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Month: February 2024

Shelley – 25 Feb

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We come together again tomorrow at 11am in the building and online on our youtube channel.  We’ll be continuing our theme of Decrease and Increase that we began last week for lent, based on the words of John the Baptist “I must decrease, he must increase”  John 3:30-31 as we carry on with looking at Jesus and John.  There will be a group for our younger friends during the talk. We now have a rolling ‘slideshow’ on the screen starting 10 minutes before we start our worship so do look out for it.

Rock Solid youth groups start again 7-8pm in the building on Sunday evening.

Today sadly marks 2 years of Russia’s war on Ukraine.  We pray for all those in conflict and for peacemakers.  24/7 prayer have released a guide to pray if you are struggling that maybe useful  Pray for Peace and an End to War – 24-7 Prayer International. Or you may want to simply write a word, a colour, light a candle, draw a picture, make a collage, move, walk.  Ephesians 6:18 says ‘Pray in the spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition’. I often don’t know what to do but I must do something.  We continue to pray for the people in Gaza and for Israel and the surrounding areas too, for Lebanon, and all places where there is war. 

Tuesday is our church meeting at 7.30pm in the church building.  The agenda has already gone out.  Just to clarify this is NOT the meeting where we will vote on new deacons but there will be some updates. There will be a zoom link sent out for those who cannot attend in person. The church meeting after that IS Tuesday 26th March, this will be the meeting where we DO vote.  If you have any questions please do talk to any of your deacons or to myself.

On a local level, we have also just found out that some resurfacing is being done on the roundabout outside Moortown Baptist Church and some surrounding roads.  I am now in touch with the local councillor.  I will update you tomorrow on email with the latest but all our activities will go ahead as usual.  

Some further dates..

Monday 26th February 10-12midday beacon warm welcome space

Tuesday 27th February 10 – 11.30pm  under 5’s group for children and their parents and carers

Tuesday afternoon – housegroup in the building

Tuesday evening 7.30pm church meeting

Wednesday 28th February  – lunchclub for those booked in and the volunteer team (see Rachel Beedle or Lesley for more information)

Wednesday evening housegroup in church is postponed this week

Thursday  29th February Warm welcome space craft group 2-4pm

Thursday 29th February – bible study on Daniel – see Gareth Gadd, at 7pm in the church building

Friday 1st March, bible study with Carol and Robert Owen, please see them or myself if you are interested

Sunday 3rd March – café church for all with drinks and breakfast pastries and fruit, continuing our theme… looking at Matthew 14:13-21

Sunday 3rd March – 7-8pm Rock Solid for youth, two groups meet in the building at the same time, see Val Boyd, Adam Argyle, Nathan Dring or Martyn Grey

Sunday 10th March – service in the building and online with a group for our younger friends, continuing our theme…

Wednesday 20th March – Easter Wednesday worship with communion at 1.30pm

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley – 17th February

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Dear friends

Tomorrow we start a series on Sundays connected to Lent as we journey towards Easter. There will be a group for our younger friends tomorrow and we’ll be sharing communion.  We start at 11am in the building and on youtube.

Rock Solid for youth will not be meeting tomorrow night but they will meet again in the building on Sunday 25th February.

Other dates for the next few weeks…

Monday 19th February – Beacon warm welcome café – free and open to all 10-12midday in the building

Tuesday 20th February – Stepping Stones is back on this week for under 5’s and their parents and carers.  Thanks to those who came to help clean some of the toys last Tuesday.

Wednesday 21st February – Lunch club is back on, see Rachel Beedle for details. 

Wednesday 21st February – Wednesday worship ‘my story and my song’ starting at 1.30pm service in the music room for about half an hour.

Wednesday 21st February – Housegroup in church at 7.30pm See Ruth/Andy Berry or Shelley

Thursday 22nd February – craft group and warm welcome space 2-4pm in the church building

Friday 23rd February – bible study in church at 10am See Robert or Carol Owen

Sunday 25th February – 11am service in church

Sunday 25th February – Rock Solid for young people 7pm-8pm in the building

The next church meeting is Tuesday 27th February at 7.30pm

If you missed it from last week, you may want to look at the Leeds lent prayer diary.

Leeds Lent Prayer Diary 2024 – Leeds Christian Community Trust (lcct.org.uk)

The 24/7 app lectio is running a lent course entitled ‘wilderness tales’ online.. details here… Lectio 365 – 24-7 Prayer International

Thank you to those who prayed for the deacons last week on their away day with Shelley.  We’ll be sharing some of what we were talking about at the church meeting.

Tomorrow is advertised as the last day to get your nominations in for deacons.  If you have any questions about this or the roles that the deacons have then do get in touch with myself or one of the deacons.  Do keep praying about those who may or have been nominated and those who nominate others. 

