Dear Friends
First of all, a big thank you for your discernment, prayers, time, preparation and words on Tuesday evening and throughout the week. Members at the church meeting on Tuesday voted on a proposal to recognise me as the Church Lead. It’s been a privilege, a joy and a challenge to play a part at ‘such a time as this’ as part of the community and I know that God will guide and lead us as we move forward step by step. There will be questions as we go on so keep talking, sharing, dropping your thoughts in person, on emails, WhatsApp and most of all tuning into the voice of the Holy Spirit, our helper, guide and inspiration. For some, the next few weeks bring a shift in pace, location, activity and I pray that its a time that God will speak to us all about His wonderful and life transforming love for each of us and the ones who don’t yet know that yet and how we can make this known.
A big thankyou goes to Paddy for his servant heart, wise words and sound commitment as a friend, church member and in his leadership role on both the interim leadership team and the leadership team over the years. Paddy told those at the meeting on Tuesday that he leaving MBC to join his family in a different church community, that this has been a very difficult decision to make but He feels its the right thing at this time. Do pray for him over the next few weeks. His last official service with us is the 31st August although he’s welcome anytime and thankfully we are all part of the body of Christ, wherever we are.
It was great to be encouraged and challenged by Claire Taylor last week through her words on ‘The gate’ from John 10:9, the sung worship through Jonathan and band, other leading from Nathan and the children with Jane Coates. Roger Robson shared the work of BMS in Chad and there will be an opportunity to hear from Andrea and Mark on the 25th July at Beacon Cafe.
Tomorrow we break from our ‘I am’s’ and look at a psalm together. We welcome more sung worship, kids activities, communion and a talk from Michael Jackson, visiting speaker (not the singer, although he may be a great singer!) Please pray for him as he prepares a message that he feels God has given him for us tomorrow. If anyone is available to help with clearing up from communion tomorrow we’d love to hear from you! Also if you feel you would like to give out communion tomorrow do grab me or send me a text.
As usual we will be online at 11am on the Moortown Baptist Youtube Channel.
Next week we continue with ‘I am the resurrection and the Life’, something indeed to celebrate.
Finally Karen Ross and I went to the official opening of the new Jewish Housing behind the church on Friday. It was great to meet many of the community on our doorstep and we look forward to new opportunities and pray for the residents (some of whom are already part of our congregation) over the next few months.
In Christ
Shelley
Leadership team and staff