In their latest newsletter, and as they prepare to return to Bardai our BMS Mission Partners Andrea and Mark Hotchkin ask for our prayers in some quite specific areas.
Month: June 2026
Who, what, where and when? A guide to all that’s happening here at MBC in 2026
www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk
It would be nigh on impossible to list everything that goes on here at MBC in just one post as very often we host special one offs – such as Plant Sales, Craft Fairs, Cream Teas and the like. Here, however, are what you might call the basics i.e. the things that take place either on a regular or a semi permanant basis.
Lasting for just over an hour our Sunday Service starts in church and on YouTube at 11am. The first Sunday of each month is Café Church and on the third Sunday we celebrate Communion.
An important part of our worship is Sunday School which sees a small group of young children learning all about Jesus and the love of God.
Rounding off Sunday we have Rock Solid. Meeting between 7 & 8pm and majoring around having fun. Youth Club style Rock Solid regularly sets our teenagers some serious and not so serious challenges and tasks.
Monday… Our free Warm Space Beacon Café, 10am to 12noon which runs in conjunction with The Lord’s Pantry, a project that within limits distributes free food and toiletries etc. to people in need.
Tuesday… Stepping Stones, a toddler group 10 to 11.30am. Term time only.
Tuesday… The first of our Housegroups, only this one is in church between 12noon and 2pm.
Wednesday… 10.30am – 2pm. Lunch Club, games, quizzes and always a hearty lunch for our seniors.
Wednesday… 7.30 to 9.30pm. A hybrid Housegroup with half the group meeting in our Music Room and others online.
Wednesday… 7.30pm – 9.30ish. Ladies Housegroup. This group meets in our Corner Room at Church from 7.30pm till 9.30ish.
Wednesday… 7.30 to 9pm. Country Dancing.
Thursday… 2pm to 4. Open Door Craft Group. Our second Warm Space of the week. No experience needed, Free refreshments and always lots of chat.
Thursday… 7pm to 9pm. Bible Study and prayer in our Music Room.
Friday… 10am to 11am. A second Bible Study, again in church.
Friday… And finally, between 8pm – 10pm, another Housegroup, again in someone’s home.
On top of all this we also have a Pastoral Team which offers confidential support to anyone who needs it. A Parkinson’s Exercise Class. An excellent worship band that plays regularaly in our Sunday services. Two Extend Exercise Classes (ideal for our older friends). Pilates. Pathways a Christian Counselling Service. Huge input into the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store. Masses of home and overseas Mission work. PACT (Neighbourhood Policing Teams) and local councillor surgeries.
And of course at certain times of the year we also host some special services such as Baptisms, Easter, Harvest and Christmas.
For more information about any of these please email Moortown Baptist Church on admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk
Moortown Baptist Church. 204 King Lane, Leeds LS17 7AA
Shelley’s news, 4th July
Dear friends
Here’s what’s coming up..
Sunday 5th July 11am Café Church Service all together exploring our theme of being alive in the spirit and what this means. All ages come and worship and explore together. With drinks, breakfast pastries and fruit for all. This week is ‘Living hope’.
Sunday 5th July Church meeting at 12.45, finished by 2pm. Updates, prayer, worship for the life of the church in Moortown and its mission. Please bring snacks/packed lunch if you need some food to keep you going. Zoom link will be available in a separate email. All welcome.
In the evening Rock Solid youth groups meet in the church building. All youth welcome! Talk to Martyn, Ruth, Val, Nathan 7-8pm
Monday 6th July 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all. Food pantry available
Tuesday 7th July 10.00 – 11.30am Stepping Stones for under-fives and their parents and carers.
Tuesday 7th July House Group 1.00 – 2.30pm in church. See Howard D or Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 8th July Lunch Club for those booked on and the volunteer team. Talk to Rachel B for more information.
Wednesday 8th July House Group in the Music Room at 7.30pm. Speak to Andy or Ruth or Shelley/Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 8th July Pact (Police and Communities together) meeting for Moortown area takes place 6.30-7.30 on Wednesday 8th July in church. Do come along if you live locally or if you want to hear about the policing concerns of local communities.
