Dear friends
This Sunday we look back at our series on the body as well as looking forward to hearing a few different perspectives on what God has said about the body through the bible and through the whole series. We have an activity for our younger ones, a live band as well as a live stream on the Moortown Baptist Youtube channel. The service will start at 11am and be finished by 12midday.
A lot went into last week’s remembrance ’what are you standing on?’ service and although I couldn’t be there in the end, I wanted to let you know that I was able to watch some of the livestream in Dad’s hospital room in St James’s Bexley wing. It was wonderful to feel connected and hear encouragement from all who were in the building or tuning in last week. One of the Oncology nurses looking after dad has been chatting about God with my dad and she wants to come to MBC over the next few weeks.
Also this weekend we have the Table Top sale on Saturday 20th November. Do pop along and get some bargains between 2pm and 4pm. All proceeds going to various charities. Thanks to Karen Ross and all who are helping to arrange it.
Thanks also to all those who are joining in with leading any of our activities and ministries at the moment or encouraging those who are. Its a season of ‘trying things out’ and we are thankful to all those who serve and join in each week with all sorts of things (even if you think its really small). God is faithful.
We are already half way through our experiment with Romans but it’s never too late to dip into it. So this week why not make a drink and see what God is saying to you and your world through this letter by Paul. There’ll be opportunity to share, words, pictures, challenges, thoughts and dreams in an informal way on 2nd December, choose to pop up to church 12-2 or come along 7-9pm (or come to both if you like).
I’m pleased to share that on Sunday 28th November we start our Advent journey ‘The Impossible Promise’ at 11am in church and on the live stream. Each Sunday a part of the Christmas story will be unwrapped with music, cartoon, sharing, craft, bible story and prayer. We also have plans for other get togethers including an all age nativity, wreath making and Carols, candles and croissants. There’ll be more news on our Christmas worship in the next few days along with invitations for each one of you to join in and include others. I’ll be getting in touch with a follow up email to see who might like to help too with some suggestions!
However, I wanted to encourage you that as I was considering all this in relation to MBC and our communities, I felt God give me a picture of a stick of seaside rock. Through the rock was not the word Blackpool or any other seaside town, but the word Immanuel. It encouraged me that through everything, God reminds us that one of His names, His identity, is Immanuel, God with us.
“…the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and will call Him Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:13–14”
It’s my prayer that we don’t just learn about Him but we actually know Him as Immanuel in this season.
Shelley