Login

Month: July 2025

Shelley’s update for week commencing Sunday 27 July

by

Dear friends.

Here are a few ‘keeping in touch’ things for the next few weeks.

We meet again on Sunday at 11am to continue with our theme of Fruit of the Spirit: love, looking into Acts 2.  There will be a group for our younger friends. A live stream will also be available. 

A word of warning… there may be local disruption for some on Sunday 27th July due to the Ironman event in North Leeds so check your routes here: https://www.ironman.com/races/im-leeds/traffic-impact You might want to cheer them on (I’m not doing this one!)

All the information for Summer was sent out last week and is available both in last week’s Newsletter (under the heading) Shelley’s update for 20th July – setting out the summer – Moortown Baptist Church  and in a seperate post in this week’s issue. There are also paper copies in church, just ask the welcome team. There is also a few new articles including news from the Romanian churches we support.

If you know someone in church who is ill and needs a visit do let Lesley know and she will contact those who support us with pastoral work.  This is something we will be in touch about more in a few weeks.

Looking ahead..

You’ll also see on the website a flyer from Krys about the craft fair coming up in October.

Finally, I want to share a statement with you from Baptists Together, BMS and Baptist Union of Wales.  Some of you may, like me be finding it hard to put into words and prayers the devastation we are seeing in Gaza at this time.  Whilst we acknowledge there are many conflicts in the world right now, most with complex roots, I find it hard not express my heartache when I hear what is going on from organisations such as BMS and Embrace the Middle East about people of all faiths and none suffering in unimaginable ways.  Please have a look at the statement and consider finding out more and making a response in prayer or action.

Statement Concerning Gaza, Israel, The West Bank and East Jerusalem

War Child UK who are working in many broken places around the world with children, have a slogan at the moment saying ‘Hold onto Hope’.  They say that in the face of suffering, holding onto hope is a rebellious act as they work for peace. We read this too in the bible, Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” or as the message version says, “Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out..”

In Christ

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Stewarding our tithe – a brief reminder of the projects MBC supports

by

At a recent Church Meeting we were invited to spend some time considering where MBC’s tithe should go. 

Having read through a list of Bible verses relating to tithing (the practice of giving one-tenth of one’s income or produce to God as an act of worship and gratitude) we then listened to representatives from eight of the different projects and missions that MBC supports as they each gave an update on precisely when, where and how the contribution the church makes to their work helps to keep them going.

You can see from the images in the picture gallery above just how varied these projects are: from part funding a one to one counselling service (Pathways) to (MAF) keeping aircraft in the sky as they give support, including much needed medical aid to people living in some of the world’s most inaccessible regions. 

Here in a bit more detail are descriptions of them all.

BMS World Mission – MBC has supported the Baptist Missionary Society from the very start; not only financially but also by seeing a number of its members serve overseas. In addition, it’s been a long tradition here at Moortown to partner with individual missionaries; currently we are linked with Mark and Andrea Hotchkin, doctors based in Chad. BMS runs a wide range of support schemes, each one of benefit to over 300 mission workers – details of which are available via their website bmsworldmission.org 

The Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store – L&MFS was formed at MBC in 1986. Today, with its fortieth anniversary less than a year off it continues exactly where it began; collecting and then giving away unwanted furniture to people in need. As with BMS, the link between L&MFS and MBC has never been broken. In fact as I write the Store’s entire board of trustees is made up of five Moortown members. 

Grace Gospel Church – Co led by one of our members, this direct quote from the churches website says it all…  “We are evangelical Pentecostal by teaching and preaching the word of God. We follow the true doctrine of the Bible on bases of the Bible authority by the power and work of the Holy Spirit. We have Christ centered worship service including practical biblical teaching and fellowshipping one another. We go, we preach, we care for the soul for whom Christ Jesus died.”  

Pathways Counselling – Pathways is a Christian Counselling Service that by listening and providing support helps its clients navigate life’s challenges, whether they be short-term  or long-term. Once again Pathways has long standing links to MBC.

