December 2022 – Page 2 – Moortown Baptist Church

Jesus and Jellied eels by Bishop Laurie Green… an “exciting and challenging read”.

December 5, 2022 by John Sherbourne

I have just finished reading this amazing autobiography. It starts in the East End of London – Call the Midwife country – and ends in Bexhill as a retired Bishop where he wrote this . story of his colourful life.

He held several bishoprics. The strand throughout, however, is the sharing of the presence of Jesus in places designated ‘areas of deprivation’. His engagement within the community resulted in both lively congregations and many creative projects which uncovered so much talent…

It is an exciting and challenging read!

Hilary Willmer

It’s all getting a bit busy – Shelley runs us through the Christmas programme

December 16, 2022December 4, 2022 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

Here’s a little reminder about what is happening over the next few weeks. We now have our Christmas postcards available so do pick some up when you are in church to give out to others.

TODAY! Saturday 10^th December – 2-4pm Carnival Christmas with free Christmas refreshments, crafts, steel pan band ‘Steel crazy’, carols, cakes and more

Sunday 11^th December – 11-12 Advent Service (Part 3 of Sky full of stars – Isaiah) with creative activities and communion

Monday 12^th December – 10-12 Warm space at Beacon with free refreshments

Tuesday 13^th December – 10-11.30am Stepping Stones Christmas Party for under 5’s and their parents and carers

Thursday 15^th December – 2pm make some crafts, refreshments and chat

Saturday 17^th December – 1-3pm Christmas Wreath workshop, no experience needed £8 per wreath, book a place with Lesley (administrator) or Shelley

Sunday 18^th December – 11-12 All age Nativity! – feel free to dress ‘with a nod to’ your favourite Nativity character (part 4 Sky full of stars)

Monday 19^th December – 10-12 Christmas Holiday Warm space at Beacon with free refreshments and Christmas crafts – all ages welcome

Saturday 24^th December – 4.30-5.15 Christmas Eve Christingle and Carols

Sunday 25^th December – 10-30-11.30 Christmas Day all age service (part 5 Sky full of stars)

Wednesday 28^th December – 10-12 Christmas Holiday Warm space at Beacon with free refreshments

Sunday 1^st January – 11-12 New Year’s Day café church (Part 6 Sky full of Stars) …bring a takeout cup, have a coffee and breakfast

On Wednesday 14^th December Lunch club meet for the last time this year. Thanks to all who have faithfully served over the months and we look forward to more fun and food next year. If you regularly support lunchclub you may want to keep in touch over Christmas with those who attend and we have a ‘Beacon special’ on Wednesday 28^th that may be a good place for some to meet up.

There will be some house groups and bible studies meeting this week so do ask me or someone on the leadership team or look at the church diary in the corridor outside Lesley’s office.

A reminder that there is a decorated box in church (to the right in the Sanctuary as you come in) for giving to our MBC Christmas appeal towards two local charities, Living Local and Martin House Hospice. If you want to transfer money online do ask one of the leadership team.

Please add a Christmas card with a greeting or prayer to the board in church (to the right in the sanctuary). Feel free to leave Christmas cards in the boxes there too.

Next week it’s our Sky full of Stars nativity and carols! A great chance to retell the amazing story of Jesus coming as a baby. If you would like to take part can you let me know by Wednesday please? We look forward to this all-age service and to welcoming our local community.

If you have a spare pair of secateurs we could borrow for next Saturday’s wreath making workshop could you let me know? Thankyou.

Thanks to all those who have made Christmas cards for the trees in the car park and for the decorating of outside and inside the building. It looks brilliant.

Below is a link for a little bit of creativity for those who want to make stars inspired by the artist Matisse’ stained glass window with an online workshop. It’s this afternoon but the recording of the session lasts until 9^th January.. (click the link below)

HENRI MATISSE ONLINE: Scissors and Starry Nights Tickets, Sat 10 Dec 2022 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

Lift up your eyes on high

And see who has created these stars,

The One who leads forth their host by number,

He calls them all by name;

Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,

Not one of them is missing (Isaiah 40:26)

See you soon

In Christ

Shelley

In the lead up to Christmas, Shelley walks you through Advent 2022

December 3, 2022 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

A little update about some of the things going on over the next few weeks. Its not intended to be an exhaustive list of things to do but a collection of different ‘spaces’ that we are providing so that God can move in our conversations, songs, readings, actions and services. God moves everywhere of course, but it’s good to be intentional about why we do what we do. If there is anything you’d like to know more about or get involved in, then do get in touch, Jesus had a team and we need one too! You can come on your own or bring others. We are blessed to have such a great building and I am thankful for all those who work to look after it, especially as the weather gets cold but we recognise that the church is the people, you and me, so do pray for each other, for the community, that over the next few weeks we will see His hope and love in tangible and new ways.

Saturday 3^rd December – 1.30pm Meet in church to put up Christmas decorations!

Sunday 4^th December – 11-12 Café Church (Advent part 2 of sky full of Stars)

Monday 5^th December – 10-12 Warm space at Beacon with free refreshments

Tuesday 6^th December – 10-11.30am Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers

Thursday 8^th December – 2pm make some crafts, refreshments and chat

Saturday 10^th December – 2-4pm Carnival Christmas with free Christmas refreshments, crafts, steel pan band ‘Steel crazy’, carols, cakes and more

Sunday 11^th December – 11-12 Advent Service (Part 3 of Sky full of stars) with creative activities and communion