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A big “Thank You” from North Leeds Foodbank

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Shelley Dring, our Minister writes ” I’d just like to share with you a message of thanks we have received from Simon at North West Leeds Foodbank.  In it he mentions “gleaning” which is something we too have been focusing on in our Harvest Festival.

Over the last few weeks we have been reminded that Ruth was a “gleaner” – a gleaner in Boaz’s field. The reason that she was able to glean was because Boaz was intentional about leaving a margin around his fields; his workers would not keep every scrap they picked but would allow others to glean from what was left… a perfect example of God being intentional and not wanting us to keep more than we need.

Simon wrote:

Dear Shelley I’m writing to Thank You and the congregation for your generous harvest donation of food and toiletries to our foodbank . Trusell fooddbanks rely almost entirely on donations (of food or money) to meet the increasing needs of people in our area in these challenging times.

Your donation of 54KG will provide about 128 individual meals.

Bishop Nick Baines, in a recent “Thought for the Day” talked of the Biblical principles of tithing and “gleaning” (Leviticus 19:9-10).

That is, not keeping everything God has given to us ourselves, but building community by allowing the people who have least to collect what they need from  what others have to spare. 

That’s what were doing by offering a warm welcome and practical support, as well as food, to all who come to our centres.

Thank You again! 

Remembrance Sunday – in order to observe a two minute silence our morning service will start at 10.50am

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This coming Sunday, that’s November the 10th, our morning service will begin at 10.50am. 

Being Remembrance Sunday, this slightly earlier start will give us an opportunity to gather ourselves before observing a two minute silence, in which we will pay our respects to all the men and women who throughout the years have fallen in combat. 

If you can please join us for this act of remembrance which will take place at precisely 11am. 

Jane Coates. Thoughts and prayers. Safe and Sound

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         Safe and Sound
 
The idiom ‘safe and sound’ is a wonderful phrase that conjures up other words such as secure, home, free from anxiety, safety, settled and established. I love going away on holiday, but I am a ‘home bird’ now and at the end of a break I am ready to come home. When our own teenager with the group of Scouts returned from ten days of camping, trekking, and glacier walking in the Alps, we were thankful to have him home ‘safe and sound’ at the end of the expedition.
 
In the very familiar story of the prodigal son, we read that when the younger son was alone, without means of support, hungry, with no one to give him either help or food, he came to his senses and then he came home to his father. The phrase ‘safe and sound’ stands out in the story. One of the servants explains to the elder brother, the reason for the music, dancing and celebration. “Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.” Luke 15 v 27 The father also explains his reasons for the feasting, the best cloak, the ring and the shoes gifted to his son. “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’ Luke 15 v 33
 
We do not know how long the prodigal had been away from the family home, but the impression would be for an extremely long time-certainly months or even years. Without news of the son, the father in his worst moments, may have assumed that his son could have died in some far country. But he was now ‘safe and sound’, secure in the family and the home.
 
I often think of the story title more as ‘the waiting, loving father.’ The father who is constantly on the lookout for a returning son, his eyes monitoring that road home. The father who never gave up hope and who longed to wrap his arms around his youngest child. The father who ran towards his returning son to welcome him back-home before anyone else, such as the town elders could turn him away.
 
Our Heavenly Father is constantly on the lookout for us to come home to Him, -to be safe, sound, and secure in Him. He welcomes us back no matter what kind of condition we are in. He wants us to be free from all fear, and anxiety, and simply to come near to His heart of compassion.
 
As Moses, the ‘man of God’, was about to die, he gave each of the tribes of Israel a special blessing. His blessing to the tribe of Bejamin is particularly poignant. Let us claim this blessing for ourselves. Know that you are beloved of God, surrounded with His loving care and preserved from harm. You are safe in the father’s embrace.
 
Concerning the tribe of Benjamin, Moses said:
“He is beloved of God
And lives in safety beside him.
God surrounds him with his loving care,
And preserves him from every harm.”
Deuteronomy 33 v 12 TLB
 
Jane Coates, November 4th 2024

Shelley’s news for week commencing Sunday 3rd of November

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Dear friends

We look forward to seeing you at café church tomorrow to worship together, catch up, have breakfasts pastries and drinks, pray and hear more from the book of Ruth as we move onto Ruth 4:1-12. Its an all age service so there are things designed for all ages and experiences including a planting activity linked to the themes.  We start at 11am in the building and online.

