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Shelley’s friendly update for w/c March 16th

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Dear friends

We are now nearly halfway through lent but there is always still time to dip into something new.  Here’s a reminder of some resources that are around…

40 ways to give in lent and a devotional for everyday…

40acts: Do Lent generously

40 things to do in lent for all ages outside

Exploring Lent with Younger Kids – 40 Nature Activities Printable.pdf – Google Drive

40 acts youth wallchart

Youth_Wallchart_A4_Black_and_White.pdf

Leeds lent prayer diary 2025..we have some free paper versions in church for you to pick up.

The lectio 365 prayer app (download on your phone) is doing a lent series now.  Do ask if you need a hand with the app.

Some of the church are gathering for a prayer whats app call at 9 o clock pm on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays for the world, the church, ourselves.  Do ask Mandy, Adam or Krys if you want details.

If you would like to try a group during lent then you’d be very welcome.  We learn from each other.

Tomorrow we continue in Luke 6:12-15.

This week..

Sunday 16th March 11am service with group for young ones and communion

Sunday 16th March The group who went through the ‘why pray course’ recently with Krys meet tomorrow after church to talk about ‘hearing from God’.  Feel free to bring your lunch.  Anyone welcome, in the music room for an hour or so. 

Sunday 16th March 7-8pm Rock Solid youth in church

Monday 17th March 10-12 midday Beacon warm welcome café. *DEFINATELY MONDAY, NOT TUESDAY AS IT SAYS IN MY EMAIL. 

Tuesday 18th March 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and parents and carers

Tuesday afternoon house group, see Howard Dews

Wednesday 19th March lunchclub, see Rachel B or send a message to Lesley in the office (this week contact me)

Wednesday 19th 7.30-9pm house group in church, see Ruth/Andy Berry, also one in Alwoodley, see Diane S

Thursday 20th March 2-4pm warm welcome space craft group in church, see Karen or Diane S

Thursday 7pm bible study with Gareth

Friday 21st March 10am Bible study in church, any questions, chat with myself

Friday 8pm house group, see Jonathan and Hilary or Steve or Helen

Sunday 23rd March 11am service with group for younger friends

The next church meeting is Tuesday 25th March 2025.  Agenda came out this week.  Do get in touch if you have any questions or AOB.

On Easter Sunday we’d love to baptise those who feel they want to be baptised or feel God is ‘nudging’ them about it.  Do get in touch with me if you want a quick chat.  Details of Easter week are being arranged.  We know that we’ll be meeting on Good Friday too in church and joining with local churches on Alwoodley village green in the afternoon of Good Friday.  The egg hunt will also return.  Thanks to those offering to put it together.  If you would like to contribute anything, then do get in touch.

Lesley and Rachel B are unavailable this week so do get in touch with me, a deacon or relevant group leader for immediate questions.  For anything non urgent feel free to contact Lesley on admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk as usual.

“..They pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him…” (Luke 5:11)

In Christ

Shelley

MBC’s Welcome Lunch, in a word… FAB

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Many thanks to Claire Taylor for passing on this picture of our Welcome Lunch. Her one word caption… “FAB” says it all. 

Thanks also to Mandy and her team for putting the whole thing on but particularly to all who attended. 

Krys and Bela report back on their recent visit to a girls refuge in Sri Lanka

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Krys Gadd and Bela Singh share their experiences, and in the galleries above and below some of their lovely pictures.  (To view these simply open up the gallery by clicking on any of the images) 

Bela and I went out in February for 10 days to a refuge run by the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy. The refuge is for girls who have suffered gender based violence and have fled there for safety. Krys has had connections with the charity since 2019 and this was her second visit.

Thanks to everyone in MBC (and many other people) for your financial support and encouragement. Bela and I funded ourselves to go to Sri Lanka and all the money raised last year and this has gone to help the girls, either with their day to day living costs or a number of projects that we have started.

Thanks for your prayers. It really made all the difference – no delays, illnesses, mishaps or even insect bites! Which for me is unheard of.

Your money and the donations of others helped not only with the running costs of the refuge but several projects. One weaving project was to make a bag from recycled fabric and another to make reusable nappies for the babies in the refuge. The sewing teacher knows how to make them and will teach the girls how to sew them.

The refuge is a happy place. It is clean and orderly but with very little of the extra stuff that we are used to. It really made me think about what is important in my life and what I spend my money on. One of the pictures in the gallery above is of Chandani, the refuge manager who is also a mother figure to all these lovely girls. She is standing in the television room. As you can see it has a television in it and some chairs.

There’s also a picture of where the girls sleep and to the right you can see some lockers in which they can keep any personal items.

Again, for me this was a sharp reminder that you do not need lots of stuff to feel safe and happy.

