Dear friends
Last week in the church building we talked about ‘the word being a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (Psalm 119: 105). I am not sure what that has looked like for you this week but you may want to take a moment if you haven’t so far to ponder what this light has meant for you, your relationships and your prayer and interactions with the world around. Jesus came as the light of the world and gave us the same name as himself,
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
I pray this week that in all we do, we may embrace the calling God has for us and look out with love in words, thoughts and action and the generous grace that has been so lavished on us, guided by His light in all we do.
‘How do you do it?’ said night
‘How do you wake up and shine?’
‘I keep it simple,’ said light
‘One day at a time.’
(Lemm Sissay)
Sunday 1st November 11am Café Church Psalms part 6: worship in the psalms Psalm 100 and 150
Sunday 1st November Rock Solid Youth Group 7-8pm in the church building. Positive pumpkin party night!
Monday 2nd November Beacon café and warm welcome space 10-12 midday with food pantry.
Monday 2nd November 12.30-1.30pm Those interested in being part of the Alpha team bring lunch and get together to plan/pray/meet each other. The plan will be to start the course on Monday 18th January.
Tuesday 3rd October Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers. 10.00 – 11.30am. All welcome.
Tuesday 3rd November Bible study in the music room12.30 -2.30pm Please check with Howard, Lesley or Shelley if you want more information.
Wednesday 4th November Lunch Club 10.00 – 1.30. Talk to Rachel B, Lesley, Shelley for more information, if you want to join or help.
Wednesday 4th November Bible study in the music room takes a break this week. Talk to Andy, Ruth or Shelley.
Wednesday 4th November Psalms art group takes place at 7pm in the sports hall on November 4th. See Krys or Cas for more information. If you are planning on coming do let them know so they can set up resources for you. You don’t need to bring anything or need previous experience, just come and have a go! Help is given.
Wednesday 4th November House group in the corner room at 7.30pm. See Diane S.
Thursday 5th November Craft Group and warm welcome space 2.00 – 4.00pm ask for more information if you have questions or see Karen.
Thursday 5th November Bible Study in the music room 7.00 – 9.00pm Talk to Gareth, John C, Lesley or Shelley
Friday 6th November Bible study in music room 10.00 – 11.30am Talk to Shelley for more information
Friday 6th November Friday night house group in Adel. See Jonathan, Hilary, Steve or Helen, or ask Shelley or Lesley for more information.
Friday 6th November Parkinson’s Exercise Class in the sports hall 6.30 – 7.30pm. See Phil or ask Lesley or Shelley.
Sunday 8th November Remembrance Sunday Psalms part 7: Remembering in the psalms. Psalm 46:1-6 and Psalm 77:1-12. We’ll be starting at 10.45 this week so that we can observe the 11 o’ clock silence with the rest of the country.
Get to know you lunch on 8th November after the service. If you feel new to MBC, want to meet more people or know someone who does then do let Mandy, Claire or Shelley know and you’d be very welcome to come to lunch in the church building after the service.
Church meeting is November 10th at 7.30pm. Look forward to seeing you there! We’ll be sharing about the recent deacons away day and what we discern God doing at Moortown over the last year and looking to the near future. There will be building and mission updates, ways in which you can join in over Christmas and section on a possible paid worker role at Moortown. Rather than keeping everything to the church meeting, we know we have many sub groups at Moortown across all the ministries where teams are regularly meeting to pray and plan next steps. If there is something you sense you are called to or want to try then do let me, a deacon or a group leader know and we can work out some next steps. . Papers, agenda and zoom link were sent out last Tuesday. Last opportunity for AOB is Sunday 8th November.
Love Leeds On 15th October we welcomed local community groups, residents, police, councillors and those working in Moortown for the first Love Leeds gathering for the city. If you want to find out more about Love Leeds then follow this link Love Leeds | Leeds.gov.uk The project is instigated by Leeds City Council and wants to bring together people in the different wards to make positive change and identify the good things already happening. Ideas were shared over food and on Thursday 12th November 5.30pm – 7.30pm with food, there will be a follow up meeting making a shared plan about what we are going to do based on ideas shared last time. It was a great opportunity to meet our neighbours and be hospitable. This opportunity has come from ongoing relationships that we are developing with others. All welcome. If you can’t make it, please pray that it will be a peaceful and fruitful evening. There will be more opportunity to talk about this at the church meeting.
The next men’s breakfast is Saturday 21st November in the church building…more information to come.
Terefe will be visiting Calais and Dunkirk from 22nd to 28th November with Brother Natnael Alemayehu. He will be supporting people living in difficult conditions who lack adequate clothing, food and drink. Terefe says “As God opens doors, we also hope to share the light of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ.” Terefe asks for your prayers as the trip draws near. He would also welcome donations of clothing and financial contributions to help provide practical assistance to those in need. Financial gifts will go towards purchasing food from local supermarkets and covering car hire, fuel, ferry fares and other essential expenses associated with the trip. If you want to know more, please get in touch with myself or Phil Coates or Terefe. We are currently exploring with Terefe how he may be able to work in partnership with some organisations linked to Baptist Missionary Society. Please pray for these discussions that God will open the right doors.
If you are interested in baptism, membership, joining a group or anything else then do get in touch with myself, Lesley, a deacon, a leader of a group or someone you feel comfortable asking and we can chat or point you in the right direction.
Christmas! Save the date… 5th December.. Community Christmas get together in the afternoon! We’ll be wreath making on the afternoon of the 14th December and there will be carol singing at a local care home the afternoon of the 21st December after the nativity in the morning. All age Christingle at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve and a Christmas Day service at 10.30 on Christmas Day. More to come but do put these dates in your diary and start sharing and thinking who you can invite. Do pray for whats coming up..
A new walking group has begun on Tuesday lunchtimes at the MAZC centre next door to the church and I have been asked to let you all know in case you want to go along. If you are interested, let me know and I will pass on the details. Information is also on the community board in the corridor by Lesley’s office.
It has been great to welcome Pastor Elod and his wife Kinga this week on their first visit to England. Thanks to those who provided hospitality and spend time with them. I had a lovely morning with them in Harrogate on Friday and the café even found a Hungarian speaking waiter for us! Please see A warm welcome for the Pastor of our sister church in Transalvania – Moortown Baptist Church More to follow on this!
Finally, a big thank you to Krys and the team today for the wonderful craft fair and refreshments today. I know there were many of you supporting this event, people on the doors, on stalls, providing much needed refreshment and of course your presence and donations to the Sri Lanka women’s refuge project. Krys will bring an update in tomorrow’s service. Many of those who came, including the stall holders who had not been to the building before commented on the peaceful surroundings and the welcome. Please see the website for more information MBC’s Sri Lanka Craft Fair goes with a swing – Moortown Baptist Church and other news.
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church