Another date for your diary is for those who are exploring whether God is calling them to preach or teach or put a message together to share with others in church or those who already do this in some capacity and would like to spend some time learning more about how to do this. It is less about the theology behind a message and more about crafting and delivering a message.  The date is 9th March 10-4pm and it will be a workshop day led by Andy Kind.  Do bring a packed lunch with you.  The workshop cost is being paid for by the church. Do let Nathan Dring, Shelley or Lesley know if you would like to book a place and want to chat about it. I am aware that in some church traditions there is training that people can go on to help people who are already exploring aspects of ministry in church and we wanted to support some of you who are on that journey.  We know that on Sunday mornings we have people from all different backgrounds and experiences, some with much and some who have never been in a church before, and we hope this training will help people reach out in this context.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

In Christ

Shelley

A ten week course studying the Book of Daniel starts 7pm, Thursday 15th February

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The Book of Daniel dealt with political issues of the day as well as matters still relevant to the wider church today. The book gives the final outcome of events of this age and the issues that are at work in the world today.

Daniel is important for us to study because Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, quoted only from the Book of Daniel:  The Book of Revelation is harder to understand without The Book of Daniel: and with Daniel, Paul’s revelation concerning “the man of sin” is made more clear.

We will follow an audio recording for the first hour and then discuss what we have heard for hour two. An accompanying booklet will be available. Dependent on the discussions we will investigate other material also.

As a group we will also pray for each other and for the church.

All are welcome.

Gareth Gadd

 

More thoughts from New York – Jane Coates

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My chains fell off, my heart was free,
 I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

(From the hymn And can it be by Charles Wesley)

The Statue of Liberty is perhaps one of the most familiar landmarks that comes to mind when you think of New York. Lady Liberty stands as a symbol of equality, freedom, and democracy. Most people who visit the statue will do so by boat around the island on which she stands, and so they will never see some of the finer details concerning the statue. One very significant thing, that perhaps goes unnoticed, even on pictures and photos of the statue, are the broken shackles and chains, at the feet of the woman, representing freedom from oppression and tyranny.

This made me think about that amazing account of the healing of the man in the land of the Gerasenes by Jesus- a man who was homeless, not in his right mind, naked and living an isolated life among the tombstones in the graveyard. He was fastened with shackles and chains but even broke free from these at times. What a horrible existence that must have been. “This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.” Luke 8 v 29 NLT

People were so frightened of him -his behaviour, appearance and his shackles and chains. Jesus went to the land of the Gerasenes to reach and to free just this one person. The transformation of the man was so complete that he was seen sitting at the feet of Jesus, fully clothed, perfectly sane, so that all who witnessed this were very afraid. His chains and shackles gone, and he was now free.

In Isaiah 58 verse 6 we read these beautiful words of liberation. “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

PRAY for those who feel oppressed, trapped, held back, isolated, vulnerable, persecuted and set apart-that they might experience the liberation that Jesus longs to give to them. Pray also for justice, mercy, and freedom to be seen in the many areas of conflict that we hear of in our world.

There is a plaque at the foot of the statue contains a famous poem, by Emma Lazarus 1883, with these memorable words at the end the poem.

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries sheWith silent lips. “Give me your  tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus 1883

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Shelley – 10th Feb

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We look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 11am for Sunday morning worship where we look at the story of Ananias in Acts 9, following on from the last few weeks about hearing from God and following the call…There will be a group for our younger members too.

On Wednesday, as well as it being Valentines Day, the season known as lent begins.  It’s a time of about 6 and a half weeks, inspired by Jesus time in the wilderness spent fasting and praying.  However you spend your days, in the busyness or quiet, it maybe something you would like to engage in and we’ll be sharing some thoughts on Sundays and throughout lent.  In lent, people often talk about giving things up or being mindful of things we hold onto.  Paintner, in her book ‘A different kind of fast’ reminds us that the purpose of these acts of letting go “..is always in service of love…. We fast so as to clear space within our minds and hearts and souls to await what holy newness is being revealed to us..”

Now I am revealing new things to you, things hidden and unknown to you, created just now, this very moment..

(Isaiah 48:6-7)   

Some dates coming up…

Sunday 11th February – Pastoral team meet up with lunch after church in the building

Sunday 11th February – Rock Solid for young people 7pm-8pm in the building

Monday 12th February – Beacon warm welcome café – free and open to all 10-12midday in the building

Tuesday 13th February – No Stepping Stones this week as its half term but if you can help Diane do some cleaning and tidying then do have a chat with her.  They will be in the creche on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday 13th February – House group in the building – contact lesley or one of the deacons

Wednesday 14th February – No lunch club this week.  Safeguarding level 1 in church. 

Wednesday 14th February – Housegroup in church at 7.30pm See Ruth/Andy Berry or Shelley

Thursday 15th February – craft group and warm welcome space 2-4pm in the church building

Friday 16th February – bible study in church at 10am See Robert or Carol Owen

Sunday 18th February – 11am service in church with group for our younger friends.. with communion

Sunday 18th February – Rock Solid for young people 7pm-8pm in the building

The next church meeting is Tuesday 27th February at 7.30pm

Other things to have a look at…

Leeds Lent Prayer Diary 2024 – Leeds Christian Community Trust (lcct.org.uk)

We have just been accepted as a ‘Place of welcome’.  We are already a Leeds City Council welcome space and we meet the criteria for a places of welcome too.  This means that following our application form, we are eligible for some more financial funding to support Beacon, craft group and other initiatives that meet the similar criteria.  See details here  About — Places of Welcome

For those who have or know young people.. you may want to go on this zoom webinar that allows space to discuss big questions of faith

Empty Tomb or Empty Claims? A Case for the Resurrection of Jesus Tickets, Fri 15 Mar 2024 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

And also a podcast episode for EVERYONE about how God is moving amongst young people in the UK today….

