With more than 200 of his artworks on show, the late Ralph Bainbridge’s family really did him proud.
As oils vide for space with water colours, and powders and pastels jockeyed for position the eclectic mix of Ralph’s catalogue is truly staggering.
As far as subject matter was concerned, this too was incredible, ranging from a giant, three part city scape of London to a vase containing a single yellow tulip.
The exhibition cum sale which was held here today (Saturday) at MBC raised several hundreds of pounds much of which Tricia and her family intend to donate to Parkinson’s UK.
Dear friends
Here’s a reminder of whats going on this week and some dates to come.
Tomorrow, on Saturday 16th November there will be an Art Exhibition in church 11-3pm with refreshments, all welcome. It’s called Ralph Bainbridge: The painting machine. Click on this link for more details.
The Painting Machine – art sale pays tribute to an extraordinary talent – Moortown Baptist Church
On Sunday 17th November we meet at 11am to share communion, sing, share and look at Ruth 4: 13-22. There will be a group for our younger friends. We look forward to hearing in the service about the recent visit to Romania from Bela and Jean.
Rock Solid for young people is on Sunday evening 7-8.00pm in church.
On Monday 18th November it’s Beacon warm welcome café. It’s the end of interfaith week and we have this week invited, along with the support of Simon from Leeds Jewish Housing Association, those from other faiths who meet in the local area to see if they would like to come and share a drink and food. We pray the space will be a welcoming space, where people can get to know each other. It’s also Mitzvah day, a Jewish led day of social action so Simon has encouraged those Jewish friends he knows and works with to bring food for the café as an action on this day. If you are free, do come along too as we show hospitality and offer spaces for people to come alongside each other. We are currently in receipt of funding from the church Urabm Fund to support things like Beacon and craft group. If you want to know more about the positives of places of welcome, the project they run, then click on the link here Your stories — Places of Welcome
On Tuesday, its Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers, 10-11.30am
Tuesday afternoon there’s a house group on church. See Howard Dews.
On Wednesday, its lunchclub for those registered and the volunteers. See Rachel Beedle for more information. Wednesday evening there’s house group at 7.30pm, see Ruth and Andy Berry.
Thursday is warm welcome space craft group 2-4pm in church.
Thursday evening there is a bible study with Gareth Gadd at 7pm in church
Friday evening there is a house group at 8m in Adel, see Jonathan and Hilary Darling.
Friday morning at 10am its bible study. See me or Lesley if you are interested.
On Sunday 24th November we have our service in the morning at 11am with a group for our younger friends.
At 4pm on the same day you are invited to come together to meet Sue and John Wilson, BMS missionaries from Paris. It’s designed with all ages in mind around tables with food and drink provided. Sue and John are retiring from their work in Paris but are coming to share what God has been doing there over the years. There will be chance to ask questions too so do come along with your questions for Sue and John. Everyone welcome.
Meeting’s coming up…
Tuesday 26th November 7.30pm Deacons and Shelley meet in church
Tuesday 21st January 2025 Church AGM. It will be a good time to thank God for all He has done in the year and to pray expectantly for the year ahead!
A little look to Advent and Christmas…
We’ll be producing some cards to give out about Christmas at MBC to help us share the good news of Jesus. For now here’s some dates for your diary and chance to share with others
Sunday 1st December at 11am Advent café church
Saturday 7th December at 1.30-3.30pm, “Sing along Christmas carols and festive songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band, festive treats and a fun Christmas quiz.”
Sunday 8th December 3pm “Stepping Stones and friends” Christmas Nativity
Wednesday 11th December Christmas Wednesday worship,1.30pm -2pm in the music room with refreshments.
Sunday 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!”
Sunday 22nd December 11am All age Nativity
Monday 23rd December Festive Beacon
Tuesday 24th December afternoon Christmas Eve All Age Christingle
Wednesday 25th December morning all age Christmas Day celebration
Do continue to check the website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk or ask a deacon or Lesley in the office or Shelley about anything that is going on so we can point you in the right direction. There are also information sheets in the foyer of church.
I have also been asked to pass these onto you…
A job vacancy for a part time admin role with the Yorkshire Baptist Association (click on link)
Admin Job pack 22 October 2024
And a lecture at the Grammar School at 8pm on November 27th organised by the council of Christians and Jews entitled ‘Religion and the Future of Europe’. Bishop Nick is regularly heard on Radio 2 and 4 and before he became Bishop he worked as a linguist at GCHQ.
Bishop Nick to give annual Leeds Council of Christians and Jews lecture – Diocese of Leeds
“You have heard that it was said, ‘ Love your neighbour’ and Hate your enemy’. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Let us keep responding to Jesus radical call of love in all we do
In Christ
Shelley
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In six weeks time Christmas 2024 will be all but over, and we will have moved into that period of time that airlines and tour operators market as “Twixmas” – the days between Christmas and New Year.
However, here at MBC, while December 25th is one of the defining days in the Christian calendar, the build up right the way throughout Advent can be almost as exciting as the big day itself.
And that’s because our first “Christmas” event takes place on December 7th when between 1.30pm and 3.30 the Steel Crazy Band return to Moortown Baptist Church to once again host an afternoon of sing along carols and festive songs, book-ended by some seasonal treats and a Christmas Quiz.
The following day at 3pm (Sunday December 8th) it’s our Stepping Stones Nativity to which you are all invited.
Then the following week (15th December, starting at 3pm) we have what is fast becoming a hardy annual and that’s our wreath making workshop.