WEC – Radio Worldwide – Radio Worldwide uses digital media to spread the gospel. Besides a whole raft of outreach initiatives, simple daily posts on Facebook and the like ensure that even though many of its listeners live in isolated regions they still have access to the word of God. 

MBC Romania Fund – Another long standing partnership. MBC first made contact with the Romanian church in 1972 when two of our young students “smuggled” some books into the country for a local pastor who had recently studied at an Oxford college. Since then the link between MBC and what we simply refer to as “Romania” has grown into a close friendship with regular home and away visits being made by both individuals and groups. The support we give to “Romania” however, isn’t limited to social exchanges and funding an annual teenage Summer Camp. No over the years a number of our members have actually set about designing, funding and even installing some quite major infrastructure projects.  

MAF. Mission Aviation Fellowship – Imagine living in the sweltering heat of a desert, a two day walk away from the nearest doctor. If you did, then thankfully MAF may just be the answer to your prayer. Flying 115 aircraft across 25 different countries Mission Aviation Fellowship is often the only lifeline an individual, a family or an entire community has when an emergency strikes. For more years than I care to remember MBC has supported MAF, and long may that commitment continue. 

And finally the YBA Home Mission Fund. Like but a few Baptist churches MBC may not be the lively, thriving church it is today without the help provided way back when by the Yorkshire Baptist Association’s Home Mission Fund. For us, as for many other fellowships the seed money provided to help buy land, the funds given to assist with building costs and even to help pay a minister’s stipend demonstrate only too well how in reality the YBA Home Mission Fund really is a “Godsend.” 

So there you have it, the eight very different projects that as a church MBC currently supports. But you know whether or not that number remains the same or changes isn’t a decision our minister and our leadership team make on their own. No, it’s ultimately down to you and I. And that’s because in the not too distant future, we, as members, will all be invited to reconvene and prayerfully discuss, pray and then vote on the recommendations and suggestions our leaders make.

In other words it’s us – the whole of our membership – that decides who and/or what God wants us as a church community to help.

 

  

Shelley’s update for 20th July – setting out the summer

by

Dear friends

This week we continue to explore the Holy Spirit as we start a series about Fruit of the Spirit, taking us through the summer months.  We hope that it is something that you can explore afresh or for the first time over the Summer wherever you are and whatever age.  John 15:16 reminds us that Jesus said,

“You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last”.  Some of you may know that I always carry a banana around with me.  I call it my emergency banana and its helpful for those moments I suddenly feel hungry.  I realise as I look around the world how grateful I am to have an emergency banana.  However, as many of you know, a banana doesn’t last for long.  It soon starts to go brown and mushy.  The fruit that God wants us to produce is intended to not have a shelf life, it’s intended to go on long after the seed was planted and the fruit has grown.  The bible talks about the fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians chapter 5 and as we discover the fruit in practice in the bible and in our world, one thing to ponder and pray about is how this fruit might last and develop, how will it go beyond us and the immediate that we see?  How can we plan for this?  What difference does it make? We start tomorrow at 11am in church and in Sunday school as on our YouTube channel.  We’ll also share communion together.

Every year the Royal Academy in London hosts a summer exhibition based on a different theme each year to encourage people to think about a topic in a new way.  This year we would like to host our own summer exhibition by exploring the theme of the Holy Spirit.  This may be through painting, writing, music, photography, doodling, crafts, reading, words and more.  Please hand anything to me, Lesley or Linsey and we will put them up or can be incorporated in what we do.  Don’t feel you have to have a perfect ‘thing’, half an explored idea is good too, all ages and experiences welcome.  You may want to do it on your own or with others in a group.  Let’s pray that we have open eyes and hearts as we respond to Him!  This one way we can all share ministry together.

As the school’s finish and the summer starts, there is a temporary change in what we do as a church, but we wanted to be intentional about the change of pace providing opportunities to pray and worship, allowing time for holiday and creating new ways to connect and explore.  Thankyou to all those who are contributing to this. Below you will find a list of all the summer activities including regular groups and one-off events.  This is also available on the MBC website and reminders will be posted on social media throughout the summer.  Paper copies will be in church from next week.   

