Articles – Page 29 – Moortown Baptist Church

12th March – news from MBC

March 11, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

A lot can happen in a week. Sometimes things can happen that appear connected, even though their timings span over many years. On Tuesday, the Jewish festival of Purim took place followed on Wednesday by International Women’s Day. Purim is a festival of joy; in the Jewish community centre next door they held a Purim Party!. At first glance it doesn’t seem a joyful story to remember as it marks the time when the Jewish people were nearly destroyed at the hands of Haman and his followers. However, Esther who became Queen, bravely spoke out to the King on behalf of the Jewish people and the Jewish people were saved. Esther sought wisdom in discerning the right thing to do, much of that came from the words of Mordecai who encouraged her to courageously speak out at that time (Esther 4:14).

To speak out or not to speak out has been another topic filling our newsfeeds over the last few days. As God’s children we are called to speak up against injustice as it says in Proverbs 31:8, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed”. Again, we need wisdom to discern God’s ways and see things as God sees them, to show compassion and wisdom in our responses. Some people have been asking ‘What is the church’s response to some of this?’ I’m sharing this statement made jointly from the Methodist Church, United Reformed Church and the Baptist Union on one issue this week in case you wanted to have a read and a pray.

Response to the ‘Illegal Migration Bill’ – March 2023 (jpit.uk)

Tomorrow we meet in the building and online at 11am for our service together. There’ll be activities for our younger members during the talk part of the service. We continue to explore ‘epiphany’ or ‘wow’ moments, but I’ve also been pondering the idea that these wow moments are shared as we journey together. Like a stone thrown in a lake, the ripples of an individual ‘wow’ moment spreads. We see this in the gospel stories over the last few weeks. So, as we journey towards Easter I pray it’s something that we not only notice but we actively look out for, pray for and act on. With this in mind, the next few weeks go like this…

Sunday 12^th March Journeying with mountain tops and shadows Luke 9:37-50

Sunday 19^th March Journeying with compassion Luke 13:31-35 (with communion)

Sunday 26^th March Journeying with vision Luke 9:51-62

Sunday 2^nd April Journeying with praise (Palm Sunday café church) Luke 19:28-44

Sunday 9^th April Journeying with joy (Easter Sunday) Luke 24:1-12

Sunday 16^th April Journeying with Jesus Luke 24:13-35 (with communion)

It would be great if Easter week could be a bit of a journey for us to travel too from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. If you have any ideas on this can you let me know. I have a few thoughts that I’ll share by next week. We are also hoping to put on a talk on the Tuesday and a film with popcorn on the Wednesday as well as a service on Good Friday, a café and some creative activities.

This week we have Beacon café, craft group, warm spaces, Steppingstones and bible studies continuing. Do ask if you want to know more. Look at the website too for our latest news at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org,uk

A little bit of good news…we will be providing some accessible cupboards in the building as we have been successful in receiving another £750 Warm Space funding. Any ideas for other things then let me know! Thank God for all the ways he is supporting the work of the church here at Moortown. Thanks for all you are bringing too, keep praying and giving into the vision that God has given us.

Trusting in God’s timing

In Christ

Shelley

Lunch Club – some terrific feedback from its members

March 10, 2023 by John Sherbourne

As part of the grant application process for Lunch Club Rachel Beedle asked members to show what difference it makes to their lives. This is what they said.

‘The company, it’s just a particularly pleasant experience’

‘Comradeship, entertainment, great and cheap lunches, physical activities’

‘Lunch club is one of the highlights of my week. It isn’t only the food which is always very good, it’s the good company of friends, the fun and interesting subjects we discuss. It’s just great, I just love being part of such a lovely group’

‘I like coming to Lunch Club for company and the nice lunch’

‘The Lunch club is excellent. Wonderful food served by volunteers. It is a place full of giving by the volunteers. I can’t praise it enough’

‘Lunch club is one of the highlights of my week, an opportunity to socialise, enjoy a meal with friends and learn new skills. Everyone is encouraged to participate at their own level, adaptations being thought about so that we can all join in. Without Rachel and the volunteers none of this would be possible’

