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Month: December 2025

To MBC, Howard Dews shares new year greetings from Mănăștur

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A message from Liviu Marin, secretariat Biserica Creștină Baptistă nr. 1 Mănăștur Cluj-Napoca, Biserică Baptistă Mănăștur.

We wish you a blessed New Year, filled with peace and joy! Thank you for all the support you have given this year to the various ministries of our church. 

We pray that God will reward you and bless the work you are doing in His service.

In the following lines, we share messages of gratitude from the young people/students who have benefited this year from the support you provide.

May God bless you and richly reward you!.. “For God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

Dear Mrs. /Miss,

My name is Izra FINFIN. I am from Haiti and I am a student in Computer Science, specializing in Automation of Applied Informatics (AIA), in my second year at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. I am also a member of BBM (Biserică Baptistă Mănăștur).

You may not fully realize what you have done for me, but I know that God used your heart at the right moment. That is why I thank you with all my heart. Your help means much more to me than I ever expected to receive this month.

Thank you so much. I believe that God will protect you and your family and bless you every day with His goodness.

Please receive these simple words as a sign of my gratitude.

Sincerely,

Izra FINFI

Dear church in Leeds,

We thank you deeply for you generosity!

In this 6 years of marriage, me and my wife saw the mighty hand of God who always provided for us beyond our shortcomings. In this year, although we’ve encountered financial problems and there were months without revenue, we’ve been blessed beyond any expectation!

When we heard about your generous gift we were filled with gratitude and joy and tears filled our eyes because we know that this is part of God’s grace. So there’s not much to say, but we give thanks to the Lord!

I (Gabriel) have fond memories of Norman Hiley who was many times at my parents home when I was still a boy. His memory still lingers with us and we are glad for his beautiful legacy.

Our salute to you is from Hebrews 13:7-8, which says: ‘Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ‘

May God fill you with abundance and in this days of apostasy (in which most churches are more concerned with entertainment and organizing, than Jesus), may He found you strong and Holy!

With gratitude,

Gabriel and Daniela Cosman

Dear brothers and sisters,

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the financial support I have received. Your help is a great blessing to me and an important support in continuing my studies.

My name is Marin Andrei, I am a first-year student in Pastoral Theology at Emanuel University of Oradea, and a member of the Cluj-Mănăștur Baptist Christian Church. Through your generosity, I am able to devote myself with greater peace of mind to my preparation for serving the Lord.

May God reward you and bless you!

With gratitude,
Marin Andrei

 

For just two weeks our online Newsletter is taking a break. But not before we’ve shown you these images from our wonderful Christingle Service

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A bit like Santa, when it comes to the end of the year those of us that look after our Facebook page, our newsletter and the MBC website need a bit of a break. 

That’s why between now and the second week in January, that’s week commencing January 11th, we’re having a digital detox. 

That said, it would be remiss of us if we didn’t share these pictures with you that were taken this afternoon at today’s Christingle. 

Happy Christmas everyone, see you in 2026.

Wow that really was some build up to Christmas 2025. Here’s our look back at Advent.

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www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Right the way through Advent, MBC has either taken part in or hosted almost a dozen Christmas events. 

From Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7 visit on the 7th of December through to today’s Christingle we have embraced a whole raft of events including: a wreath making workshop, Santa’s visit to our Stepping Stones party, a nativity that at times bore an amazing resemblance to a panto, Lunch Club’s Christmas dinner, carol singing in a local care home, Rock Solid’s end of term bash,  umpteen Beacon Cafe’s and finally today a wonderful Christingle Service.   

It goes without saying that each of these festive celebrations are available on the MBC website, in fact you can see a taster for each of them at the top of this post. 

But stepping away from the website, and definitely closer to the true meaning of Christmas we have on every single day throughout Advent, put a special post on Facebook – many featuring pictures taken here at MBC. 

Again you can see a selection of them in the gallery below. 

So, with Advent now behind us all that’s left for us to say is please, please do come and join us at 10.30am tomorrow in church or on YouTube to celebrate Jesus’s birth. 

www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Shelley’s Christmas message

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Dear friends

We look forward to joining together in person and online as we share the story of the first Christmas together over the next few days. Tomorrow is the all-age nativity with carols so do come along and bring your friends and family. We’ll be lighting candle number 4 in our advent ring. On Monday everyone is welcome to bob into the Christmas café at Beacon with Christmas crafts for all ages!  On Wednesday we join together for a candle lit all age Christingle service and on Thursday we celebrate Jesus birthday.  We meet again together next Sunday for a short Christmas service together.

Sunday 21st December All Age nativity with carols Advent 4: Love 11-12 midday.  

Monday 22nd December All age Christmas Beacon and warm welcome space with Christmas crafts and Christmas snacks from 10-12 midday.  

The funeral of Micheal Riches will take place at 1pm in the Sanctuary followed by refreshments in church.  All those who would like to go are welcome. The family are encouraging those going to wear red and green.