Monday 21st July Health and Safety meeting at 3pm in church building (do get in touch with John C or myself if you think you would like to help with any aspect of health and safety in the building)

Tuesday 22nd July Toddler tidy up and social at 10am starting in the church building

Sunday 27 July 11am service with children’s group Fruit of the Spirit ‘love’ Acts 2:38-47

Sunday 3rd August 11am café church Fruit of the Spirit ‘Joy’  

5th August 7.30pm Deacons meeting in the church building.

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard…”Gal 5:22 (The message version)

Blessings

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Shelley’s update for w/c Sunday 13th July

by

Dear friends

A shorter email today as I am clarifying a few of the Summer activities and themes but there will be more news on this in the morning and early next week.

We look forward to seeing you at 11am tomorrow where we continue to explore the person of the Holy Spirit.  Tomorrow’s message includes both Old Testament and New again, as we look at ‘anointing oil’ as a picture of Gods power, consecration, and healing and what that might mean to us and the world today.  It will also link us into a creative series over the Summer looking at the fruit of the spirit, how do we see the Spirit moving in the early church, us and the world?  There will be creative ways we would like to encourage you to explore as part of this over the Summer either individually or with others.

After church, it’s the next ‘Unanswered prayer’ session with Krys G in the music room.  Feel free to bring your lunch.  Everyone welcome even if you haven’t been to a group before, just come along.  There will be a video to watch and opportunity to share.

At 7pm Rock Solid takes place in the building.  It’s a social night with pizza and curling so do come along, even if you haven’t been for a while!  Feel free to bring a friend.

Thanks to all those who shared with the church last week about the charities we support in our tithe.  It was good to have so many get together to share and pray both in café church and afterwards at the church meeting. Do keep praying for the charities and if you have any questions, thoughts or ideas do send them to myself or the deacons.  Lesley can pass any thoughts on at admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Next week we have Beacon café and warm welcome craft group as usual and all the housegroups are meeting as well as lunch club.  It’s the last Stepping Stones Session next Tuesday, with a tidy up session the week after.  Wednesday worship takes place at 1.30-2pm in the music room.  Everyone invited!

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Who needs a fancy fajita when you can have fish and chips in Filey

by

With many places in the UK pushing temperatures near to 30 degrees C you could be forgiven for thinking that yesterday of all days those of us old enough to know better would have stayed home. 

Such, however, was not the case for some of our lovely seniors who as they do during a usually topsy turvy English summer took the opportunity to jump in Rod Russell’s mini-bus and head to the coast. 

Fortunately, however, for them their chosen destination was Filey, which although still very, very warm was nearer the lower end of the Celsius scale than the higher.   

As for lunch, well no fancy fajitas and certainly no chilled white wine – instead pots of tea, the odd Coke and good old fish and chips. 

Refined and made precious by God. Gareth Gadd shares a story told to him by his brother

by

Refined and made precious by God

Psalm 12:6 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.“

Malachai 3:3 “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

This image of God as a refiner is a powerful one. My brother, who is not a Christian, sent me a YouTube video that contained a story about Malachai 3:3 of which the “punchline”really surprised him. So here’s the story…

A small group were studying the Bible together and came across Malachi 3:3, which says, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver”. They were curious about why God is described as sitting while refining silver. Unable to agree on the meaning, they decided that one member should visit a silversmith to learn more.

The chosen person went to watch a silversmith at work. The silversmith explained that he had to hold the silver in the hottest part of the fire to burn away all the impurities. The process was delicate; if he left the silver in the fire for too long, it would be damaged. It required skill and patient observation.

The Bible student then asked, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” The silversmith smiled and said, “That’s easy; when I can see my own reflection in it, I know it’s pure.”