Thursday 9th July Craft group warm welcome space 2.00 – 4.00pm All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill – speak to Karen for more information. This week we made it a cool space but with a warm welcome!
Thursday 10th July Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley
Friday 11th July Bible Study in the Music room – 10.00 – 11.00am speak to Shelley for more information.
Friday 11th July Parkinson’s Exercise Class in the church building 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information
Sunday 12th July at 11am ‘Living Way’ Service with small group for children following the theme.
Sunday 19th July at 11am ‘Living Bread’ a service with communion for all.
Coming up at Moortown and what has been happening..
Please be aware that Lesley is not in the office until Monday 14th July.
Please have a look at our website page www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk for latest stories including news on our BMS mission partners in Chad, more information from Expect26 and news about how God is working through our friends in Romania. We also post on facebook. Facebook is a place we can post quickly about local activities we see but also about worldwide opportunities including prayer for the world.
Cream Tea fundraiser in aid of Romania on Sunday 12th July in church from 3.00pm – 5.00pm and everyone is welcome. There will be cream/jam scones and tea/coffee or juice. If anyone would like to help Karen in the kitchen then please let her know – you would need to be at church from 2.00pm to set things up and get the scones ready. Thanks.
On the same day, the youth are having an art evening so will be starting slightly earlier at 6.45, finishing at the usual time. Led in the same way as the create your own psalm group with loads of materials and time to express yourself. There’s loads of hints and tips if you don’t feel ‘arty’, just come and explore. It’s a great opportunity to bring a friend too so please let the leaders know if you are bringing friends so we have enough materials for you all. If you are a young person and don’t usually go to youth group but would like to go, just let one of the leaders know. You’d be really welcome.
As a church, we’ll be featuring in the Yorkshire Baptist Association prayer diary the week of the 12th July. Have a look here Prayer & Spiritual Reflections — Yorkshire Baptist Association We have sent some prayer points and thanksgiving prayers. There are many more things we could say but we had to give just a couple. The prayer points will be on the YBA website that week.
Join Blossom for their Self-Defence Free Taster Session for women at Moortown Baptist Church on 27th August from 1:30pm-4:30pm This friendly, session focuses on building confidence, awareness, communication skills, and simple self-defence techniques that anyone can learn. No experience required. Whether you’re looking to feel more confident in everyday situations or simply want to try something new, Blossom would love to welcome you. Book your place today at https://blossom-uk.co.uk/courses/ola/services/self-defence-taster-session-moortown-leeds-27th-aug-11
Building work…
We have been monitoring the state of the building and when necessary, making improvements and repairs. It’s great that we have people to help and give of their skills and time so freely and we thank God for them, people who often work behind the scenes. Sometimes we need to bring in people to pay to do the work. Over the last year it has become clear that at some point some work needs to be done to parts of the roof as well some work to the right of the building by the music room. A fuller update will be given at the church meeting on Sunday but we wanted to let you know that some of this work will begin again and continue over the next few weeks. You may see cones by the music room wall outside by the path, encouraging people to not get too close to the wall whilst work is taking place. All work is risk assessed and should be planned. Groups that could be affected will be given notice if they need to change rooms. We are not anticipating anything to be cancelled or postponed.
Coming up locally..
A free Summer Band Concert at Wigton Moor Primary School, Barfield Crescent LS17 8RU on Sunday 26th July from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Organised by Harewood Parish Council.
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
Shelley’s news for 27th June
Dear friends
When Jesus said, ‘I am the gate’ for the sheep, he explained this would be a gate of freedom and life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Since we celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the person of God who would be with us all the time, we have been starting to explore what this life is like. We started looking at Living stones. Objects like stones are not known for being alive but Peter, a friend of Jesus, uses the picture of stones to represent people who are being built together into something special. Over the next few weeks we’ll continue this theme and look at other objects and ideas in the bible that were described as living because of the power of God’s Spirit working through them and what this means to us and our world.
This week we look at Living water, something we probably all appreciate more after this warm weather week!
Here’s what’s coming up..
Sunday 28th June 11am Service together with a group for our younger friends to explore the theme creatively together. Come and explore ‘Living water’ John 7 and more.
