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Month: April 2024

Shelley – 27 April 2024

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Dear Friends

We join together again on Sunday at 11am in the building and online on our YouTube channel @moortownbaptistchurch.  We are continuing our theme of Resurrection and taking our story from John 20:19-29.

We’ll continue the week after at café church with Jesus on the beach with the disciples from John 21:4-19.  There will be a group for our younger friends tomorrow and I hear it may involve clay so that sounds exciting!

Dates for the week..

    • Sunday 27th April – 11am service with group for our younger friends
    • Sunday 27th  April – 7-8pm Rock Solid youth group (see Val Boyd, Martyn Gray, Adam Argyle or Nathan Dring for more info)
    • Monday 28th April – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 midday
    • Tuesday 29th April – Stepping stones for under 5’s and parents and carers 10-11.30
    • Tuesday 29th April – house group in church in afternoon.
    • Wednesday 30th April – lunch group – see Rachel Beedle for more information
    • Wednesday 30th April – house group in church and online at 7.30pm (see Ruth/Andy Berry)
    • Thursday 1st May – Warm welcome craft group in church 2-4pm (See Karen Ross/Diane Sunter)
    • Thursday 1st May – Bible study in church at 7pm with Gareth Gadd
    • Thursday 1st May- Church is being used as a polling station for local elections.
    • Friday 2nd May – Bible study at 10am.  Please see Shelley Dring or Robert/Carol Owen for more information.
    • Friday 2nd May – house group at 8pm in Adel (see Jonathan or Hilary Darling, Steve or Helen Olijnyk)
      Sunday 4th April – Café church with refreshments and breakfast bits, 11am in church for an hour for all ages and online.
    • Next Deacons meeting 7th May 7.30pm

Wednesday Worship – 15th May 1.30-2ish in the music room.

Saturday 18th May 1-3pm Plant sale in church! (See Jenny Dixon or contact Lesley Murphy for more information). If you have any cuttings or plants that can be donated then do let Jenny know. There’ll be tea, coffee and cake on the day. Do come along and tell your friends!

Sunday 9th June Baptism service at 11am in church and online. Do come along and support those who are stepping from MBC. If you would be interested in being baptised on this day or another then do have a chat with me.

Moortown Baptist Church is now receiving funding from a successful funding bid with Near Neighbours.  Near Neighbours run a project called “Places of Welcome”.  Both Beacon and Craft group are registered. The running of it on the outside won’t change, it just means that we get some support for what we already do and our systems, risk assessments are checked and up to date.  If you want to join the team to help with this or just to come along then do get in touch with Karen Ross for Mondays, and Karen Ross and Diane Sunter for Thursdays.
Follow the link here to find out more. Places of Welcome

Rachel Beedle told me about a free phone line called Daily Hope.  If you call the number you can hear hymns, prayers and reflections at any time of the day.  The number is 0800 804 8044.  There are small leaflets at the back of church.

The deacons are currently setting some dates for church meetings until the end of the year…I’ll keep in touch.

Look forward to joining with you tomorrow!

“Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

God’s Provision in Time of Need

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During the  physio session today at St George’s Crypt – a project for homeless people – myself and my physio student treated  a young man who was sleeping rough in a lot of pain – we knew we could help his pain but he was also in desperate need of a sleeping bag.

The Crypt does not give these out, so I headed out with a prayer of faith to a local secondhand shop. I just sensed God would find me a sleeping bag there somehow and I needed it now.

As I went, I reminded myself of George Mueller’s confidence in God as he prayed. I can’t say that my prayers have always been answered in the ways I asked, but I had a real sense of urgency that God would provide in that shop.

We of course put the young man in touch with Housing and arranged for him to get a shower, but it was very  likely that tonight would be another night in a cold doorstep.

In the secondhand shop there were no sleeping bags for sale, but I still sensed somehow there was one for me, so I asked the manager if she had any – she replied that she didn’t. But then she paused and said she would send someone to check upstairs. I told her why I needed one.

Sure enough minutes later down came a good quality sleeping bag in the hands of the assistant.

I offered to pay or give a donation, but the manager refused this insisting I take it as she said it would have been on the throw-out pile. The young man who received it was absolutely thrilled, and so was I that God had heard my prayer and directed me aright. The young man told me he could sleep in the Himalayas with that one – he was so delighted. I told him about my prayer and what happened.

Who knows what God will do in his life?

