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