Through the week are activities are as usual..

Monday – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents/carers 10-11.30am

Tuesday afternoon – house group in church, see Rod/Howard

Wednesday – lunch club for all those booked in and the volunteers, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday evening – house group in church, see Andy/Ruth Berry.  There’s also a house group of women led by Diane Sunter on Wednesday evenings.

Thursday – warm welcome craft group 2-4pm in church

Thursday – bible study at 7pm in church, see Gareth Gadd

Friday  – bible study at 10am in church, see Shelley or send a message to Lesley for more information

Friday evening at 8pm – house group, see Jonathan/Hilary Darling

Do call or send a message to Lesley or ask Shelley for more information on groups through the week.  Lesley is in the office Monday and Tuesday 9-4pm and Wednesday until 1pm.

Next Sunday we have a service in church and online with an opportunity to think about remembrance.  This service will start ten minutes earlier at 10.50 so that we can observe the 2-minute silence.  There will be a group for our younger friends.

The next Wednesday worship is 13th November at 1.30pm in church.

On Saturday 16th November there will be a special art exhibition in church with opportunity to buy box canvases, framed paintings and hundreds of ink and powder abstract works created by Tricia’s late husband.  It is called Ralph Bainbridge: The painting machine. It will take place from 11am to 3pm.  More information to come but do ask Mandy, Tricia, or Shelley if you have any questions.  Messages can also be sent to Lesley to pass onto them.  It is open to all.  There will be a small table out on Sunday 17th too.   

On Sunday 24th November at 4pm, we welcome Sue and John Wilson for a retirement visit and tea at church to catch up with them about life as missionaries in Paris with BMS.  All welcome!  More details to come.   

More details to come about Christmas! Just a couple of dates for your diary and chance to let others know about…

1st December Advent café church together at 11am

7th December at 1.30-3.30pm, sing along Christmas carols and songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band, festive treats and a fun Christmas quiz.

15th December at 3pm Creative wreath making workshop where you will learn how to make your own Christmas wreath to take home, materials and festive refreshments will be provided.  £10 each.  Please book in with Lesley so that we can provide the right number of wreaths and resources.  If you have a favourite pair of scissors/secateurs you may want to bring them along but we will have some for you to use anyway!

“I know that my redeemer lives…I myself will see him with my own eyes” Job 19:25-27

In Christ

Shelley

Sunday 27th October – Jesus is the Light in the darkness

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A bright evening at Moortown Baptist Church last Sunday, the Youth Group, Rock Solid, gathered for a special evening.

Pizza and Pumpkins

Firstly the younger ones of the group played football in the usual way and caught up with their friends.

Then they ate pizza and engaged in friendly conversations discussing about light and ideas they would use for their pumpkin carving and messages.

The buzz of the evening continued as they carved their pumpkins, some had the words “Hope and Joy” reminding all those who saw them of the unwavering goodness Jesus brings into the world.

It was just fantastic hearing the Youth of our church talking about how they could bring light into their own lives and the lives of those around them.

Fifteen pumpkins were carved each with a unique design inspired by the love of Jesus and reflecting on his message of hope and good news.

A message of HOPE and LIGHT instead of the dark and scary perception of Halloween.

There’s a gallery of our pumpkin pictures below. To view any, or all of them simply click on any of the images. 

In the most welcoming of ways a shared lunch topped off a wonderful morning of creative worship and praise

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With BMS Missionaries Andrea and Mark Hotchkin leading our morning Service, with Communion and with a terrific shared lunch it’s fair to say that last Sunday, between 11am and about half past two, MBC pulled out all the stops in terms of being a truly community church with  world wide vision. 

Based in a hospital in Bardai, a small oasis town in the north of Chad, surgeons Andrea and Mark are currently in the UK on a month long home assignment. 

