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The Merry Month of May

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According to Google the term The Merry Month of May (depending on how many Merrys you want to put in it) is either a song – sung as a duet in Edward German’s Merrie England; the regimental march of the 10th Royal Hussars; a poem by Elizabethan poet Thomas Dekker, a novel penned by writer James Jones in 1971 or a 1955 film featuring Lee Hoi-chuen.  However,  at MBC The Merry Month of May can only mean one (well maybe two things) and that’s our annual charity plant sale which takes place from 1-3pm on Saturday 13th May at church, but the week before it’s King Charles III Coronation with lunch for all, music and craft all taking place after our morning Service on the afternoon of Sunday May 7th.

As far as we know everything is taking shape for both of these memorable events with Jenny Dixon in charge of the Plant Sale and Karen Ross calling the shots re the Cornation tea. 

So any queries or particularly any offers of help before, during or after will be gratefully received by both.  

Easter Sunday – front of house and from behind the drums

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Many thanks to Nick Taylor and Phil Coates for sending in these two pictures of our Easter Sunday Cafe Church. 

With almost 150 chairs set out, a dedicated arts area, more hot cross buns than you could shake a stick at and mugs of tea and coffee by the gallon this was a joyous family celebration. 

Neither of these two pictures were “set up” as such they just sort of happened. Let’s just hope things like this keep on happening, they are a sure sign of God’s Grace and Truth. 

Shelley’s message – He is Risen!

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Dear friends… He is risen! 

It’s been so good to journey through lent, holy week and Easter Sunday as a community, whether in the building or on line, in small groups or on Sundays, with individuals or by taking time by ourselves to reflect. The picture of Moortown Baptist Church as ‘a tent without walls’ has maybe been visible for some of us in the drop in warm welcome spaces, gatherings of familiar and unfamiliar faces, worship outside the building, praying in a multi use space, getting together over a meal..and more. 
But as we were reminded by the Professor in C S lewis’s The lion, the witch and the wardrobe on Good Friday night, 

”…that is the very end of the adventure of the wardrobe. But if the Professor was right, it was only the beginning of the adventures of Narnia”
 
So too our journey continues, maybe with a slight change of pace after the drama of Holy Week but with gratitude and expectancy as we trust God with our next steps.
 
Here’s what’s coming up this week..
 
Wednesday 12th April – 10-12midday Easter beacon and warm welcome space with snacks, drinks and Easter crafts. 
 
Thursday 13th April – 2-4pm drop in warm welcome space and craft group 
 
Thursday 13th April 7-9pm bible in 24 hours continues.. this week it includes ‘why is the Tabernacle of Moses so significant?’ 
 
Sunday 16th April – 11am service with communion (and online) carrying on after Easter Sunday, ‘Journeying with Jesus’ on the road to Emmaus with things for our younger friends to engage with. 
 
Monday 17th April is the next deacons meeting at 7.30pm 
 
Monday 17th April 10-12midday Beacon cafe with warm welcome space (back to its usual Monday slot!) 
 
Sunday 7th May Coronation afternoon food and fun.. more news soon.. ideas and offers of help to Shelley and Karen… 
 
Saturday 13th May 1-3pm Plant sale 
 
If you usually go to a housegroup do check if it’s meeting this week with those who lead it. 
 
Anf finally…  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” John 11:25-26 
 
See you soon 
 
Shelley 

What’s the point of that? Gareth Gadd poses a big question

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Football is sometimes called “The beautiful game”. Apart from the occasional run of good form, supporters at Elland Road would not normally describe what they see as beautiful. The same goes for anyone that does not support a multi-billion-pound club. The usual shouts of supporters might be “What do you think you’re playing at?” as a player makes a rash tackle or, horror of horrors, scores an own goal. “What was the point of that?” the crowd may shout.

To stay with the analogy, Jesus dying on the cross may have seemed like an own goal. Indeed, even his closest disciples would have been confused and frightened at the sight and wondered “What was the point of that?” Yet Jesus had told them many times that he would die.

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me”. Luke 24:44

Prophecies regarding Jesus are woven through the entire Old Testament. If we take a few that could potentially be fulfilled by any of the apostles we realise that the probability of ALL of them being fulfilled by one man are impossible. Unless of course He is the Messiah.

The Messiah would enter Jerusalem on a Donkey (Zechariah 9:9) Would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12) About the Temple and the potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13) Would have wounds in his hands (Zechariah 13:6)) Jesus would not defend himself (Isaiah 53:7) Died with the wicked and was buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9) Would be wounded through his hands and feet (Psalm 22:16)

I encourage you to look them up and study them. There are roughly 350 regarding The Messiah of 8,362 prophecies in total if you are interested. Propecies authenticate the Bible, prophecies fulfilled by Jesus authenticate Jesus as the Son of God.
And what is the point of that?