It was also so lovely to see some old faces as well as some new ones. The final picture in this gallery shows Bela and  I with our translators and the teachers. We had such a warm welcome which involved  very sweet tea and some sweet treats.

We had various projects in mind before we arrived. The first success was the bag made out of recycled fabric, woven on the rigid heddle looms Marcia and I sent out in 2020. 

Bela taught them how to weave in a different way. Firstly with fabric strips and then on finding some jute string, they tried the technique out on a table mat. I think it looks great and we hope to have the girls producing some of these soon.

Another success, the nappies. Here we have a picture of one of the babies modelling the latest one produced by one of the teachers.

The girls really took to crochet under Bela’s expert tuition. They were all really keen to model the bag they had collectively created

Some of you know about the tea towels. I spotted 15 of these and thought immediately: “These will sell” so I bought them for 300 rupees (under 1 pound) and asked people who would like to buy them for £4? I have orders for 61 and have some new ones coming soon.

We had fun too! Last year in the searing heat I was shattered after 4 days working  in the refuge plus another celebratory day. This year I built in a lot more rest time. In fact on one of the days we had off we went to see some elephants in a nearby sanctuary. Also the last couple of nights we stayed near to the airport, and this lovely shot, in fact the last in the gallery was the view just a few feet from my hotel room.

We left Sri Lanka feeling we had really achieved something. I saw the improvements in their use of colour, and the weaving from last year. The girls have stolen my heart; their stories are sad but they have the hope of a future in this refuge. When they leave, they have experienced love and safety. They have had a chance to finish their education and learn some new skills.

Thank you again for supporting them through your donations, items you have bought and most of all your prayers. If you want to find out how you can help by fundraising or if you are considering coming out then please get in touch with Krys.

Krystyna.gadd@icloud.com

Jane Coates – Thoughts and Prayers – From Obscurity to Queen

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From Obscurity to Queen.
 
As we read through the Book of Esther we detect and feel the hand of God working, even though His name is never mentioned in the text. God’s presence and involvement in the lives and characters of Mordecai and Esther, and in their roles leading to the rescue of the Jewish people, are clearly perceived. Esther, an orphan, had been adopted by Mordecai.  ‘Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.’ Esther 2 v 7 NLT Esther was Jewish, not Persian, and therefore had no rightful claims to be considered for what was to be her new role as the Queen of Persia. But the hand of God was with her. After the demise of Queen Vashti, and the decree to find a new queen for King Ahasuerus, Esther was selected to join the young women in the protected harem, as a potential candidate. This might not have been her first choice of career but a clear purpose and plan for her life was slowly working its way out. God was putting her in a position to save her nation.
 
One person can make a difference! We witness Esther’s courage and faith. We witness her willingness to act and to risk her own life. We see her patience in undergoing the twelve months of preparation under the guidance of Hegai, with the careful following of his advice before she is even presented to the king. Her patience, wisdom and integrity, together with her acceptance of advice from Hegai and Mordecai at every step, would lead to the salvation of the Jewish people from a marked destruction. Before Esther goes before the king to plead for her people, she asks Mordecai to arrange for a three day fast and prayer among her people and only then does she act.
 
Mordecai reminds her that her role and request are so significant, that she may have come to the palace “for such a time as this.”
 
“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4 v 14
 
Mordecai’s position at court also changed, becoming “ second in rank to King Ahasuerus, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” Esther 10 v 3
 
Mordecai had worked faithfully behind the scenes-watchful, patient, and without self-promotion and because of this selfless, outward care and concern, was promoted to high office.
 
The decree concerning the liberation of the Jews became known as “Esther’s Decree,” and the new festival of Purim was established. “These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.” Esther 9 v 28
 
In the account of Esther, we witness the overarching love and plan of God for His chosen people, for their survival, the preservation of their identity, and in addition, non-Jews turning to the Jewish faith because of all that they have witnessed.
 
Questions
Do I trust God’s plan for my life?
Do I feel inadequate because of my circumstances, my family, my education?
Can I follow advice?
Can I work behind the scenes, unnoticed?
Can I wait patiently?
Can I work for the care and concern of others?
 
Jane Coates
March 2025

With the focus on Lent, here’s Shelley’s weekly update…

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Dear friends

Lent began this week, the period of time 40 days before we celebrate Easter when many in the church choose to observe a renewed focus on God. Our lives get full of all sorts.  We carry a lot. Lent has been described as a time to turn away from some things, minimise, clear out so that we can reclaim space for Jesus and all He has for us.  Praying, fasting and giving to others all help, but it might also include other things that help us realign such as reading a verse a day, a walk a day, singing a song a day.  At the beginning of lent we think about the story of Jesus going into the wilderness; choosing to move away from the busyness and distractions to make space to hear God before he started his teaching, healings and journey to the cross.