After the service, kids group leaders and Shelley meet to pray. Please do pray for them and their ministry.
Sunday 28th June 7-8pm Rock Solid Youth groups meet in the building.
Monday 29th June 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all. Food pantry available – Linking Leeds available for any advice on health, housing, support..
Tuesday 30th June 10.00 – 11.30am Stepping Stones for under-fives and their parents and carers.
Tuesday 30th June House Group 1.00 – 2.30pm in church. See Howard D or Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 1st July Lunch Club for those booked on and the volunteer team. Talk to Rachel B for more information.
Wednesday 1st July House Group in the Music Room at 7.30pm – Speak to Andy or Ruth or Shelley/Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 1st July Create your own psalm art group meet in the sports hall. All welcome even if you haven’t been before. 7-9pm Contact Krys, Cas, Lesley or Shelley for more information.
Thursday 2nd July Craft group warm welcome space 2.00 – 4.00pm. All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill – speak to Karen for more information. This last week we made it a cool space but with a warm welcome!
Thursday 2nd July Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley
Friday 3rd July Bible Study in the Music room – 10.00 – 11.00am speak to Shelley for more information.
Friday 3rd July Parkinson’s Exercise Class in the church building 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information
Sunday 5th July 11am Café Church Service all together exploring our theme of being alive in the spirit and what this means. All ages come and worship and explore together. With drinks, breakfast pastries and fruit for all.
Sunday 5th July Church meeting at 12.45 until 2pm. Updates, prayer, worship for the life of the church in Moortown and its mission. Please bring snacks/packed lunch if you need some food to keep you going. Zoom link will be available. All welcome. Agenda went out to members last week. If you want to see it then do get in touch with Lesley and she will sort you one out. Please be aware that Lesley works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
In the evening Rock Solid youth groups meet in church building. All youth welcome! Talk to Martyn, Ruth, Val, Nathan 7-8pm
Coming up at Moortown and what has been happening..
Please have a look at our website page www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk for latest stories including initial information about Shelley and Phil’s time at Expect26 with Baptist Missionary Society, the gardening day and ongoing plans, local community Summer fayre’s and upcoming events such as the MBC cream tea. We also post on facebook. Facebook is a place we can not post quickly about local activities we see but also about worldwide opportunities such as the new prayer requests for Venezuela, appeals, and prayer points from people in the middle of conflicts.
Here are a couple of things to let you know about…
Cream Tea fundraiser in aid of Romania on Sunday 12th July in church from 3.00pm – 5.00pm and everyone is welcome. There will be cream/jam scones and tea/coffee or juice. If anyone would like to help Karen in the kitchen then please let her know – you would need to be at church from 2.00pm to set things up and get the scones ready. Thanks.
On the same day, the youth are having an art evening so will be starting slightly earlier at 6.45, finishing at the usual time. Led in the same way as the create your own psalm group with loads of materials and time to express yourself. There’s loads of hints and tips if you don’t feel ‘arty’, just come and explore. It’s a great opportunity to bring a friend too so please let the leaders know if you are bringing friends so we have enough materials for you all.
In the last week we have had a new fridge arrive and a new cooker arrive in the kitchen! It’s been a long process of trying to find the right cooker for all our groups, as well as finding people to fit the appliances so that they comply with regulations for communal use and to take the old appliances away. Thanks to those who stepped up to do this including Jill D, John D and Rachel B.
As a church, we’ll be featuring in the Yorkshire Baptist Association prayer diary the week of the 12th July. Have a look here Prayer & Spiritual Reflections — Yorkshire Baptist Association We will be submitting three points of thanksgiving and three prayer points for others in the association to pray about on that week. If you have anything you think we should include (no personal names) then do let a deacon or Lesley know. Lets keep praying and sharing about what God is showing us in this community.
Thanks to those offering to help with Alpha, I haven’t forgotten.. we’ll chat together over the next few weeks. The plan is to start in September but we want to see your thoughts too as well as explaining where this specific idea has come from.
Coming up locally..
A free Summer Band Concert at Wigton Moor Primary School, Barfield Crescent LS17 8RU on Sunday 26th July from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Organised by Harewood Parish Council.
