May 2025 – Moortown Baptist Church

Keeping it in the family: MBC and the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store remain as close as ever

May 6, 2025May 5, 2025 by John Sherbourne

It’s almost forty years since Hilary Willmer and some friends here at MBC began collecting and giving away unwanted items of furniture as a Christian response to helping people in need. Last year, whilst the core principle hasn’t changed that faith driven kindness has seen the Store grow into one of Leeds’s most respected charities, which in and out handled a total of 8,478 sperate items: from three piece suites, wardrobes and beds to cups and saucers.

Back in 1986 such was the demand that it soon became clear that what had begun as an ad-hoc initiative to support individuals and families who were socially or economically challenged needed to be run in a much more structured way. This in turn led to the founding of the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store.

That link between L&MFS and MBC has rarely if ever been broken. Whether that be by members volunteering to work on the vans, in the office or on its board of trustees. And today I’m delighted to report that this relationship is as strong as ever for as the picture above shows, five MBC members (that’s Nick, Steve, Gareth, Rod and Mike) now make up it’s entire board of directors, with a number of other MBC regulars helping out as and when they can.

Recently, as part of a restructure the Store has sold its 10,000 square foot warehouse at Seacroft and moved into a smaller but much more efficient rental space little more than a stone’s throw away. It also recruited a new General Manager, a lady with vast knowledge of both the commercial and the charitable sector.

So, at least for the foreseeable future, and provided the local authority continue to provide support, this home grown and still much needed facility looks to be in a far healthier state than it has for a long time.

One final thought, however. For all its new found (if somewhat guarded) optimism, the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store still needs your support. In fact it needs your support in a number of ways: firstly by donating any furniture you may have, secondly by encouraging Nick, Steve, Gareth, Rod and Mike whenever you see them and thirdly in your prayers.

You can contact L&MFS by telephone on 0113 2739727, by emailing info@leedsandmoortown.org.uk Or of course you can visit their website which you will find at www.leedsandmoortown.org.uk

The blessing of the honeycomb – some thoughts from Gareth Gadd

May 6, 2025May 4, 2025 by John Sherbourne

Last Sunday’s reading was an account of Jesus appearing to the disciples. I was particularly drawn to Luke 24:42

THE BLESSING OF THE HONEYCOMB

Reading two versions of the Bible together, while following the reading I wondered why the honeycomb was missing from today’s reading.

Luke 24:42 GNB They gave him a piece of cooked fish,

Luke 24:42 KJV And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

This is a message inspired by the Holy Spirit for Moortown Baptist Church on the blessing we may have missed.

The honeycomb is a beautiful symbol in Scripture – representing the sweetness, wisdom, and abundant provision found in God’s Word and presence (Psalm 19:10 and Proverbs 16:24). Just as honeycomb nourishes the body with its rich sweetness, God’s truth nourishes our souls, bringing healing, joy, and spiritual vitality. The honeycomb is also associated with enlightenment and renewed strength (1 Samuel 14:27).

Even when it seems like the honeycomb is missing from our daily experience, we can trust that God’s goodness and blessings remain ever-present.

Sometimes, life invites us to seek deeper, to appreciate the richness of His wisdom and love beyond what is immediately visible.

Let us embrace the sweetness of God’s promises, the wisdom that enlightens our path, and the abundant provision that sustains us.

In every moment, God offers a spiritual feast-full of delight, renewal, and strength-to nourish our hearts and guide us toward a life of harmony and growth.

Remember, the true honeycomb of life is found in God’s enduring presence and the richness of His Word, always available to uplift and inspire us. (Proverbs 5:3 and Song of Solomon 4:11)

Gareth Gadd

Shelley’s message for w/c Sunday May 4

May 3, 2025 by Shelley Dring

Dear friends

From the despair of Good Friday, the joy of Easter Sunday and the confusion of the days that followed, we were reminded last week that Jesus is with us in our grief and anxiety and walks with us as we journey along the road. We talked about ‘hope on the horizon’. This Sunday at café church we look at what happened when the disciples’ recognised Jesus was with them again. What difference does resurrection make? What does Jesus’ resurrection mean to us? We start at 11am for about an hour, all ages together with breakfast snacks and drinks.

Here’s what’s coming up in the next week..

Sunday 4^th May 11am café church Luke 24: 36-49 ‘Hope in the House’

Sunday 4^th May 7-8pm Rock solid for youth in the building

Monday 5^th May No beacon café this week (bank holiday) Back the week after.

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

Tuesday 6^th May afternoon bible study in church

Wednesday 7^th May lunch club. See Rachel B

Wednesday 7^th May Bible study in church 7.30pm

Thursday 8^th May Warm welcome craft group 2-4pm in the building

Thursday 8^th May 7pm bible study in church

Friday 9^th May 10-11.15 bible study in church

Saturday 10^th May 1-3pm House, bedding and perennial garden plants and more. Tea, coffee and cake too. Cash only. All proceeds go to charity to support Caring for life locally and the Sri Lanka women’s project.