(Very briefly) Because of the “original sin” we are separated from God and destined to die. Jesus, as the paschal sacrifice, shed his
blood for us on the cross. If we accept Jesus as the Messiah, our sins are paid for, and we receive eternal life through Jesus.

That’s the point.

Gareth Gadd

Warts and all – by Gareth Gadd

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It is reported that Oliver Cromwell when sitting for his portrait by Sir Peter Lely asked that the portrait showed him ‘warts and all”. Lely was the court portraitist of the day and, as was the fashion, had already painted Charles II in a flattering manner. 

You may doubt whether Cromwell said that he wanted his portrait painted “warts and all”, but his death mask sits in a drawer in the Prime Ministers’ desk at Chequers. The plaster cast shows that Lely‘s portrait was accurate. 

There are many people that don’t believe that the Bible is true, even some Christians. Archaeology has unearthed many incredible finds that attest to the historical accuracy of the Bible. 

The Bible recounts its history, including eyewitness accounts, in a “warts and all” fashion. The character flaws of most of the “heroes” are there for all to see and this makes the Bible much more credible. Greater than this is the fulfilment of prophecy. The Bible contains around 1,820 prophecies, of which about 330 relate to the Messiah. Those prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus, and the probability of fulfilment by just anybody, of just say 10 of them would be next to impossible. 

What does the Bible tell us?

Man is sinful and God is holy, yet no matter how bad you may think you are, God can forgive you if you truly repent. He loves you warts and all.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5: 6-7 KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 KJV

Gareth Gadd

Easter 2023

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Dear friends

Here’s a few things going on over the next few weeks. We hope that you and those you are thinking of inviting will join us in our Easter journey. We pray people will hear the good news of Jesus, join in some Easter activities and find a warm welcome.  Please keep an eye on the website or ask if you want to know anything.

Sunday 2nd April

Palm Sunday cafe church for everyone starting at 11am online and in the building

Theme is ‘Journeying with Praise’ with Holy Week crafts looking at Luke 19:28-44.  Art area opening on this day and available throughout holy week when the building is open for those who want to express things in this way. Materials provided although you can bring your own things to use too.

Youth group with an Easter theme meet at 7pm in the church building on Sunday 2nd April

Monday 3rd April

Monday 3rd April is an Easter Beacon holiday all age special, a free warm space cafe for all ages with hot cross buns and breakfast treats.  Seed planting and easter colouring: plant some seeds to take home and watch your food grow! Come along between 10 and 12midday.

Tuesday 4th April

4G Jesus:  Galilee-Gethsemane-Golgotha-Global:

A talk by Haddon Willmer followed by open discussion and refreshments. 

7-9pm   Moortown Baptist Church in the music room.  All are welcome.

Thursday 5th April

Maundy Thursday guided Reflection at 8pm in the building

A guided reflection on the events of Jesus’ last evening with his friends on earth before Good Friday.  This will involve using a few rooms in the church and also the garden if the weather is fine.

Friday 6th April   

Good Friday service for all at 10.30am in the building….this maybe online too, I’ll let you know if we can manage this.

Film showing and tea together on Good Friday

Jacket potatoes, fillings and cake available from just after 5pm until 6pm, film ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (PG rating and lasts just over 2 hours) showing at 6pm.  Come for food and film or you can come just for food or just film.  The film picks up on some Easter themes in an accessible way.

Sunday 8th April

Easter Sunday all age café church together at 11am online and in the building, looking at Luke 24:1-12 with Easter crafts and art area.

Easter egg hunt at 10.40am around the church.  Meet at the front of church at 10.30 for your instructions and then go hunt out those eggs!

If anyone would like to join with others and pray in the garden from 10.15, you’d be very welcome.

No Beacon on bank holiday Monday….but…..

Wednesday 12th April

Warm welcome café (Beacon extra!) with free breakfast pastries and refreshments, 10-12am in the building.  Come and eat, drink, sit quietly, read, chat, play a game. There will be no lunch club on this day.

Sunday 16th April

Service with communion on the theme of Journeying with Jesus at 11am online and in the building.

Drop in Easter reflections, prayer, art

There’ll be some reflections around the building from Easter Beacon on the Monday throughout holy week and maybe into the next week too.  Do drop in when the church is open and take some time for yourself or meet with someone else.  These times are advertised because we know that there will be people in the building at those times so that noone is left on their own.   

The building is open for reflection, prayer, to be, draw, paint next week on…

Monday 3rd April 10am until 3pm

Tuesday 4th April 10am until 12

Tuesday 4th April 7pm until 8pm

Thursday 6th April 6.30pm until 8.30pm

Friday 7th April 10.15am until 12

Wednesday 12th April 10am-12

If you are using the art area.  Please make sure that you leave it in the state you found it.  We’d like to keep the artwork up over the easter period for others to reflect on, but you are also welcome to take it home straight away or at the end. 