Listed below are a few resources you may find helpful. 40 ways to give in lent and a devotional for everyday…

40acts: Do Lent generously

40 things to do in lent for all ages outside

Exploring Lent with Younger Kids – 40 Nature Activities Printable.pdf – Google Drive

40 acts youth wallchart

Youth_Wallchart_A4_Black_and_White.pdf

The lectio 365 prayer app (download on your phone) is doing a lent series now.  Do ask me or a Rachel B and we’ll get it sorted for you or point you to someone who can.

If you have something that is helpful do share it with others.

This week looks like this..

Sunday 9th March 11am service with group for young ones

Sunday 9th March Welcome lunch for those who feel ‘new’ and want to meet some other people, in church.

Sunday 9th March 7-8pm Rock Solid youth in church

Monday 10th March 10-12 midday Beacon warm welcome café

Tuesday 11th March 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and parents and carers

Tuesday afternoon house group, see Howard Dews

Wednesday 12th March lunchclub, see Rachel B or send a message to Lesley in the office

Wednesday 7.30-9pm house group in church, see Ruth/Andy Berry, also one in Alwoodley, see Diane S

Thursday 13th March 2-4pm warm welcome space craft group in church, see Karen or Diane S

Thursday 7pm bible study with Gareth

Friday 14th March 10am Bible study in church, any questions, chat with myself

Friday 8pm house group, see Jonathan and Hilary or Steve or Helen

Sunday 16th March 11am service with communion and group for younger friends

Just a heads up that the next church meeting is Tuesday 25th March 2025.  Agenda will be out by mid next week.  It will include budgets and current priorities.  Do pray and keep sharing if you have thoughts on how God is guiding us.

Last Sunday we were reminded of Jesus baptism.  On Easter Sunday we’d love to baptise those who feel they want to be baptised or feel God is ‘nudging’ them about it.  Do get in touch with me or send a message to Lesley to get hold of me if you want a quick chat.   

Last Sunday we connected with Gather25, the highlights are available here if you want to watch again or catch up here Watch the Gather25 Livestream

See you tomorrow

In Christ

Shelley

MBC’s Seniors celebrate World Book Day

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World Book Day was first introduced by UNESCO in 1995 as a plan to promote reading and books. 

Celebrated, other than in the UK on April 23, the date William Shakespeare was born and died, World Book Day has  now become a hardy annual among MBC’s Seniors.

However, to the avoid the possibility of ever clashing with either Easter or St George’s Day, this year, here at Moortown it was celebrated on Wednesday March 5th, just one day before the official UK date of March 6th. And once again a number of Lunch Club members plus Rachel Beedle, our Senior’s Worker turned themselves into book titles. 

They are (left to right) The Day it Rained in Colour, Little Red Riding Hood, Room on the Broom and the Pipe Piper of Hamelin. 

Jane Coates – Thoughts and Prayers – Banquets and Celebrations

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Banquets and Celebrations
Phil and I have made many trips to China and one of the Important Chinese customs is to welcome guests on the night of their arrival with a special banquet. This is a very important meal, often formal, where dignitaries, local officials, and staff are invited to attend. It is a time for the exchange of gifts and words of welcome. There is always too much food and during and after the meal, there are toasts with alcohol, words of praise and commendation, and for our Chinese friends, the opportunity to enjoy too much alcohol and merriment. These banquets are often followed by a late-night karaoke session with even more riotous humour, singing, and laughter. The welcome to guests, the gifts, the food, drinking, celebrations and fun, reminds me of the forthcoming celebration of Purim. Purim is the time for fun and feasting for Jewish families, with dressing up costumes, masquerades, the giving gifts, and offerings to the poor all added to the mix.
Purim is celebrated on the 14th of March, when our Jewish neighbours and friends, and Jewish people around the world will celebrate the festival. We learn about the origins of Purim in the Book of Esther, when victory against an enemy, Haman, with his plans to annihilate the Jewish race in the 127 provinces of King Artaxerxes, across what is now Persia, was won through the wisdom, cooperation, trust, fasting and prayer, of two people, Mordecai and Esther and the quiet but unseen presence of God. It tells of the victory of the Jews against a possible massacre.
The festival is one of the most loved and joyous of Jewish holidays, celebrations and perhaps the high point in their calendar. There is plenty of food, the drinking of alcohol, mainly wine, the giving of gifts of food to friends, family and neighbours, and gifts to the poor. Another popular custom is the dressing up in costumes on Purim, perhaps as a reminder that Esther and Mordecai concealed their Jewish heritage at the King’s court.
In the Book of Esther there are so many extravagant banquets! In the third year of his reign, Artaxerxes gave a banquet for all his nobles, officials, princes, and military leaders lasting 6 months. Then, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, for those from ‘the least to the greatest’ living in the capital, Susa. Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the palace women. When Esther was chosen to replace Queen Vashti, “the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet”, displaying his affluence. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with “royal liberality.” Esther gave 2 banquets, but only for the king and Haman alone, part of her plan to shame the wicked Haman and point to the truth about his plans. When Haman had finally been punished, Mordecai promoted to second in command, and the Jews no longer threatened, there were more celebrations.
“In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, Esther’s Decree, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.”
So, the feast of Purim is celebrated every year as “the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He (Mordecai) wrote to them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.” Esther 9 V 22 NIV
There is a time for celebrations, friends and family meals, anniversaries, weddings and banquets, laughter and games, and putting on the ‘glad rags.’
When the righteous see God in action they’ll laugh, they’ll sing, they’ll laugh and sing for joy. Sing hymns to God; all heaven, sing out; clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider. Enjoy God, cheer when you see him! Psalm 68 v 3 The Message
PRAY
Give me joy in my heart keep me praising.