Sunday 11^th May 11-12 Service in church with small group for our younger friends. Looking at Luke 24:50-52 ‘Hope on the hill’

Sunday 11^th May 7-8pm Rock Solid for youth in the building

Monday 12^th May 10-12 Warm welcome space Beacon café, everyone welcome

Coming soon…

Tuesday 13^th May at 7.30pm is the next church meeting including deacons’ elections. An email went out this week to share the agenda, minutes, and details of any nominations. If didn’t get it or can’t access emails, please call the office on Tuesday or email admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk We’ll make sure we get something to you. Please continue to pray for all those who are the church at Moortown including all those who lead areas or ministries.

Wednesday 14^th May at 1.30 is Wednesday worship. It will be a Songs of Praise! If you have a song you would like to sing with others on that day then can you let Rachel know, or let Lesley know and she can pass it on for you. You may want to say a few words about it.

Worship and tech team Play Day on 17^th May 10.30-2.30 in church. This day is for anyone on the tech or worship teams to explore the new sound system and try things out together. Details have been sent out to those who are already in these teams. If you are interested in finding out more about the teams then get in touch with Andy B or myself.

Prayer and worship Day Saturday 7^th June Save the date for now…

If you are aged around 11 to 35, are a parent/grandparent/carer who want to encourage young people you know in their walk with Jesus, you are a young person’s group leader, or simply want to pray for young people to be encouraged to live a life for Jesus then come along with us to the Send worship night at North church 7-9.30pm on 5^th June. Get Tickets – SEND Experience Night Leeds – North Church You can book your tickets here. If you are a young person who would like a lift or have a young person who would like a lift, then let your youth group leader know or myself. We will have a group going from MBC and will have a meet up point at Moortown and then at North Church. Following this gathering, there will be a larger gathering and worship night at Leeds Arena on November 22^nd 2025.

I will be on a conference next Monday and Tuesday so will not be in the building on those days.

Thursday 8^th May marks the 80^th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Although we will not be holding an official gathering for this, it maybe a good day to pray for peace, thank God for the peacemakers and to pledge ourselves again to being peacemakers in our everyday lives. Leeds Minister will be holding a VE/VJ evening on May 10^th with proceeds going to the British Legion Poppy Appeal. Tickets are available here for £5 concessions are free http://www.leedstickethub.co.uk/whatsonevent/80th-anniversary-of-ve-vj-day-commemoration-concert/

A reminder that the 11^th May is the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon starting at 9am in Headingley, going into Leeds city centre and out of the city up the Otley Road. The Marathon raises huge amounts of money for Leeds Hospitals Charities and the MND Association. Please check the marathon map if you live further over towards West Leeds as your journey may be affected www.runforall.com/events/marathon/leeds-marathon/

Many of you will know that one of our church family, Jane, sadly died on Monday following her admission to hospital when the aggressive tumour that was thought to be clearing had in a very short timeframe spread. Jane’s journey with cancer became something she would reflect on in a weekly piece of writing she would call ‘Monday thoughts and prayers’. These thoughts and prayers were initially written by Jane to encourage the pastoral team she led, but over time, they went further afield, were turned into a book and regularly appeared on the website. Jane even made sure that Phil sent her Monday thoughts and prayers out this week despite her hospital admission and you can read them here on the website at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk Do continue to hold Jane’s family in your prayers.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

“Share and share a like.” Via email, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. help MBC expand its outreach

May 3, 2025 by John Sherbourne

Share and share a like

Did you know that each week, with your help Shelley’s Message, the MBC Newsletter, our live YouTube broadcasts and the numerous Facebook feeds we use, have the wherewithal to reach literally thousands more people than they currently do.

For example, take for instance the image you see above. Were it not for us “sharing” a Facebook post and then supplying the YBA (The Yorkshire Baptist Association) with the raw material the wonderful Easter Day service we had here in church would have remained, even locally, our little secret. Then there’s the stories that we’ve recently begun to post on the Alwoodley Ward Residents Facebook page: almost 300 extra likes and/or shares for our Good Friday and Easter Day services.

So, no matter what you think about social media – whether you love it or loath it – the one thing you cannot deny is that it neither should not nor cannot be ignored.

You see unlike 2000 years ago when word of mouth and story telling were the order of the day, I believe that today it’s our responsibility to fully embrace today’s technology, and by that I mean that by what ever means possible promote the good news of Jesus.

And that’s why when the News Letter drops into your inbox, or you spot one of our posts on Facebook I urge you not simply to “like” it, but to share it. That way, if enough of us respond not only will MBC’s outreach agenda grow and grow but that old saying… “share and share a like” will take on a whole new meaning.

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