As one of their supporting churches it was once again great to catch up with them and to hear first hand exactly what in one of the most challenging environments on earth God is doing in their home life, in their church life and of course at work.

Special thanks to all those people who brought the Service together; to the worship band and Shelley, to Phil and Maria, to the people on the sound desk, to Roger our BMS rep, to those who brought in and served up the food and particularly to those that during Mark’s talk supervised our youngsters as they created some amazing paintings. 

Below is a gallery of pictures taken throughout the morning. To view them simply click on any of the images. 

Jane Coates. Thoughts and prayers, Empty and full

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Empty and full –Father, may I live this day to the full.
 
When we were both working full time with four young children and both sets of aging parents living nearby, my daily and weekly diary was very full. It had appointments for the children, school events and holidays, parents’ evenings and staff meetings, swimming lessons, evening Uniformed Organisations, medical and dental appointments, church events and all sorts of extraneous events to fix in the planner. Life was busy and full. As the children were growing up and moving on then holiday and university visits were added into the planners. One of my busiest periods of time was perhaps the pandemic period when visiting many of our elderly church folk became extremely important. Those busy periods of time seem a long time ago now.
 
These days, my weekly diary looks rather empty. There are some fixed appointments, but now I no longer need that daily check on the diary to see what my day or week will hold- visits, church sessions, shopping trips. The diary has gone from almost full to empty. In many ways our human preference is for these busy daily and weekly markers that perhaps make us feel useful, significant, and essential. These markers and events are important to us and many of us keep our old diaries going way back in time.
 
Yet, I am beginning to learn that every day, -whether empty or full- is a gift from God. Each new day is the day that the Lord has made, to rejoice and be glad in. Psalm 118 v 24. Jesus is present with us in each new day-empty or full. His presence, grace and favour meet us in that day. So, whether your diary is choc a block full, or your week is stretching out in front of you with a rather empty feel and lots of ‘blank’ days, may we be thankful for what God is continuing to do for us and with us in each new day. That new day is a gift from God, and whatever that day holds, is known to God and can be used by Him and us, with thankful hearts. God will meet with us in each new day, -every day.
 
The Lectio 365 daily prayer begins with these words: Father, may I live this day to the full, being true to you in every way. We can give thanks today to our faithful God and He can use us in this day as He can use us at no other time. He has kept us in the past and He waits for us in the days ahead and our unknown future. We receive from His fulness grace upon grace upon grace, a grace that is continuous, inexhaustible, and limitless. May our today be full of His grace and presence.
 
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace”.
Words of John the Baptist John 1 v 16 GNT
 
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3 v 19 NLT
 
Lectio 365 Prayer
Father, may I live this day to the full, being true to you in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I say and do. Amen.
 
Jane Coates 
23 October 2024

W/C October 20th. News and updates from Shelley

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Dear friends

We look forward to joining with you tomorrow for our service at 11am in the building and online.  We welcome Andrea and Mark Hotchkin from BMS to lead with us.  We’ll have a group for our younger friends where we will look at the theme creatively together. We’ll share communion together and after the service everyone is welcome to continue the sharing of food in a bring and share lunch.  Do drop your food in the sports hall on the centre tables.  We have volunteers to sort out where it can go.  A reminder to bring cold pre prepared food that can be eaten without needing heating up.  Youth meet in the evening 7-8pm in church.

Monday – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents/carers 10.-11.30am

Tuesday afternoon – house group in church, see Rod/Howard

Tuesday evening – deacons meeting in church 7.30pm, do pray for John as he joins the team.

Wednesday – lunch club for all those booked in and the volunteers, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday evening – housegroup in church, see Andy/Ruth Berry

Thursday – warm welcome craft group 2-4pm in church

Thursday – bible study at 7pm in church, see Gareth Gadd

Friday  – bible study at 10am in church, see Shelley or send a message to Lesley for more information

Friday evening at 8pm – housegroup, see Jonathan/Hilary Darling

Do call or send a message to Lesley or ask Shelley for more information on groups through the week.  Lesley is in the office Monday and Tuesday 9-4pm and Wednesday until 1pm.