Wednesday 24th December 4.30-5.15pm All Age candle lit Christingle Service with carols

Thursday 25th December 10.30-11.30am All Age Christmas Day Service  (note the slightly earlier start!)  Bring a present to open or show!

Sunday 28th December 11-11.45 All age service together ‘Wonder part 5’

No Beacon café, stepping stones, lunch club or craft group during the week of the 29th December.

Sunday 4th January New year café church ‘Star of wonder Part 6’

Groups begin again this week including Beacon café, craft group, lunch club, Stepping Stones and house groups/bible studies.

There are a few ‘wonder’ cards left in church so do pick some up to give out this week!

The card is also available online at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk Please come and support us as we open the doors to many who don’t usually come to the church building.  Our services have also been advertised online.

An advent ‘thought for the day’ is going out every day on our Facebook page each day so do have a look and share the journey.  The website is updated with all the new stories of the week as well as some articles written by people in the church.  We share many of these on social media too across our local communities.   

Thankyou to all those who came along last week and supported in all sorts of ways from the carol singing, wreath making, children and youth Christmas parties, lunchclub Christmas and all those who are supporting our activities in prayer.  Hampers have kindly been put together from all your wonderful donations and the beacon team and staff will be helping to give these out on Monday and throughout next week.  Many of our housegroups and bible studies have finished for a small break, but we want to thank all those who contribute and share in these throughout the year as they are such an important part of discipleship and fellowship.

We continue to pray and visit those who are unwell at the moment, and we miss those who haven’t been able to join in some of the fellowship in person due to illness or bereavement.  We know the church is the people, so do keep in touch with each other and continue to let us know if people might benefit from prayer, support or a visit.  Equally if there is something you want to get involved in then do let us know.  If you can’t find myself or a group leader, then do send a message to Lesley to pass on.

Many blessings

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

As predicted today’s nativity service was as comical as it was meaningful

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You’d think by now, that after all these years of trying that just once in a while we’d get the nativity story right. 

Now, don’t get me wrong. Yes we manage to tell the story in the correct order, and more or less on cue our angels, shepherds, sheep and wise men each acted out their parts as best they could. 

However, and here I’m not naming names but whoever it was that was in charge of central casting had forgotten one vital component… they’d neglected to recruit someone to play Mary! 

Fortunately following a fair bit of cajolling from the congregation someone did eventually step up and with much aplomb took on this not insignificant part.

In the end, as always, Jesus was born, everyone congratulated each other on managing to blag their way through another production and following a hearty rendition of Oh Come all ye Faithful the costumes were packed away until next year. 

  

Season’s greetings from a very Christmassy Lunch Club

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Whoever it was that first coined the phrase “act your age not your shoe size” clearly didn’t have MBC’s Lunch Club in mind. Then again maybe they did, but if so, had they taken any notice of him or her today’s Christmas Lunch Club would have been a much more dowdy affair than it was.

With Christmas jumpers, hats and trees, reindeer ears and even flashing lights all adding to the already joyful mood, the balance of seasonal quizzes and carols rounded off with a wonderful lunch was absolutely top notch. 

It’s sometimes all too easy to forget just what a blessing Lunch Club is to many of our Seniors. As one said to me this morning “If it wasn’t for Rachel and the team, life would be a real struggle. Thank God that at least once a week I get to come here and meet up with my friends.

      

  

The holly and the ivy, not forgetting the baubles the bangles and the beads combine to make our wreath making workshop a huge success

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There are few events that can bring together two, three, or possibly even four generations quite like MBC’s annual wreath making workshop. But once again that’s precisely what happened here at Moortown last Sunday. 

Starting with exactly the same raw material (that’s with a round twelve inch mossy covered frame) and with exactly the same choice of decorations to choose from (fern, holly, dried fruit and red berries etc) the forty or so enthusiasts that joined us not only had the time of their lives but designed some really fantastic creations. 

To witness the expertise with which  our visitors handled their secuteres, and to marvel at their speed as they bound their growing designs with near invisible wire was truly amazing. 

Well done to you all, particularly to those of you that staged it. 

#community  

From carolling in a care home to our very own Rock Solid party MBC spreads some Christmas cheer

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For the residents of Grove Park Care Home in Meanwood a recent visit from a group of carol singers from MBC was we would hope the perfect way to prepare for Christmas.

Our choristers, young and old returned full of praise and enthusiasm, even reporting that they had been invited back to Grove Park next year. 

Later that same day it was also the time for our Rock Solid youngsters to party. Adam Argyle who is a member of the team, tells me that they played some good “old fashioned” games such as pass the parcel and word search, and there was of course the customary pizza. 

All in all you could say that this last Sunday, like the previous one, when during our community Christmas Cafe we hosted Kevin Sinfield and his team on the last leg of their 7 in 7 Together challenge MBC is now well and truly in the mood. 