The story of George Mueller

A ship’s captain told the following story about George Mueller. They were on their way to Newfoundland, where George had an appointment. The ship was sailing full steam ahead. Suddenly the motors stopped and the ship came to a standstill in the middle of the ocean. Thick fog had settled in. The captain was on the bridge with his binoculars. George Mueller came up to him and asked, “Captain, is there a problem?”

“Yes. We can’t see where we’re going. We’re not moving because we could hit an iceberg.” “Captain, I have never been late for an appointment in my life. Have you prayed to the Lord about this matter?”

They went to the cabin and George started praying, “Father, I have never been late for one of your appointments. I ask you now, Lord, to clear that fog outside, and I thank you by faith that it’s done already. Amen.”

Before the Captain could even begin to pray, there was a tap on his shoulder. “Captain, don’t bother to pray. First of all, you don’t believe it’s going to happen and secondly, the fog’s already gone. Let’s go.”

They walked to the door and opened it. It was a clear night. The stars were shining.

Lord, give me the faith of a child and people like George Mueller. Thank You that when I pray to You about my needs, I can already thank You in faith that You will do what is best for me. Amen.

Plant Sale 18th May – Come and join us!

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Come and join us on Saturday 18th May 2024 at Moortown Baptist Church for our annual plant sale.

1.00pm – 3.00pm

House plants, Bedding Plants, Perennial garden plants and more…
Refreshments : Tea – Coffee – Cakes!!

Free entrance

All proceeds in aid of Moortown Furniture Store

My Trip to Sri Lanka

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When I first began weaving in January 2018, I did not anticipate how much I would enjoy it nor how much pleasure I would get from others I helped to learn. It was in that year that my friend Marcia, who has been going out to Sri Lanka 11 years, “hoodwinked” me into volunteering with her. We raised enough money to buy 13 looms for the girls in a refuge run by the (Women’s Development Centre in Kandy (WDC) and booked our flights for April 2020. Little did we know what was around the corner and it has taken until April 2024 for me to take that trip and finally meet the girls. The story of these girls had touched my heart. As a young girl I was given the same opportunities as my older brother. I was raised in a loving family, one which I appreciate more, the older I get. These girls have in many instances been betrayed and abused by those who should have protected them. My hope was that the weaving, at least, could be a mindful activity for them to lose themselves in. At most maybe those with a talent for it, would be able to make things and sell them for a small income. Not being able to fly out anywhere in 2020 meant that the girls and their teachers received the looms and pretty much had to teach themselves. They did so well in that, and I am very impressed that with very little instruction they produced items with amazing consistency. These are just a few of the items they managed to produce in a very short amount of time.
When I arrived at the refuge, Sashi (who runs WDC) and I formulated a plan, at least for the first day. We would play it by ear and see how things went. Looking at their items and talking with the teachers it looked like some vital early learning had been missed, especially when it came to warping up the looms. Taking them through this process step-by-step helped them to solve some consistent problems they were having with the weaving, so it was worthwhile to go back to first principles. Their enthusiasm was infectious, and the days were filled with hard work, enthusiasm and laughter. Their appreciation of the time spent with them was evident, as were the traumas that they had gone through. On my way down to lunch one day, I passed the nursery and caught sight of one of the girls in my class, just 13 years old, breastfeeding her baby. For all the girls’ hardships, the refuge is a happy place. The teachers, foster mothers and workers are calm and loving, creating a homely atmosphere, where the girls are loved and cared for. What the WDC struggles with, is not how to treat the girls but lack of funding. So, this year I will be doing some more fundraising through coffee mornings, a table top sale and who knows what?
For a few days, the girls lost themselves in the weaving and learning about colour theory. They learned how to finish off their woven items and how to use other equipment such as: peg looms, weaving sticks and even a pompom maker! When it took me 15 minutes to find the tapestry needles, they learned the benefits of keeping things tidy and how useful storage baskets are! See the pictures below for a very pleasing sight to anyone who may be even slightly OCD!
People ask me if I had a lovely holiday in Sri Lanka and my answer has developed into: “It was a heart-warming and worthwhile experience”. I came back home with a newfound appreciation of all I have and a desire to return next year. It was a huge “reset” for me, putting so many of my problems into perspective. This picture is with the teachers and my interpreter Mary. If you look closely, you can see how red my face is from the humidity and unbearable heat. I cannot say I loved the tropical environment, but the insects loved me!
I am so grateful for all the donations and items people bought. Grateful for the difference it will make to these lovely girls. I cannot share the one picture I have of them, for the girls’ safety, but if you were to see me, I might show the picture to you on my phone. You might then see what I see; a group of beautiful girls, with huge potential and deserving of a chance in life.

