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ENGAGE, the BMS World Mission magazine that reports on the work carried out by its staff and supporters in some of the world’s most troubled regions

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Once again Engage, the Baptist Missionary Society’s magazine features story after story of the work its workers are “engaged” in across no end of countries.

Via contributions either by or about many of the society’s dedicated workforce we visit India, Thailand, Lebanon, Ukraine, Indonesia and Chad to read first hand about some of the enormous problems that many people of many faiths are facing.

As usual the magazine is accompanied by a prayer guide. In this issue the 24 page guide covers from January to April 2025, and like the magazine itself not only addresses the needs of BMS workers “in the field” but many of the behind the scenes supporters such as trustees, fund raisers, recruiters and the like.  

Of particular interest to us at Moortown Baptist Church is a piece in this issue, on page 19 and headed BMS community. This shows a picture of Mark Hotchkin who, along with his wife Andrea, are medical doctors working in Chad. 

The picture, which you can see below, was taken last year here at MBC and it’s good to know that as a result of an invitation we extended to two of our mission partners, our support for BMS is being featured not just on our website but throughout the entire Baptist community. 

You can sign up to receive your free copy of ENGAGE either through the post or online by speaking with our BMS rep Roger Robson. 

Jane Coates. Thoughts and Prayers. Passion and purpose

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Passion and Purpose
 
Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily, from the soul, as something done for the Lord and not for men. Colossians 3 v 23 AMP
 
And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Colossians 3 v 23 MSG
 
We recently attended a very formal School Speech Day, with the distribution of prizes awarded to many of the students. Awards are given for the different academic subjects taken at school but there is another prize which is called the School Award for Inspirational Contribution to School Life. This award is for those students who have been involved in school life in a very wide sense-in Music, Choirs, Bands, Scouts, mentoring younger students and being involved in outside of school activities also. These students can inspire others.
 
The students were addressed by the Headteacher and a visiting Speaker who in her long career had worked for the Foreign Office, Ministry of Defence, been an Advisor to a Prime Minister, a Governor of the BBC, is a Peer in the House of Lords, and who had learned several languages during her illustrious career. But both of their messages to the students emphasized one thing-the importance of ‘going with your passion’. They were encouraged to choose the subjects, the courses, and the career path that would ‘give them a buzz’, that they were fascinated by, and not the things that teachers, parents or peer group would wish you to do. This is a very different message to the one that I received at A level. The path may not the easiest, traditional, may be out of the ordinary, but if it is your passion then you will succeed. It will be the thing that you can put your heart and soul into.
 
In the words from Colossians, Paul was addressing servants- those who had few rights, choices, or entitlements, if any, but he instructed them to work with heart and soul, as if they were working for their God and not for their masters.
 
One of the books that has had the greatest influence on me is The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. At the very beginning of his book, Warren states that God uniquely created each person- skills, looks, personality, temperament, abilities, and that each person is created for a purpose. “I am your creator. You were in my care even before you were born. Isaiah 44 v 2. Nothing in our life is arbitrary or accidental. God had very specific purposes for us that would allow us to be fulfilled, secure and happy. He knows our passions. But we must link in with Jesus.
 
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone. Ephesians 1 v 11-12 MSG
 
PRAY Father, I am not like anyone else. I don’t have to try to be like anyone else. Your design and purposes for me are good. I can trust you with my passions, my  heart, and my soul.
 
All Thinking
 
I would rather be what God
Chose to make me
Than the most glorious
Creature that I could think of.
 
For to be born in
God’s thought
And then made by God
 
Is the dearest, grandest, and
Most precious thing
In all thinking.
 
C. S. Lewis
 
Jane Coates
5 November

Advent! a time of waiting, preparation and much much more. Shelley’s latest update.

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Dear friends

Come along and worship with others and begin an advent journey together at 11am in café church tomorrow.  We’ll be live on youtube too.  Advent is the time before Christmas meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’ and looks to the arrival of Jesus.  It’s a time when many people get busy to prepare in terms of decorations, presents and gatherings.  For Christians, there is something far more life changing woven into their Christmas season.  As it says in the popular Christmas carol , Joy to the world,

‘Let every heart prepare him room’.

