Here are a few pictures just in from Andor and Szuszi Ferco in Romania. They were taken at last weekend’s Youth Camp.
If you would like to find out more about the work these two young pastors do, speak with Rod Russell, Howard Dews or Karen Ross, I’m sure they would love to share some stories with you.
This coming week at MBC looks like being particularly busy. It starts tomorrow at 11am when in church and on YouTube we try to fathom what exactly was going on when Jesus met up with two of his followers on the Emmaus Road. However, that isn’t the only thing of note in our service because before that we will be welcoming a number of new members.
Then Monday Beacon, Tuesday at 10am sees the start of Stepping Stones, our new toddler group and in the evening (in church and this time also on zoom) a Church Member’s Meeting, Wednesday is Lunch Club, Thursday craft and finally Friday sees Robert Owen leading his bible study group.
Don’t forget if there is anything any of us can help you with just drop an email to your leadership team.
A new toddler group which we are calling Stepping Stones is starting at MBC next Tuesday April 26th.
It begins at 10am and finishes at 11.30 and is being run by a team of volunteers under the direction of Diane Sunter.
If you are interested why not drop by for a coffee on Tuesday and find out more.
This year’s annual charity plant sale is taking place between 1pm and 3 on Saturday 21st of May.
Any donations of cakes to either eat on the day or to sell will be gratefully received.
Many thanks, more details nearer the day.
Our next Church Meeting is scheduled for 7.30pm on Tuesday April 26th. Besides taking place face to face in church it will also be available on Zoom.
In addition to the normal Church Meeting business items for discussion will also include: church membership, and vision.
If anyone would like to add anything under the heading “any other business” would you please let the Leadership Team know asap but no later than Friday April 22. The address for this is leadership.team@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com
Easter 2022 is turning out to be a real mix of light and shade. On Maundy Thursday more than a dozen people came together to remember and commemorate the Last Supper. Beginning with hand washing, deemed more suitable in light of Covid, followed by Communion, a short walk to Gethsemane and then back into church for the betrayal this 45 minute service was an excellent start to a weekend of high and low emotions. Huge thanks to Hilary Willmer and her team for writing and preparing it.
Just twelve hours later fifty people gathered to spend two hours sharing hot cross buns, coffee, craft, learning and reflection in a wonderful all age workshop based around the story of the crucifixion. Many of us were MBC regulars but once again the creative slant that Shelley and the team brought to this, the saddest of events, reached out beyond our doors and in a simple yet imaginative fashion into the community we long to serve.
The next part of the Easter jigsaw drops into place on Sunday when at 11am in church and on our YouTube channel we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.
13th April…Reflection and readings for the night before Jesus died…in church, 8pm to 9pm.
14th April…Good Friday..9-11am drop in to reflect, pray, make a craft, make a card to give to others and hang on trees in the carpark (they include an encouraging Easter message from us), have a hot cross bun and a drink. 10-10.30 there will be an opportunity for all to come together and hear a reflection on what Jesus did for us on the cross.
16th April…Easter Sunday Celebration 11am-12midday and on YouTube…with communion…and some chocolate eggs…
Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. Jesus was in the centre of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
So, Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples. Mark 11 v 7-11
I love the extravagance of the praise, honour and acknowledgement that the disciples and the crowds gave to Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. Clothing and cloaks were thrown on to the colt to make a saddle for the coming king and then branches, leaves and clothes were thrown down on to the floor in front of the colt as a wonderful red carpet for Jesus and the colt to walk on as He made His triumphal entrance into the city. There was noise, shouts, singing and cries of ‘hosanna’. The noisy procession was exuberant, loud, colourful, exciting, noisy, liberating, and joyful. There was no self-consciousness or inhibition. Bystanders joined in with the noise and the celebration.
I wonder how I would have reacted had I been at the scene on this occasion? I believe that I am probably known as a person of quiet restraint and self-control, of calmness and of considered action and purpose, a person of few words but of quiet intent and timely conversation. Would I have taken off my outer clothes in extravagant worship and thrown them to the floor and cut branches from the local trees and bushes to wave with happy abandon, and raised my voice in praise and adoration at the coming of the king? Would I have thrown caution to the wind, thrown off my inhibitions and self-consciousness, with no regard for the comments of others around me and simply joined in this cacophony of praise and worship? Or would I have been the quiet bystander, embarrassed and uncertain as to whether to join in with the crowd?
Praise in worship is a strange thing. Sometimes the large worshipping gathering makes it easier to praise, to raise the hands, to move and to sing the fast-paced worship songs. Sometimes I need to be in the large crowd- and the larger the better sometimes. I can be anonymous, concealed and feel safe in the crowd with a palm branch in my hands.
The real test of worship would follow shortly after this day’s event as the crowd gathered and clamoured for the death of Jesus. There would be those people in the crowd that day who would be shouting for Barabbas and for Jesus to be crucified. They would forget their cries of Hosanna and would instead shout ‘crucify’. Would I have stood my ground and shouted for the Saviour King when those around me were all clamouring for His death? Would my voice then have been the loudest? Jesus, my Jesus! That would be praise and worship indeed.
My song is love unknown.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.
PRAY
O LORD God Almighty, may my life during the week match my worship words on Sunday. Help me in my heart to realize that what I do each day is an integral part of my worship. I want to honour you with my heart, soul, mind, and strength every day of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
https://youtu.be/8isRUof2scY
This mornings Palm Sunday Service is available to either see again or catch up with is here.