If you feel you would like to help with refreshments at café church or help by being in the space whilst the building is open in holy week then do let me or the deacons know.

Other dates to let you know about…

Good Friday 7th April at 2.30pm, there will be an outdoor service on Alwoodley Village Green led by some churches in LS17, all welcome.

Churches together in Otley have put up a large cross, as they usually do on Otley Chevin.  All welcome to visit, walk, sit by and look at the view.  It’s up until the week after Easter.

MBC annual plant sale takes place from 1-3pm on the 13th May at church.

Coronation get together at MBC with lunch for all, music and craft activities on the afternoon of May 7th.  More news to come!

Pentecost Sunday 11am in the building and online on Sunday 28th May with activities for our younger members

Afternoon café church with friends from Caring for life on Sunday 4th June

We can’t do any of this without God’s help and guidance and your support and prayers.  Thank you in advance for supporting and praying for the community at MBC near and far as well as reaching out to others we are yet to get to know.

Do get in touch with myself or the deacons if you want to share anything.  We’ll get back to you as soon as we are able. Lesley our administrator works Monday day, Tuesday day and Wednesday morning.  We have a pastoral team who are available to pray and visit and also a prayer team who are around on Sunday mornings if you want to pray with someone confidentially.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)

In Christ

Shelley

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Selfies can’t show the heart – by Gareth Gadd

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“Selfie” is a relatively new word but the main idea isn’t. Many artists, including famous ones like Van Gogh, have painted self-portraits and the first recorded photo self-portrait was created by Robert Cornelius in 1839 using an early photographic process called daguerreotype. It took until 2013 for the word “selfie” to enter the Oxford English Dictionary as term for “a self-image, especially for use on social media”.

A few years ago we went to Venice. It is stunningly beautiful and we had a fabulous time enjoying the sights. What bemused us though were the many thousands of Korean and Chinese tourists that seemed to be posing for selfies – often with not much of Venice in the photos. They could have been anywhere really, and the photographers seemed completely self-absorbed.

A study by University College London discovered that (unsurprisingly) when choosing selfies to post, people choose those that make them look younger and more attractive. They might think that that is all that counts, but how does God see us? God does not look at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart.

One of the Old Testament heroes was King David. We read about Davids’ anointing in 1 Samuel 16. The prophet Samuel was sent to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint God’s choice for king (Saul had been the peoples choice). Saul was tall and strong and presumably good looking. Samuel expected to find a similar such person and indeed Jesse bought forward his eldest son, Eliab who was tall, athletic and handsome.

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

In fact, God refused all seven sons paraded before Samuel, so Samuel had to ask Jesse if there any sons left! There was David, but he was out tending the sheep. 1 Samuel says that David was summoned and “he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.” 1 Samuel‬ 16:7 (KJV)

Basically, a good looking chap but not of great stature. Yet God had Samuel anoint him there and then in front of his brothers.

David was the major character in one of the most famous stories in the Bible, “David and Goliath”. I don’t recall it being said in the Old Testament, but I could imagine Goliath taking a selfie with the cowering Israelites behind him just across the battlefield. The Israelites looked at the physical size of Goliath and were terrified. Goliath was a mighty warrior and twice the height of a normal man. David was not shaken because God had priority in his heart. He saw Goliath as a single man against a warrior of the living God.

And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. 1 Samuel‬ 17: 8 – 10 (KJV)

David knew that these taunts could not go unchallenged. David trusted that God would deliver Goliath to him. God (not David) would defeat Goliath, and all David had to do was trust in the Lord. Neither Saul nor his army were trusting in the Lord in this situation. They let fear seep into their hearts but David knew better and trusted the Lord.

A diminutive shepherd boy defeated a giant. He did not let his enemy put fear into his heart. Again, the Old Testament doesn’t say whether David took a selfie of himself with a defeated Goliath behind him.

God saw Davids’ heart. Davids’ heart was set aside for God and while David trusted the Lord his goals aligned with Gods goals. 

A heart and life set apart for God is what God desires for us. If that is what you want then that is a conversation for you to have with the Lord.

Gareth Gadd

Monday Thoughts and Prayers. Jane’s new book brings all her weekly emails together in one volume

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Ever since the start of the Covid 19 pandemic MBC’s Pastoral Lead Jane Coates has been sending out a weekly email which she entitles Monday Thoughts and Prayers. Initially directed exclusively towards her team over the weeks, months and now years her audience has grown so much larger that now she has taken the decision to bind them all together in one book which she is calling Encounters and Journeys and make them available to us all.  

These are beautifully written, many including songs or hymns and they range in subject matter from last Monday’s Ordinary and Extraordinary via Crumbs under the Table way back to Barnabas the Encourager. 

There is a plentyful stock of these at the back of church so please help yourself. And although Jane is not charging she would if you feel so inclined like to give a donation this will be passed on to Wheatfields Hospice where Jane and Phil’s late daughter Charlotte worked. 

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