Youth: Help! – 24-7 Prayer International

The 24/7 app lectio is running a lent course entitled ‘wilderness tales’ online.. details here… Lectio 365 – 24-7 Prayer International

The deacons and myself met for an away day and an evening this week to pray, plan, catch up with jobs in church and workshop ideas.  We’ll share some of what went on at the next church meeting.  Thanks to those praying for us. If you feel you are being called to leadership or you recognise that in someone else do keep praying and share that with a deacon, myself or someone you trust.

In Christ

Shelley

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Shelley

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Tomorrow is café church so it would be great to see you there.  Some of our beacon friends who don’t usually come on a Sunday are hoping to make it so do look out for those who you haven’t seen before.  We start at 11am and aim to finish about midday and we’ll have the usual drinks and fruit and pastries. We continue to think about God’s voice and call.  Last week we heard about John the Baptist’s call in the wilderness (see Chris Singh’s message https://www.youtube.com/live/CUiFS9Qm0eA?si=QJCDXCzPXeov-G1A ) and this week we develop it further looking at how the church can respond; we’ll look at Matthew 28. On Sunday 11th February we welcome Andy Hobbs to come and share with us on a similar theme, this time in Acts 9.  There will be a group for our younger friends. Then on Sunday 18th February we start our new lent series.

Dates to remember…

Sunday 4th February – after café church, meet up in the building for all who help lead and teach children on Sunday mornings

Sunday 4th February – Rock Solid for young people 7pm-8pm in the building

Monday 5th February – Beacon warm welcome café – free and open to all 10-12midday in the building

Tuesday 6th February – Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30pm

Tuesday 6th February – House group in the building – contact lesley or one of the deacons

Tuesday 6th February – 7.30pm Deacons and Shelley meet up in church

Wednesday 7th February – lunch club, see Rachel Beedle or Lesley for more information

Wednesday 7th February – Housegroup in church at 7.30pm See Ruth/Andy Berry or Shelley

Thursday 8th February – craft group and warm welcome space 2-4pm in the church building

Friday 9th February – bible study in church at 10am See Robert or Carol Owen

Friday 9th February – Deacons and Shelley away day to pray and share what we have noticed and where God is leading

Sunday 11th February – 11am service in church with group for our younger friends

Sunday 11th February – pastoral team meet up with lunch after church in the building.  If you would like to see what the group do, want more information or you want to be part of what happens more formally in terms of pastoral work, then do come along.

The next church meeting is Tuesday 27th February at 7.30pm

We do keep praying for situations around the world.  You may have one place in your mind at the moment or many.  If you want to meet up with others to pray and are not sure how to go about it, do get on touch with me.

Thank you for your and prayer and do continue to pray for the leadership of the church at MBC; for those who are serving and for those who will serve, for those who are discerning their place in this and for those who lead without realising. 

You are all important to us and to God, whatever part you play and however often you join in when you join in love.  It’s good to be part of community.

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Ephesians 4:16)

Shelley

Thoughts from New York – by Jane Coates

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The Oculus, at the World Trade Centre in New York, is a stunning and beautiful piece of architecture. Its functional role is that of a transportation hub and shopping complex with 12 subway lines, the World Trade Centre PATH station, numerous shops, farmers markets, art exhibitions, musical performances and more. Over a million people every week come through this hub. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the structure was intended to embody a powerful concept of hope and resilience, rooted in the tragedy of 9/11. The elegant, white, metal structure is intended to portray a bird about to take flight from the hands of a child and is seen as a symbol of hope, release, and resilience in the face of every adversity and obstacle.

Here is the science bit. Apparently, the Oculus building is in alignment with the sun’s solar angles and there is a small opening in the roof of the Oculus, a skylight, through which the sun shines through. Each September 11, from 8:46 a.m., when the first plane struck, until 10:28 a.m., when the second tower collapsed, this central skylight in the roof matches perfectly with this alignment and the floor of the Oculus becomes flooded with a beam of light.

Such symbols of hope are powerful. It made me go back to the Old Testament again and to read the account of Noah, the ark of rescue, the receding waters, the rainbow as a covenant sign of hope, and the release of the dove from Noah’s hands.

He (Noah) also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So, it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside. After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. He waited another seven days and then released the dove again. This time it did not come back. Genesis 8 v 8-12 NLT

As we read and watch the TV news, we know that there is evidence of wrong, evil intention, the overuse of power and the destruction of others. God sees and knows. “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. Genesis 8 v 21 NLT

There are always signs of hope. Let us continue to look towards the light that comes streaming through and sometimes when we least expect it.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13 v 6-7 NIV

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