What does this look like in advent for each one of us?  Last week we heard about David being chosen by God as the next king.  God reminds Samuel that people look on the outward appearance, but God sees the heart. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that it’s our responsibility, to check our own hearts.  It’s where our thoughts, attitudes, motivations come from.  We may do many great things and speak important truths, but we are warned in Revelation 2 to not forget our first love, Jesus, to remember how we felt when we first recognised Him.

As we begin advent let’s start with our own hearts and may this lead to all we do in this season.

What’s coming up…

Today the church is being decorated for Christmas.  Please drop in between 2pm and 3pm if you can help.

Through the week we have all our usual activities, please see last weeks email for information and check out the website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Thank you to those who have helped design cards and get them printed so that we can give them out to invite others to MBC at Christmas.  We’ve worked as quickly as we can and although the cards won’t be ready for Sunday, we will pick them up on Monday so that anyone who leads a group in church through the week can come and get some and give them out please.  If you want to dop in and pick some up, you’d be welcome.  I’ll have them out in the music room and in the Sanctuary.

This year at Christmas a few of you mentioned that you would like to make hampers again for our food pantry users and anyone we feel may value a Christmas hamper this year.  We know of a few contacts locally but anyone else comes to mind, do let me know.

Could you help please by bringing any of the following items before the 16th December? 

Small Christmas cake/slices, mince pies, a nice toiletry for a man or woman e.g shower gel, shampoo, nice biscuits, tea/coffee/hot chocolate, Christmas sweets.

Please put them by the Christmas tree or one of our offices.

We are looking forward to…

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.”  Everyone welcome, drop in or stay for it all.

Sunday 8th December 11am Service together with children’s group and then at 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 after church, there is a small group going carol singing in a local care home.  Please See Rachel if you want to go.

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 provided.  £10 each.  Could you email Lesley or let me know if you want to book a place.  We already have 14 people booked on so do let us know how many spaces you want to book for you or/and family/friends!  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 10-12 Festive Beacon

Tuesday 24th December Christmas Eve All Age Christingle at 4.30pm

Wednesday 25th December All Age Christmas Day celebration at 10.30am

Looking forward too to seeing some more Jesse tree ornaments come back (see below) after last week.  If you missed it, check out… Jesse Tree: Christian Christmas Tradition

In Christ

Shelley

On their retirement tour, BMS missionaries John and Sue Wilson return to MBC; the place it all began over four decades ago.

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In the 1980’s when young John Wilson started to bring his then girlfriend to MBC, the question on everyone’s lips wasn’t anything to do with grace, peace or even love but… what colour would Sue’s hair be this week. Would it, as Roger reminded us on Sunday afternoon be pink, or maybe even blue?

Anyway, to cut a long story short, more than forty years on from the start of that courtship, John and Sue were back at MBC this last weekend as the final stop on what today’s rock bands would call their retirement tour; a tour specifically mapped out to allow them to personally thank individuals and churches alike for their support. 

With almost a hundred people in the room, following tea and two or three wonderfully led worship songs, Roger  welcomed and introduced John and Sue. 

What followed was not only a fascinating account of many of the projects the couple had been involved in whilst living abroad, but based on Lamentations 3: verses 22 and 23 a brief look at how “the steadfast love of God never ceases,” about hope and about obedience to Jesus. 

It really was a joy to welcome John and Sue back to Moortown. As they now settle into retirement (in what ever form that takes) we hope and pray that their most recent visit won’t be the last we see of them.  

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. Footsteps on the moon.