‘Social interaction, exchanging of ideas, tips from others, stimulating activities, fun and games, quizzes to stimulate mental activity. Nourishing food. Opportunity to dress up and make new friends’

‘A nice day out, good company, laughter, a lovely lunch, fun, games. I like to see people and mix with people, it’s a friendly, safe place’

‘Friendship, humour, fellowship, good food’

‘I am in my late eightys and have no family. I don’t walk very well after a bad fall and without the friends I have made joining in MBC activities my life would be very lonely. I hate it when I have blank pages in my diary’

‘Very good meals. I appreciate the effort the cooks and kitchen team put into planning the meals. We have enjoyable games with the efforts of Rachel. We have good fellowship and chats’

‘I look forward to coming to Lunch Club to meet some lovely friends. We play dominoes, have a sing along and quizzes. A lovely warm meal is provided by the volunteers each week which is much appreciated by everyone.’

Well done Rachel and team – this is a wonderful ministry.

How you can help the BMS Birthday Scheme

March 8, 2023 by John Sherbourne

MBC has been an overseas Mission supporting church from its beginning back in 1955. Over the years we, as the church, have sent out people to evangelistic, pastoral, medical and educational service in some of the least evangelised and /or most needy countries in the world. Among them some (Philomena Commons and Roger Robson) are still in membership today, and one couple, John and Sue Wilson, are still working in Pastoral and Youth Ministry in France after over 30 years.

Only a few members have been able to work overseas, but we all can support the work through informed prayer and giving.

This has been done by sending money regularly from the Church’s income and by faithful individuals giving regular or one-off donations. The number of these individuals has declined considerably in recent years. The church’s monthly donation to BMS has inevitably reduced as the effects of Covid and the divisions which happened in lockdown have led to a much smaller membership.

However, the one source of funding which has risen is the BIRTHDAY SCHEME.

This is a very simple idea which we all can take part in because we ALL HAVE BIRTHDAYS ONCE A YEAR!! In fact we encourage folk to reveal the fact in our Sunday services, and reward them with chocolate and a chorus of “Happy Birthday”.

If you join the Birthday Scheme you will receive a Birthday Card, news of BMS’ work, and an envelope/or other methods of making YOUR ANNUAL GIFT TO BMS. You’ll also receive Engage magazine 3 times a year through the post.

All you have to do is give your address and Birthday (NOT your age!) to Roger Robson in church or on 07929100598 or at roger.robson1@ntlworld.com

This is a simple way of making a serious commitment to support the work of the church worldwide and as your response to Jesus’ “ Great Commission” in Matthew 28 v18 – 20 to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”

A birthday response, thanking God for another year and being thanked by countless people around God’s world.

M – M – M – M – M – M – M… a prayer letter from Andrea and Mark

March 7, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Besides our Sunday morning services MBC is now providing two Warm Spaces a week as our Craft Group joins Beacon Cafe in bringing comfort, warmth and cheer

March 7, 2023March 6, 2023 by John Sherbourne

In conjuction with the Lord’s Pantry – MBC’s stock of food and other essentials that are always available for people who may need them – we have now been able to open another of our projects, that’s our Thursday afternoon Craft Group as a Warm Space.

Headed up by Karen Ross and her team this is two hours set aside for people to join us and enjoy a warming cuppa, to sit and chat and who knows maybe even do a bit of crafting.

Fairtrade Fortnight Monday 27^th February to Sunday 12^th March

March 7, 2023March 5, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Over the current fortnight look out for the Fairtrade logo on items in your weekly shop -from coffee & tea to chocolate, flowers, bananas, wine etc.

Our regular MBC Fairtrade stalls ceased more than 4 years ago and sadly Traidcraft – the Christian Fairtrade Pioneer- has ceased trading.

However, Fairtrade is still a vital source of income for many overseas producers and choosing to pay a little extra for a Fair trade product is a way of showing concern for those less privileged than ourselves.

Also this year will be a Fairtrade Café and Stalls on Saturday 11^th March at Chapel Allerton Methodist Church Hall.