Thanks to all those who came to the church meeting last week.  Minutes will be out soon.  Do keep praying and continue the conversation before our next meeting.

Last Sunday in the service, at the church meeting and at Wednesday worship, we spent some time thanking God together for things in our world and our lives that we are grateful for.  Philippians 4:6 reminds us to “..bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.”  The letter goes onto say that the result will be that the peace of God “…that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus”. It does not mean that we ignore what is going on around us, but our requests are balanced with thanks, and this brings safety to our minds and hearts.  God wants us to see and act with passion but he wants our minds and hearts to operate from a place of safety and not fear.  Colossians 3:15 says “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”  It is this peace that needs to rule, not just have a place or a say, but be in charge, be sovereign, have the final word, over our minds and hearts.  This peace brings us unity with others.  A lack of peace can bring division and a feeling of separation.  We have been reading the book of Ruth together on Sundays.  Naiomi’s husband Elimelech appears right at the beginning and his land is mentioned throughout the book.  His name means ‘God is sovereign’ and it’s a reminder that even though God is not obviously speaking in the book, God is in control as Ruth follows Him.  The story continues.

Further Autumn Sunday dates..

Sunday 27th October 11am service with group for our younger friends

Sunday 3rd November 11am all age café church

Sunday 10th November 10.50am service with a group for our younger friends.  Note the slightly earlier start time so that we can have the 2 minute silence for remembering.

Sunday 17th November 11am service with communion and a group for your younger friends

Sunday 24th November 11am service with a group for our younger friends

Sunday 24th November 4pm Tea for all and a chance to join with John and Sue Wilson from BMS on their retirement visit and to hear some of their stories about mission in Paris.

There will be a short service in November to remember those we miss who are no longer with us.  Date to be confirmed this week.

Ideas for Advent and Christmas are coming together, dates will be out in the next two weeks.  Our Christmas programme will begin on December 7th 1.30-3.30pm, sing along Christmas carols and songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band and festive treats.

Finally, this week at lunch club, Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue visited.  It was great to see a rescued hedgehog, but we were reminded of the decline in hedgehog populations.  Do check out the webpage here A Prickly Encounter – Wednesday 16th October – Moortown Baptist Church and for those who live in the North Leeds area there is a meeting at St Barnabas on 19th November on how to get involved with the local nature recovery plan.  Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub – Nature & Biodiversity

In Christ

Shelley

As MBC lines up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, these words ring as true today as ever

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   1955 – 2025. The past, the present and the future

 In 1980, Roger Robson, who first came to Moortown Baptist Church in 1955 as a ten year old, was asked if he would write a short history of the first twenty-five years of MBC’s life.  This he did, and I suspect that if you’re prepared to search high and low you might still find the odd copy. 

Anyway such was the success of Roger’s excellent account that twenty five years later, and to mark the church’s fiftieth anniversary he was again asked to dig into our archives, collate as much information as he could and update his work. 

You can see the front covers of both of these booklets above. 

The end result was the perfect example of how over fifty years a mix of documented fact, anecdote and old faded pictures can be drawn together to bring the past alive.   

In April next year Moortown Baptist Church celebrates its seventieth anniversary, and at our most recent Church Meeting  those that were there were not only challenged to come up with even more memories but if possible with specific stories that reflect the ups, the downs, the ins and the outs of MBC; a vibrant community church with world wide vision. 

Below you will see a few more quotes from Roger’s second book; the top one is a Charge to the Church issued in April 1955 at South Parade Church in Headingley to mark its founding, the others written since by either former Ministers or members. 

One more thing we can promise is that nearer the time you will hear much more about our forthcoming anniversary, indeed you may even be asked to help. But as for now all we ask is that you put your thinking caps on so that by the time we’re ready to launch our dedicated Anniversary Email address you’ll be all ready to go. 

    1955 – 2025. The past, the present and the future 

 

A Prickly Encounter – Wednesday 16th October

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Diane and Rhubarb (the Hedgehog) joined us at the Seniors Lunch Club on Wednesday from Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue.

The Seniors had great fun learning about Hedgehogs and how to protect them, also making Hedgehog decorations.

If you want to know more info about the organisation please click here  

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