Add to this a festive Beacon on the 23rd, a Christingle Service on the 24th and the following day our traditional Christmas celebration and you’ll see why once again MBC is throwing its doors wide open and saying to everyone within earshot that God loves them, and that’s the reason for Jesus. Of course, and actually it goes without saying, at the heart of that message is an invitation for them to come along and join us any time they like.
Do look out for more information about Christmas 2024, either here on the MBC website or in Shelley’s weekly update. And remember what I told you, no matter how much or how little preparation you have made it won’t be long now!
There are a few pictures from previous Christmas events in the gallery below. To look through them simply click on any of the images.
Dear friends
This Sunday we meet a little earlier at 10.50 for a service together and a group for the children exploring the themes of remembrance. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at the story of Ruth and last week at café church looked at what a redeemer was and how restoration started to come back to Ruth and Naomi. They were people who experienced tragedy, but we also see Gods restoration beginning to shine through, we planted seeds of hope. As we look to Remembrance Sunday we see the sacrifice, we remember Jesus ultimate sacrifice and we are reminded that God is able to bring restoration through his love and grace.
Next week is also the United Nations Climate Summit known as COP29. As we were reminded last week that Boaz restored both the people and the land, we pray for our planet. Here are some prayer points and thoughts…
COP29: Is climate change a Christian issue? – Evangelical Alliance
Locally, Leeds had some climate action hubs so you can find out about how people in our city are trying to look after the planet. Here’s a link to the Alwoodley Climate hub,
Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub
They have an update meeting on how to help nature in Yorkshire, at St Barnabas Church on 19th November. You need to book a place to go but its free. See link below.
Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub – Nature & Biodiversity
Through the week, all our regular groups take place as usual, see the website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk or ask a deacon or Lesley in the office. There are also information sheets in the foyer of church.
Rock Solid is back on Sunday evening 7-8.00pm for young people in church.
Wednesday 13th November is Wednesday worship,1.30pm -2pm in the music room with drinks for those who arrive before 1.30pm. The theme this week is Exciting God. All welcome.
Next Saturday 16th November there will be an Art Exhibition in church 11-3pm with refreshments, all welcome. It’s called Ralph Bainbridge: The painting machine. The exhibition will include a large collection of canvases, framed paintings and unframed ink and powder abstracts. Ralph was Trisha’s late husband, and he painted all his life. Trisha and friends have organised the exhibition in aid of Parkinsons UK. There’s more information on the website or you can ask Mandy or Trisha for more details.
On Sunday November 17th we meet at 11am to share communion, sing, share and look at Ruth 4: 13-22. There will be a group for our younger friends.
On Sunday 24th November we have our service in the morning at 11am and then welcome Sue and John Wilson, BMS missionaries from Paris at 4pm in church around tables with tea provided. Designed for all ages to come along, share food, hear how Jesus is working in France.
A little look to Advent and Christmas…
We’ll be producing some cards to give out about Christmas at MBC and to help us share the good news of Jesus. These will include some of our services but also some festive events. I’ll share more about Advent and Christmas next week as there’ll be opportunities to help, get involved and come along. Here’s some of them for your diary…
1st December at 11am Advent café church
7th December at 1.30-3.30pm, “Sing along Christmas carols and festive songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band, festive treats and a fun Christmas quiz.”
8th December 3pm “Stepping Stones and friends” Christmas Nativity
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!”
22nd December 11am All age Nativity
23rd December Festive Beacon
24th December afternoon All Age Christingle
25th December morning all age Christmas celebration
Finally…
The church AGM will take place on January 21st 2025. It will be a good time to thank God for all He has done in the year and to pray expectantly for the year ahead!
In Christ
Shelley
To Ralph Bainbridge painting came as effortlessly as breathing. Whatever the medium, be it pastels, oils, acrylics, inks or charcoal Ralph, known to friends and family alike as The Painting Machine was little short of a genius.
A lifelong painter, much of the work of this former Leeds engineer is soon to go on show here at Moortown Baptist Church as between 11am and 3pm on Saturday November the 16th, Ralph’s widow Tricia shares (and hopefully sells) some of more than 200 of his works.
For many years, Ralph who died aged 72 and whose funeral was held here at MBC last January had Parkinson’s Disease, and whilst he’d always painted it was in fact the medication he was taking for this illness which, says Tricia, “turned a hobby into an addiction.”
And that’s no doubt why no matter what the subject – portraits, landscapes, seascapes or merely something quirky that happened to catch his eye, the combination of Ralph’s imagination, that keen eye and above all his delicate touch made everything he approached come alive.
Looking back, the first exhibition he himself staged was eleven years ago, that was in 2013, and it was very much a home grown affair. That’s because one sunny Saturday, and out of the blue he decided to take his easels and a selection of paintings outside and invite passers by in to his front garden to view his work. From that modest start, and later, with the aid of a local school teacher The Painting Machine’s art work is now shown throughout Horsforth each July in churches, schools and community centres.
So, with much of the money raised from the sale being donated to Parkinson’s UK it’s now our turn to show our appreciation of Ralph’s work.
Don’t forget 11am until 3pm, Saturday the 16th of November here at Moortown Baptist Church. Oh and I know there will be refreshments available because my wife and I are part of a team “manning” the kitchen.
There’s a gallery below showing just a very small selection of Ralph’s work. If you would like to view it simply click on any of the images. Oh would you also please note that we will only be able to take payment for pictures in cash and not by machine.
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!
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.