All are welcome.

Looking ahead. As our community grows Shelley gives out some important dates and themes

March 4, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

This Sunday we meet in the building and online for café church, starting at 11am. Drinks, pastries and fruit are available from 10.45 so do feel free to come in a bit earlier to catch up with people or pray before the service starts. We’ll be looking at the story I have called ‘Glory on the mountain’ also known to some as ‘the transfiguration’, another epiphany moment with Jesus.

Do check out the website for the latest news at MBC including photographs from Lunch club’s ‘World Book Day’ special! If you think you can help in the great work that’s been done at lunchclub, it doesn’t have to be every week, then do let Rachel Beedle or myself know.

I’ve been asked to let you know and to prayerfully consider the latest job vacancies at Caring for life. You can find them here.. CFL JOBS

We will be welcoming someone from Caring for life at the café church on the first Sunday in June.

Coming up

Monday 6^th March – Drop in Beacon café and warm space 9.30-12

Tuesday 7^th March – Steppingstones group for toddlers and their carers 10-11.30 (with new calmer break out room)

Wednesday 8^th March – lunchclub meets (talk to Rachel Beadle, any of the lunch club team if you know them or myself/deacon)

On the evening of Wednesday 8^th March, Gather Leeds have arranged an online zoom get together for anyone with a heart for the city of Leeds. Its an evening from 7.45 to 9.30pm that will seek to understand how churches, projects and individuals have been working together to serve their neighbours and workplaces specifically over the last two years with all that has been going on following a pandemic and shifts to the structure of what many see as church. The theme is wellbeing and will involve some presentations and sharing as well as opportunity to pray for the city and talk about what we see happening in our own areas of community/work/life. Its open to anyone, you are encouraged to register your interest in advance. For more information click on the link below

Movement For Recovery & Change In Leeds 2023 – Network Leeds

Thursday 9^th March – Warm space and craft group 2-4pm

House groups continue including Wednesday evenings, Friday mornings and the Thursday night 7pm overview of the whole bible group with Gareth Gadd on Thursday 9^th March in church.

Looking ahead

Every third Sunday we share communion, it’s the meal that Jesus shared with His friends and that he asked us to share in remembrance of Him. Often, we ask people to help with getting bread and wine in the week and on the morning of the service, but we know there are some people who would like to know in advance and feel that it’s part of something that God would like them to do in love for others. If that’s you, can you email or talk to myself, Lesley our administrator or one of the deacons. We’d love to hear from you and put a few dates in the diary in advance.

We also looking for help with tea/coffee/pastries/fruit at café church (first Sundays) and tea/coffee (third Sundays). Thanks to those who have offered so far. If you can help and or want to give a particular date then can you let Lesley or myself/deacon know. If you feel you would like to help but don’t want to do it on your own or are unsure about what to do then we promise it won’t just be you on your own.

The deacons and I are meeting this Tuesday to follow up from the last church meeting, catch up with what we need to do and sort out inductions for our new deacons. We appreciate your prayers for Tuesday and for all those who seek to lead God’s people. At the last church meeting I talked about new wine and wine skins, do keep asking God to help us adapt the wine skin to the new wine (Matthew 9:17).

Easter week starts on Sunday 2^nd April with a Palm Sunday café church. It would be great to journey this week together as a church and as a wider community. We will be having Easter beacon, some Good Friday gatherings, Easter crafts and seed planting, creative prayer, a midweek talk amongst other things… I will put out more thoughts next week but there is opportunity for all ages to be involved in different ways. There maybe some of you in a house group who would like to host something simple like a short prayer time, a walk, a study, making something or refreshments.

Other dates to remember

Sunday 7^th May is the Community Coronation lunch…if you can help or you have ideas on how we can make this more inclusive and fun based on the King of Kings the let Karen or myself know.

Saturday 13^th May is the Big Plant sale, set up in the morning and sale in the afternoon. More details to come!

Stay connected

Pop into a warm space

Follow Moortown Baptist Church on facebook or youtube and on the MBC website.