If you would like to know more about volunteering or how you might help then please email me on krystyna.gadd@gmail.com.

Shelley – 21 April

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Dear friends

It’s been great to be back with you over the last week or so.  Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers for our time off and the Paris marathon.  I did think of you all as I went into the last section of the marathon through the woods!  Also, when I saw the cheering, I was reminded again of the verse from Hebrews 12:1

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  There is a focus and a commitment here to keep going, in times of difficulty and joy on the way and the promise of joy to come.. as the verse goes on to say.. “for the joy set before Him”, one step, then another step.  Of course, Jesus was going to the cross, but it’s a reminder of the place of joy.  It suggests that there will be times on the way when we may have to adjust our pace, reassess whether we are carrying things that we don’t need.  At 9km I threw my family in the crowd an awkward shaped bottle of juice I thought I needed at the start as it was just an extra thing I didn’t want to carry, worse still the sloshing of the juice just kept making me think I needed the toilet!  Maybe I needed it to start with but I definitely didn’t need it as I ran on.  There are things in our lives too that we carry for a time, maybe they give us confidence, help us to feel safer, maybe everyone else is carrying it so we think we need it in our race as well? Regular moments to check what we are carrying and our running direction are needed on our life journey so we can reassess too.  What am I carrying that I don’t need anymore? Is there anything that I have got used to carrying that God is asking me to do something about because it’s affecting my run negatively? Maybe God will bring some of this to mind for us as the 44th London Marathon takes place tomorrow…

 

Tomorrow we meet at 11am for a service with communion and a separate group for our younger friends during part of the service.  We will be online on youtube too on the channel @moortownbaptistchurch. We’ll be continuing a theme of Resurrection.. what did Jesus do post resurrection?  What does his journey post resurrection tell us nowadays? Tomorrow we will look at Luke 24:13-35.  Its something we’ll be exploring over the next few weeks.

 

Dates for this week and beyond…

Sunday 21st April – 11am service

Sunday 21st April – 7-8pm rock solid youth group (see Val Boyd, Martyn Grey, Adam Argyle or Nathan Dring for more info)

Monday 22nd April – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 midday

Tuesday 23rd April – Stepping stones for under 5’s and parents and carers 10-11.30

Tuesday 23rd April – housegroup in church in afternoon.

Tuesday 23rd April – Deacons meeting 7.30pm – 9.30pm in church

Wednesday 24th April – lunchgroup – see Rachel Beadle for more information

Wednesday 24th April – housegroup in church and online at 7.30pm (see Ruth/Andy Berry)                                                                                                                

Thursday 25th April – Warm welcome craft group in church 2-4pm (See Karen Ross/Diane Argyle)

Friday 26th April – Bible study at 10am.  Please see Shelley Dring or Robert/Carol Owen for more information.

Sunday 28th April – 11am service in church and online with a group for our younger friends

 

Local elections will be using one of the rooms in church all day and evening on the 2nd May.  Do ask Lesley Murphy of you have any questions.  All groups should be going ahead as planned even though the room may be slightly different!

 

Sunday 5th May – café church 11-12midday

 

Saturday 18th May – 1-3pm plant sale in church (See Jenny Dixon for information).  Any cuttings or plants that can be donated then do let Jenny know.   There’ll be tea, coffee and cake on the day.  Do come along and tell your friends!

 

What a joy it was to be part of the baptisms at Moortown on Easter Sunday!  We have some more baptisms planned from our community at MBC on 9th June so if you would be interested in being baptised on this day or another then do have a chat with me. 

 

Thank you to those who helped with the funeral and thanksgiving of Barbara Dews after Easter,  Do continue to pray for Howard, his family and all those who grieve the loss of a loved one.

 

Thank you to all those who continue to pray for our community, our city and our wider world. 

 

And something to ponder… (click on the link below)

 

All the Prophets Were Artists: A Free Extract from “Reframing the Prophetic” – 24-7 Prayer International

 

See you tomorrow

In Christ

 

Shelley

 

 

 

Crafty Work

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Thursday Craft Group

Some great work done this week, if you feel this is something you’re interested in we meet on Thursdays, 2pm – 4pm, anyone is welcome

Dolls Clothes
Crochet Blanket
Start of a blanket
Christmas Stocking

Update from Romania

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MBC’s links with Romania go back 33 years to Easter 1991 when following the fall of communism six people travelled overland with aid to some churches there. Over the years many people from MBC have visited Romania and been blessed by fellowship with the Christians there and a number of people from the Romanian churches there have visited us in Leeds. More recently Florin Fodor and family visited us in summer 2022 and Rod Russell was in Romania in earlier this year.