Gather25 – a worldwide gathering of Christians which through the marvels of the internet MBC could play a part

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There is no emailed update from Shelley this week, mainly because over the last seven days she’s hardly had a minute to sit down and draw breath.

However, instead, what we do have for you is a report and pictures of a truly worldwide event in which we here at Moortown played a part. 

Gather25 which began yesterday (Friday) was an unprecedented 25-hour global broadcast event telling the inspiring stories of the global Church, by the global Church.

Both online and face to face it brought together Jesus followers in churches, campuses, arenas, and living rooms from every continent and denomination across every time zone to worship, praise and pray.

At Moortown we joined the live feed at 1pm on Saturday to listen and watch a rally which was staged in Cluj – the Romanian city with which we have strong links. You can see pictures of this in the gallery below. 

An hour later it was quite literally our time to step up, which for us meant disconnecting from the internet and turning to a time of music, song and prayer. This, for the two dozen people present was a very special time, with a real sense of the Holy Spirit moving among us. 

The last hour which Shelley focused on worship and prayer through movement – both with and without flags.

With one of our sanctuary walls serving as a giant prayer board, and easels and paints feeding the needs of our more arty types, in all, Gather25 was a wonderful experience, particularly so knowing that our church was singing, praying, and even flag waving with fellow Christians right across the globe.  

Again you can see some pictures from the second and third hour Gather25 in the gallery above.  

Jane Coates – Thoughts and Prayers. Memories.

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Memory… is the diary that we all carry about with us. Oscar Wilde
 
We all have a memory bank of stored away images, experiences, joys, sadness, special people, friends, places, and it is important to keep these memories alive. They are an essential part of who we are and our story telling. If we can recapture significant moments, then we can keep those important memories alive. With our fondest, treasured memories, we are not just remembering and sharing old times. These memories come with depth and meaning. We have a million and more recollections and emotions stored away that are like the chapters of books, that go on and on. We have our photo books and albums of photographs that help to keep memories alive and fresh. We must safeguard our memories.
 
It is important that our children and grandchildren build up a good store of memories which will remain with them.
 
“” Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. Charles R Swindoll
 
These memories are significant and will build into a whole library of books that can be taken out and read once again. It is a library store of happy times, experiences, challenges, successes, holidays, family times, birthdays, friends, songs, laughter, sporting prowess, music and school milestones. Even the sad times, the failures, the losses, the tragedies, the problems, are carefully shared and deposited in their Library. We add tangible objects to their memory boxes -holiday novelties, special T shirts, medals, certificates, badges and a hundred and one small items that may seem ridiculous at the time but will carry so much meaning in the years ahead. The box becomes a rich collection of memories that will remain with them into the years ahead.

You have done many things for us, O Lord our God; there is no one like you! You have made many wonderful plans for us. I could never speak of them all— their number is so great! Psalm 40 v5 GNT
 
When we trust in, and live in Christ, there is a whole new dimension of love and care that we see that He has planned for us. They are plans to give hope and a future. Each of our days and weeks are set before us with their challenges, steps to growth and maturity, stories, friendships, ‘mountain top experiences,’ and fresh insights. These experiences are personal and unique to us. We cannot donate them to our children. They must add them to their own library of experiences. They cannot be second-hand. But we can introduce our children and others to this new section of the library.
 
PRAY
Lord, help us to keep adding to our rich memory store of precious memories, for ourselves, our children, our families and those that we care about.
 
Jane Coates 
1 March 2025

Saturday March 8th, FAIRTRADE CAFE is revived and you’re all invited

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A message from Roger Robson.

Some MBC folk may remember the Fairtrade Café run by the Beehive in past years. Well, this year the idea is being revived by Churches Together in Chapel Allerton and Meanwood on Saturday 8th March in the Chapel Allerton Methodist Centre from 10am to 1pm.

There will be refreshments, Fairtrade stalls and good company. All are welcome to support Fairtrade and Green Christian organisations seeking to help tackle climate change and help those in vulnerable countries that are most affected.

Please come along.

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