of material that will keep us going for quite some time. Wonderful memories.

This made me think again about that phrase “an observable love”. Richard’s passions were obvious and clear for all to see – his family, walking, mountain biking, camping in Scotland, the Lake District and Wales, photography and his Christian family. People spoke of his enthusiastic faith and witness and his sharing of that faith naturally and openly to anyone he contacted. He spoke about Jesus to all who would listen. He gossiped the gospel.

The beautiful phrase, ‘an observable love’, comes from a book by Francis Schaeffer who wrote many books such as Escape from Reason and The Mark of a Christian. This is how we are to be known and this is how Jesus is to be known.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13.v 34

I believe that Richard and Charlotte had an ‘observable love” and they have gone to join that Hall of Faith in Heaven.

Jane Coates