God is at work in Romania. The churches there are very dedicated to sharing the Gospel and over the years the churches have seen considerable growth. We are pleased to have been able to be part of this by sharing in the mission of the churches there. In April last year we provided financial support for the projects listed below and we will be sending further support shortly. Our friends in Romania extend their thanks to all who have made this possible. Further donations can be made via Howard Dews from the Romania Group, Geoff Fennell as church treasurer or in a marked envelope in the church collections.

Manastur Baptist Church is a large church in the major city of Cluj-Napoca in northern Romania. We provide help for the youth work including enabling young people from poorer families to attend summer camps and we supplement the support provided by the Manastur church to people in need.

We also contribute to a bursary scheme for Christian students from poor families in more remote parts of Romania who are studying in Cluj.

We also support an outreach from Manastur Church to a very deprived gypsy community which exists separately to the other communities around it and the practical needs that enable this church to function. Florin Fodor is a deacon at Manastur Church and is in full time Christian work for Campus Crusade. A recent initiative has been to establish a network of Christian teachers.

Another church in Cluj which we have links with is called VIA (The Way) and was formed by people from Manastur church. Although they do not need our material support, firm friendships have been established with a number of families there. They keep in regular contact and pray for us often.

They too have visited Leeds and stayed with members of MBC and we hope to continue these links. When visiting Cluj anyone from MBC would be welcomed and hosted by our friends at these churches.

We also have links with two Hungarian speaking churches in Romania. The village church in Cserefalva serves a very rural community. Zsuzsi and Andor Ferko are both pastors at the Hungarian Reformed Church in the provincial town of Udvarhely. We have provided support for young people’s work and for people in need. We are hoping that Andor, Zsuszi and their worship band will be coming to visit us in the near future and to play for us at MBC.

Our links with Romania took a new and unexpected turn with the wave of refugees from Ukraine.

With our help Manastur Church was able to provide support for people en route to western Europe (as did VIA church). Manastur Church still has nine Ukrainian families as part of their congregation and has taken aid into Ukraine.

Thank you notes from students at Manastur Church:

Peace of the Lord Jesus! My name is Ana-Maria, I am 20 years old and I am involved in the work with the youth of the church and I am passionate about confessing Jesus to other people. Thank you for your gift and God bless you!

My name is Samuel DELPHIN, I’m from Haiti, and I’m 28 years old. I am in my 2nd year of study for my master’s degree in ecological agriculture at USAMV Cluj-Napoca. Since I arrived in Romania, the Lord has prepared for me a church where I can grow in His Word and where I feel well received. So from 2022 I became a member of the 1 st Baptist Church in Manastur and I try to get involved as much as possible in the Lord’s work to glorify Him for everything He has done in my life.

I would like to express my gratitude to you for the way you have thought of the young people of the Church through this scholarship. Thank you very much for this generous financial support which is crucial for me and which helped me understand how well the Lord takes care of me and never fails to respond to my needs. I Know that the word thank you will never be enough to express my gratitude to you! May the Lord bless you abundantly and accompany you in all that you do.
Thank you very much!
Samuel

Hello, my name is Sebastian, I’m from Baia Mare, I’m a student at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, in physiotherapy, in the 2nd year of my bachelor’s degree, since I was little I liked things about God but I started to study seriously in the first year college and I decided to come to the Baptist Church Mănăsturi No. 1 . I wanted to thank you very much for the financial support you gave me that I will use in my spiritual growth.

Good Friday Church Walk

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On a lovely Good Friday afternoon, over 20 of us set off on a memorable church walk across the breathtaking expanse of Ilkley Moor. Designed by Krys and Gareth to be accessible to all, the trek offered stunning views and gentle terrain, ensuring a leisurely yet enriching experience for participants of all ages. As the group traversed the moor, enjoying the occasional sunshine and amazing scenery, a sense of peace enveloped the gathering. Amidst nature’s grandeur, a small communion celebration unfolded, marked by a Bible reading, heartfelt prayers and the uplifting strains of “How Great Thou Art.” But beyond the spiritual elements, it was the company of fellow walkers that truly made the journey special. With each step, the walk became more than just a physical excursion—it became a shared and exhilirating adventure. We hope that there will be more walks to come!

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