Pop into a house group one week

Pray with someone after the service

“For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

(Acts 2:39)

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

The first of many, MBC’s foyer takes on a bright new look

March 4, 2023 by John Sherbourne

What nicer welcome to any church than to step into a freshly decorated and imaginitively redesigned reception area. And that’s precisely what visitors to MBC are doing each and every time they walk through our main doors.

Starting with the foyer, the office corridor and the Corner Room a small but incredibibly efficient team of designers and decorators are methodically working their way through our building.

Ahead of them lie all sorts of projects including the possibility of installing new windows into what many of us still think of as the Church Hall – now the creche room and carrying out a thorough examination of the whole building’s insulation.

On this occasion, however, special thanks go to Liz Knight who masterminded the painting of the foyer (and the assembly of the furniture) and to one of our two new deacons Rod Russell. They of course were ably assisted by a team of willing volunteers.

If you would like to join this team just have a word with Rod, Shelley, Lesley or any of our deacons and we’ll put your name on our list.

Lunch Club embraces World Book Day 2023

March 1, 2023 by John Sherbourne

World Book Day is a charity sponsored by National Book Tokens which when our Lunch Club leader Rachel Beedle first heard about quickly realised it was far too good an opportunity to pass by.

That’s why this last week, dressed as characters from their favourite novels more than fifteen LC regulars appeared ever so thinly disguised as just about anyone and anything from Long John Silver to James Bond.

Besides enjoying their normal splendid lunch our guests also tested their powers of recall with a brilliant book/author quiz and then spent a quarter of an hour or so swopping and sharing memories of books they had brought from their homes.

As luck would have it this week was also the first anniversary of Rachel taking over the Lunch Club supervisory role which of course gave everyone a chance to sing Happy Birthday but only this time with with 007 Hornby at the piano the word Birthday was replaced by the word Anniversary.

25th February- Shelley’s news update

February 25, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

We are back in the building tomorrow at 11am and on youtube. We’ll be hearing more about Peter in the bible and who He thought Jesus was. There will be practical activities for our younger friends during the talk.

It’s been a full week in the life of Moortown Baptist Church with the church meeting, a new bible study, restarting Stepping Stones after half term and all the regular activities. We welcomed Rod Russell and Krys Gadd as new Deacons, voted in by the church last Tuesday. Do pray for them and for the Leadership team as they discern next steps. They meet again in person on the 7^th March. This meeting will include follow up from the church meeting.

There have been lots of changes to the building too as the foyer and corridors are decorated and thanks to those who have contributed in different ways. Other spaces around the building are being looked at according to need and if you have any thoughts, want to join in then do let me or the deacons know. There may be a set date when we tackle certain areas so watch out for this but again if you are willing then let us know.

We have decided to start refreshments again on the 3^rd Sunday of the month after having some feedback after last week from some of you. Thanks to those who have offered help. Lesley/myself will be in touch this week. This means that we will have refreshments every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday. Next week is café church where we look at glory on the mountain from luke 9 (28-36) so if you can help with this and you haven’t let Karen, Lesley or myself know yet then can you let us know very soon.

Continue to pray for our new members Jan, Matt and Mandy.

This Wednesday, the Wednesday night housegroup in church are hosting Krys Gadd who is leading a session called ‘Mining for Gold’ that looks at purpose in God and practically what this can look like in our own lives as a whole both out and in church. If you would like to go and you don’t usually go on a Wednesday, the group have said they would be really happy for you to come along. Its starts at 7.30m and finishes at 9pm. I’d highly recommend the session. Come ask me or Krys if you have any questions.

This Thursday a new bible study started at 7 in church looking at an overview of the whole bible and what it means to us today. It was decided on the night that they would like to continue again this Thursday coming so if you would like to know more or go along then do speak to Gareth Gadd or myself.

There will be more news about Easter soon but if you have any ideas or thoughts about Easter this year then do share them with us. It will be a combination of what we as God’s people want to bring to Him, and listen to Him in pray and worship over that time and how we share this with our community.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Shelley

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