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Sunday 20th July 1969 was a memorable and momentous day. It felt as if the whole world was watching. It was the day of the first moon landing when the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed on the moon. On that day, mankind achieved something that many had previously thought to be impossible. You may remember watching Neil Armstrong take his first steps on the moon and then listen to his legendary words, “that is one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” You may remember seeing the landing crafts trundling over the moon’s surface leaving their tyre tracks in the moon’s surface. The amazing thing is, that as there is no atmosphere on the moon as there is on earth, there is therefore no wind, rainfall, other atmospheric changes or movement on the moon to disturb those footprints. Those footprints and tyre tracks are still there. Footprints, from more than fifty years ago, are there and will continue to be there.
 
Thinking again about those footprints made me realize that we all leave our unique footprints. We all make a mark that is visible to others, and which may last for a very long time, and may have a deep impact on others. The phrase, ‘the world is watching’ is a very significant phrase for me as it reminds me that we are often ‘on view’ to others. People around us, friends, neighbours, work colleagues, other parents at the school gate, notice and observe our actions and reactions, and make judgements about them. Even people that we do not know at the supermarket, the gym, the garden centre, the library may be silently observing how we speak to others, smile, and conduct ourselves.
 
As Christians, we may sometimes feel that we are judged more closely and perhaps more harshly than other folk. The world loves to find fault and to criticize. Therefore, the standards that we may hold to can often feel to be higher. We are following in the steps of Jesus and so we reflect Him. When Paul wrote to the young man Titus, he made it clear to him that he had to be above reproach in everything. But not just that, Titus had to demonstrate in his words, his attitudes, his relationships, his walk, the graciousness of Jesus.
 
“And in all things show yourself to be an example of good works, with purity in doctrine having the strictest regard for integrity and truth, dignified, sound and beyond reproach in instruction, so that the opponent of the faith will be shamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
Let no one disregard or despise you. Conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect.” Titus 2 v 7-8 AMP
 
He who walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely, Proverbs 10 v 9
 
PRAY Jesus, please guide my footsteps. I want to walk faithfully in your footsteps. Wherever I go this week, help me to leave a footprint of love, care and grace, considering the other rather than myself. Amen

23 November, Shelley looks back on a busy week, and forward towards Christmas.

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Dear friends

This Sunday is ‘Stir up Sunday’.  It’s a name associated with stirring up all the ingredients of a Christmas cake before the first Sunday of Advent.  However, the name ‘Stir up Sunday’ actually comes from a prayer that is often said in traditional churches on the Sunday before Advent.  The prayer goes like this..

“Stir up O Lord, the wills of your faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”

In other words,

“Stir us up afresh to seek your will and play our part in bringing the fruit of good works, not because of us but because of you Jesus. Amen”

What would it look like to have our will ‘stirred up’ by Jesus to be more fruitful?  The ingredients of a Christmas cake need to be stirred up for the smells of the fruit and spices can be released and so that the ingredients can be moulded, shaped, and formed.  What is stirring us up lately?  How is this affecting us? Where is God in this?  

On Sunday, there will be time for all ages to consider this in our service at 11am in the building and on YouTube.  There will be a group where children can explore creatively together.  We’ll be continuing with looking at how the story of Ruth points to Jesus and focusing on Jesse who was ‘stirred up’ by God to respond.

In the afternoon at 4pm we welcome Sue and John Wilson over tea as we hear how God is moving in France and how they were stirred up to serve there for 36 years. All ages welcome.  Food and drink are included.  Rock Solid youth group are invited, and Sue and John are looking forward to meeting them so there will be no separate meeting in the evening.

Do come with your questions. 

Here’s what’s coming up in the week…

Monday 25th November 10am-12 Warm welcome space and beacon café.  Food pantry available.

Tuesday 26th November Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers, 10-11.30am

Tuesday afternoon there’s a house group in church.  See Howard Dews.

Tuesday evening 7.30-9pm Deacons and Shelley meeting in church

Wednesday 27th November Lunchclub for those registered and the volunteers.  See Rachel Beedle for more information. 

Wednesday 27th November 6.30pm PACT meeting in church (Policing and Community Together for Moortown ward)  All welcome.