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
Shelley and Phil report from the BMS Expect 26 conference in Hertfordshire
Phil Coates and I are at one of the Expect26 conferences today put on by BMS. We were invited to come. We are at High Leigh conference centre in Hertfordshire.
The day is an event held every four years where Partners, BMS staff, Council Members, and Trustees come together to discern God’s will for the direction together in Mission for BMS. BMS have asked for prayer “in how we can continue on our transformation journey, particularly in how we engage with organisations and networks globally.”
The day has included sessions on – new ways to partner with churches both here and abroad – stories of hope globally – discipleship and mission for the whole church
– sharing resources for transformation in local communities.
Above you will see two image galleries. The first shows pictures taken during the conference itself with MBC’s Mission Partners Andrea and Mark Hotchkin featured in the centre. The other is a copy of the Hope For the World material which was used during the day.
Thousands flock to celebrate a mass beach baptism
Last Sunday, as we basked in the sun on Alwoodley Village Green more than 250 miles away, in Dorset, over 1,000 people came together to celebrate a mass baptism service.
The venue was Bournemouth beach and the event which was hosted by BCP Church Collective – a group of 14 churches from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole – saw 43 people baptised not in a conventional baptistry like ours but in the sea.
Last Sunday, however, was only the first of two special services; the second is this Sunday (the 28th of June) when organisers confidently expect last year’s total of 92 baptisms watched by well over 1,300 people will be exceeded.
Summing up the event, one the organisers, Tim Matthews who is the senior leader at Lovechurch in Gervis Road, Bournemouth said: “In a time of such uncertainty, with so much bad news around, the beach baptisms are a sign of great hope for everyone.”
Many thanks to Jean Carlise who spotted this post on social media and passed it through to me, and also to BCP Church Collective for allowing us to use their pictures.
New fridge and cooker for MBC kitchen
They may have been a long time coming but I’m glad to report that MBC’s kitchen now has a new fridge and a new cooker.
Used by many of our groups, from Stepping Stones right through to Lunch Club, these new arrivals will ensure that when it comes to keeping up with health, safety and food hygene requirements we’ll continue to excel.
Not just one but two Create your own Psalm Groups
Following on from the success of our previous Create your own Psalm sessions, ad-hoc groups of arty and not so arty enthusiasts, we’ve arranged two more.
The first is this coming Wednesday between 7 and 9pm, that’s July 1st here at church, which if it’s anything like previous sessions will produce a host of wonderful, thoughtful and individualistic creations. And the second – on Sunday July 12th and starting at 6.45pm is a particularay exciting venture because it’s being organised and led by our young people.
As with the Wednesday session, this one isn’t looking to discover the next Rembrandt, Hockney or Banksy. On the contrary all it’s designed to do is to simply provide time, space and more materials than you can shake a stick at in order to challenge and maybe develop your thinking in a relaxed easy going way.
If you’re interested in coming along to either or indeed to both just turn up on the day. You never know you may just discover you have a hidden talent.
Spades, forks, hoes and even the odd bacon sandwhich – everything you need to knock a garden into shape
What more civilised way to spend a lovely summer’s day than to sit and relax in a colourful church yard, enjoy a coffee and savour a delicious bacon sandwhich.
And that’s precisely what the dozen or so volunteers who turned up today (Saturday) did.
The only thing I forgot to mention, though, was that for a good two hours before it was time for their releaxing break they had been stripping back hedges, digging out tree stumps, painting benches and doing some much needed weeding in MBC’s garden.
Many thanks to all who turned up, your efforts are very much appreciated.
Same day but a different image. Another chance to see how in the late 1960s MBC’s young people spent their Bank Holiday Mondays
Looking back through some (very) old pictures I came across this one. Judging by the way our young people are dressed I must have taken it the same day as the other one we posted a few weeks ago.
Again featuring a couple of MBC stalwarts, Rod and Roger, on this one we also find Vince Smith, Jean Russell, Roger’s brother Richard and again Madeline Stobbs.
If any of you have any old pictures that show someone who did or for that matter still does attend Moortown we’d love to see them, and if it’s OK with all concerned post them on here.
If so either pass them on to John Sherbourne or email them to him at mbcnewspics@gmail.com