This story uses the process of refining silver as a picture of how God works in our lives. Just as a silversmith carefully watches the silver and removes it from the fire at just the right moment, God refines us as we go through life’s challenges to remove our faults and make us better people. God knows we are ready when He can see His own character reflected in us.

Gareth Gadd

For those of you who don’t already receive our minister’s weekly update by email, here it is on the web

by

Dear friends

As we move into July, here’s what is in the diary so far..

6th July Sunday 11am café church with breakfast pastries, fruit and drinks – ‘The Holy Spirit’s presence like fire’ Exodus 3.  All ages together

6th July Sunday 12.45-1.45 church meeting where we look forward to meeting those who’s charities the church support.

6th July Sunday 7-8pm Rock Solid Youth (younger and older group meet at the same time) in the building

7th July Monday Warm welcome café 10-12 midday

8th July Tuesday Stepping Stones under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30am

8th July Tuesday Bible group – see Howard Dews

8th July Tuesday 7.30pm Deacons meeting in church

9th July Wednesday Lunch club for those who attend and volunteers

9th July Wednesday 7.30pm Bible study group in church See Ruth or Andy B

10th July Thursday 2-4pm Warm welcome craft group

10th July Thursday 7pm- 9pm bible study in church building see Gareth G

11th July 10-11 Friday Bible study in church building.  Do ask me if you want more information.

11th July 8pm house group in Adel.  See Jonathan or Hilary D or Steve or Helen O

13th July 11am Sunday Service for all with a group for children exploring the theme.  “The Holy Spirit as oil”

13th July Sunday after church ‘Discovering prayer’.  All welcome whether you have been before or want to drop in for the first time!  The sessions are following Pete Grieg’s second prayer course exploring why some prayers seem to be unanswered.  It is a safe place to share although you do not have to share anything.  The course is being led by Krys G.  The course continues after this at the same time on August 10th, September 14th and October 12th.

15th July Tuesday is the last Stepping Stones group before the Summer holidays.  The volunteers will meet in the morning of the 22nd July for a tidy and a clean.  If you would like to help them please see Diane S or myself.

16th July Wednesday 1.30-2pm Wednesday worship in church for all.  See Rachel B or myself for details.

Please note that Lesley will not be in the office this week and will return on Monday 14th July.  Any enquiries should go to the group leaders or myself or a deacon to pass onto the relevant person.

Two opportunities to find out more about the ‘Quiet revival’ research from the Bible Society including the rise in church attendance amongst young adults, on Wednesday 9th July

1.30-pm online Please book a free place here.  Presented by the Church of England

The Quiet Revival – opportunities for church growth – Church Support Hub

8-9.15pm Follow this link to book a free online space Webinar: Exploring the Quiet Revival – Church Mission Society (CMS)  Hosted by the Church Missionary Society

We are currently finalising plans for the Summer so watch this space.  Lesley is compiling a list of everything that is happening including new ways to connect as well as noting what is pausing over August.  If you have any ideas of things you would like to do, then do come and chat to me.  Do keep praying for guidance, wisdom and creativity on how God is building His church here in Moortown and further afield.

On the last week of June, the National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast took place in parliament and is an annual recognition of what Christianity brings to the life of the UK.  This year John Lennox gave the address and the worship was led by Keith and Kristyn Getty and you can watch again here at this link National Parliamentary Prayer Breakfast 2025.  It may help inform us as we pray for our government and all those in leadership.

Today I joined with others at Cragg House Farm to celebrate and thank God for the work of Caring for life, a local Christian charity that we have supported over the years. There was such a warm atmosphere around the farm and during the service Jonathan Parkinson the CEO of Caring for life reminded us that amongst all the projects and plans and social action, at the heart of it all is a call to bring people to Jesus, Lord and Saviour who stands with the broken and hurting.  A song that was written at Caring for life used in the worship services includes the chorus

“We bring our loaves and fishes

To you, the Lord of all

We’ll follow in Your footsteps,

And answer to your call.

Lord take our small resources,

Take every loving deed

Turn drops into an ocean

To meet a world of need”

Blessings

Shelley

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com