Wednesday evening there’s house group at 7.30pm in church, see Ruth and Andy Berry.  Also, a house group with Diane Sunter.

Thursday 28th November 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 29th November there is a house group at 8pm in Adel, see Jonathan and Hilary Darling.

Friday morning at 10am there is a bible study in church.  See Shelley or Lesley if you are interested.

Saturday 30th November at 2pm Christmas Decorations go up in church!  If you would like to help, we’d love to see you.  We’ll be decorating the Christmas tree in café church on Sunday morning.

Sunday 1st December 11am Advent café church, all ages together with fruit, pastries, and drinks.  We start our advent theme ‘Down to earth’ and look creatively at John 1:1-14

Rock Solid youth meet 7-8pm in church

Extra Christmas dates in December…

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 11am Service together with children’s group and then at 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 invite your friends.  Wreath making is pretty popular, and we provide both fresh foliage and bought decorations for you to use so please book in with Lesley.  For those who haven’t been before we walk through the steps with you so come along and try something new or build on your skills from last year. 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 10-12 Festive Beacon

Tuesday 24th December afternoon Christmas Eve All Age Christingle at 4.30pm

Wednesday 25th December morning all age Christmas Day celebration at 10.30am

We’ll produce some little Christmas cards this week with some of the services/events on so you can invite others to come along!

Some new advent books to consider for the coming season…

Rediscovering the Magic of Christmas: An Advent Adventure from Genesis to Revelation – 15 Aug. 2024

by John Hayward (Author)

Women of the Nativity: An Advent and Christmas Journey in Nine Stories – 30 Aug. 2024

by Paula Gooder (Author)

Do Not Be Afraid: The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear: The Archbishop of York’s Advent Book 2024 – 19 Sept. 2024

by Rachel Mann (Author)

There are photographs on facebook and on our website showing some the events of last week including our interfaith Beacon and Mitzvah Day.  Do have a look on facebook or www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

In Christ

Shelley

The Painting Machine’s art sale combines appreciation of a fine talent with providing vital support for Parkinson’s UK

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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.  

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. Jane – Family, family and family

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We are very privileged to belong to several families. We have our own nuclear family, our son and daughters, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, and several distant relatives. We love them dearly and keep in regular contact as much as possible, even though distance from Leeds can present challenges.
 
We also have our church family at MBC which has become a very significant part of our lives, and particularly very recently. Our Christian family at MBC has begun to feel like a real family. We have felt a deep ’ground swell’ of love developing in our fellowship, which has become almost tangible. One of our newer members calls me ‘sister. ‘There is a sense of a shared awareness of the needs within the congregation and a willingness to respond to those needs practically, prayerfully, with numerous methods of contact, and connection. There is a deep change that has been happening.
 
Then we have our China family. For many, many years we have had connections with key Research colleagues, men and women who are Leaders and senior members of several top Universities and Institutions, in Sichuan, Beijing, and Changchun. Through many years of regular contact, communication, support, visits to China, research exchange visits to Bradford and China, and their visits to our home, we have established a close connection- a family connection. We are regarded as family members, and we know many of them as family. When the news of my illness and surgery was shared with them, they immediately responded with messages of love, concern and even prayers. “Jane is a very important member of our AMRI family, and we are always with you.” When Phil returned from his most recent trip to China, he brought back with him a bag of Chinese medicine and many other personal gifts – tangible demonstrations of their love.
 
Over many years we have connected with some wonderful Christian individuals and families and have become involved with them, their challenges, successes, work and witness. It is a joy and a challenge to know so many people and to stay in connection. Family is about connection-real connection. I am so thankful that I am a part of these different families.
 
So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith. Galatians 6 v 10 GNT
 
A nighttime prayer
The peace of God be over me to shelter me.
Under me to uphold me.
About me to protect me.
Behind me to direct me
Ever with me to save me.
The peace of all peace be mine this night
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
 
Jane Coates.  November 2024

Shelley’s update for w/c Saturday 16 November

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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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