Christmas hampers all set to go

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There’s an extra bonus awaiting MBC’s Lord’s Pantry regulars next week; hampers containing a selection of Christmas goodies, toys and toiletries. 

Made up by the team at last Monday’s Beacon Cafe, it’s our sincere hope that whilst they may not be all you wish for, these small tokens of our love show just how much we care.   

Shelley’s update for W/C December 14

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Dear friends

It’s been a week since we hosted our café church and community Christmas café.  Thanks to all those who came and supported, planned and prayed for the whole weekend. Here are a couple of thankyou’s…

“On behalf of the MND association, I wanted to send heartfelt thanks to everyone at the church for hosting us last Sunday. We were very grateful for the warm welcome and I know Kev and his team really appreciated all your efforts. It was a very special day ending what was no doubt a tough week for them all.

Thank you for showing up for our MND community! We would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Take great care”

Stacey Kirkpatrick, Relationship Fundraiser for Lancs, Manchester and S and W Yorkshire

“…a huge thank you for your involvement in Kevin Sinfield’s 7in7: Together Challenge, you literally went above and beyond for us and it was so gratefully received.  We are now around £1.3 million in fundraising taking our total to around £11.5-12 million raised across the 6 challenges so far!  You played a really important part in making the week very special for many people and we couldn’t have done it without your support, so thank you, we are greatly appreciative of your support and hospitality”

Tristan Batley-Kyle, Operations Director, Jane Tomlinson’s Run For All

On Tuesday, the Stepping Stones Christmas party took place and you can see some of what went on at the link here! Now it’s definitely looking a lot like Christmas. Santa visits Stepping Stones – Moortown Baptist Church

We hosted the PACT meeting on Wednesday too, Policing and Communities together.  Mainly focusing on what is going on in Moortown.  Anyone is welcome to come, and we’ll let you know when the new year dates are.

The week looks like this…

Sunday 14th December 11 o clock service with communion Advent 3: Joy with group for our younger friends to creatively explore the theme. 

Carol singing in a local home for the elderly after the service (please bring your lunch if you want to eat in between the service and carol singing to keep your energy up!) Speak to Rachel B or Claire for more information. 

Wreath Making workshop 3-5pm in the Sanctuary.  It’s £10 per wreath and everything is provided including natural and non-natural materials, Christmas refreshments, and music.  Younger children need to be accompanied by an adult.  Last couple of places left.  Booking is essential so if you would like to be there, let me know in the morning.  All welcome.

Rock Solid Christmas parties 7-8pm in the building with food provided.

Monday 15th December 10-12 Beacon warm welcome space and café in the building

(Making up the hampers after beacon café)

Tuesday 16th December afternoon bible study in church. See Howard or check with Lesley

Wednesday 17th December Lunch club Christmas lunch for those who attend and volunteers.  Speak to Lesley/Rachel for more information.

Thursday 18th December 2.00 -4.00pm Christmas Craft group with Christmas refreshments and warm welcome space in church building.  Come to some or all of it.  Speak to Karen, Lesley or myself for more information or if it’s something you might be able to join or support as we are looking for helpers.

Thursday 19th December Bible study at 7pm, see Gareth G, John C or ask Lesley.

Friday 20th December Bible Study at 10.00am – 11.15 in church.  See Shelley for more information.

Friday 20th December House Group 8.00pm – 10.00 with Jonathan and Hilary D and Steve and Helen O.  Do speak to them or ask Lesley or I for more information.

Sunday 21st December All Age nativity, Advent 4: Love 11-12 midday.  Feel free to dress as your favourite nativity character.  If you would be happy to have  a little part in this can you let me know please.

Monday 22nd December Christmas Beacon and warm welcome space with Christmas crafts for all ages and Christmas snacks from 10-12midday.  

A funeral will take place in the afternoon in the Sanctuary.

Wednesday 24th December at 4.30-5.15pm All Age Christingle Service

Thursday 25th December 10.30-11.30am All Age Christmas Day Service  (note the slightly earlier start!)  Bring a present to open or show!

Sunday 28th December 11-11.45 All age service

Pick up a ‘wonder’ card in church to keep and one to give out.  The card is also available online at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk Please come and support us as we open the doors to many who don’t usually come to the church building.  Do bring people along!

A thought for the day goes out along with the latest happenings around the church community, on our Facebook page each day and the website is updated with all the new stories of the week. 

Do pray for all the Christians alongside us who are sharing the story of Christmas with their neighbours and communities as part of the Shine your light weekend (12th -14th December although there are many things going on all across December).  Find out more here Shine Your Light – Shine Your Light

We know that relationships are important all year round so thankyou to you all for praying, reaching out and building relationships with those around you.  Let’s be creative and recognise and thank God for opportunities to bring God’s light into dark places.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor 4:6

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

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