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With a Barn Dance beckoning and with MBC approaching its 70th anniversary, we invite you to step back in time and relive our first 50 years

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On April 22 1955, at a service held at South Parade Baptist Church in Headingly, forty nine Foundation Members became Moortown Baptist Church. 

Fifty years on, and to mark that golden milestone Roger Robson, who in 1955 was just ten years of age researched, wrote and published a compelling account of the first five decades of MBC’s life. 

Printed in book form, and also copied to a CD Roger’s work chronicles the comings and goings of five ministers,  innumerable officers and deacons plus many of the local, national and overseas projects that MBC had either launched or was heavily involved in. 

Below there’s a very short extract from Roger’s book, which we hope will whet your appetite. If it does you can continue reading the entire book by clicking on this LINK.  

Barn Dance… never a church to miss out on a celebration, to mark the church’s 70th Anniversary we’re holding a Barn Dance in the building starting at 7pm on Saturday 12th of April. Tickets are free and are available from Shelley, Lesley, Karen or Rachel. So do come along.

I leave you with a quote from that Foundation Service in 1955, when the brand new church was reminded “You are Christ’s Church; you belong to Him; you are not just a voluntary human association, responsible to yourselves alone… What kind of church Moortown is in the future depends on what you are now; how you worship, work and live”.

Shelley… the next few weeks, MBC’s 70th birthday and of course Easter

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Dear friends

It was good to come together this last weekend.  If you missed the Sunday service it is available on our YouTube channel, just type Moortown Baptist Church into YouTube.  Thanks to the team that made this possible.  Following on from Sunday, if you feel you want to talk about baptism, membership or anything else at MBC do get in touch with me or a deacon.

Prayer

There are a number of opportunities for focused prayer across the UK right now.   A couple of weeks ago we joined with Gather25, highlights are available here Watch the Gather25 Livestream.  This Thursday 27th March, Baptists Together are holding a day of prayer and fasting facilitated by the Fresh Streams team.  There will be three focused online sessions throughout the day.  Details are here The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Fresh Streams calls Baptists Together to a day of prayer and fasting It’s ‘a time to come together to seek God’s presence and power for mission, discipleship and renewal in our communities’. 

Closer to home we have a lent prayer group on WhatsApp at 9pm Sunday, Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays, if you want to join the prayer for half an hour ask Mandy. Krys or Adam.

We are thankful for all of you who pray individually and in groups and with those who come through our doors whether it be Sundays or Mondays or Thursdays…

Some people at MBC have raised to our attention the day of prayer for the law on assisted dying on 25th March 2025.  If you want more information about what the day of prayer is about then have a look at  National Day of Prayer against assisted suicide – Evangelical Alliance and https://care.org.uk/   There is an opportunity to join CARE online tomorrow and pray with others.

This week

There are house groups and bible studies on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening, Friday morning and Friday evening.  Wednesday evening bible study group in church is not meeting this week.  Do get in touch with me, Lesley or group leaders for more information.

Monday 24th March Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 in the building

Tuesday 25th March 10-11.30 Stepping stones for under 5’s and their parents and carers.

Tuesday 25th March is the church meeting at 7.30pm in the building.  Agenda and papers already out.  Contact Lesley in the office or admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk if you missed it.  All are welcome to be part of it, voting for members. A zoom link will go out prior to the meeting for those who are unable to make it into the building but want to be involved.

Wednesday 26th March lunch club, do ask Lesley or Rachel for information

Wednesday 26th March 1.30-2ish Wednesday worship in the music room ‘act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8)

Thursday 27th March 2-4pm in church Warm welcome craft group.  All welcome, no previous experience necessary but you may also come with your own projects to do or share.

The next deacons meeting is the 31st March at 7.30pm in church.

Sundays

Sunday 30th March Service at 11am with group for younger ones, continuing to look together in Luke.

Sunday 6th April 11am We welcome John Wilson, who served with BMS for 36 years in France, to share with us from Luke 9:51-10:3.  There will be a group for our younger friends during the service.

Sunday 13th April 11am Palm Sunday all age café church (café church is on the 2nd Sunday just this month) looking at Luke 19:28-40

Sunday 20th April 11am Easter Sunday celebration with baptisms, cake and refreshments and Easter egg hunt after the service. 

Sunday 27th April 11am Easter Communion.. on the Emmaus Road Luke 24:13-35 with a group for younger ones.

Sunday May 4th Café church

Easter

Rock Solid Youth pizza night and social on 6th April 7-8pm in church.  No youth group meeting on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday

Beacon café is on Monday 7th April, Easter beacon café is on 14th April, 10-11.30.  Beacon has a break on April 21st.

Wednesday 9th April 1.45 until 4pm in the music room ‘Calamity Jane’ with refreshments, All ages welcome.  No lunch club today.

Wednesday 16th April Easter worship and prayer in church in the evening.. more details to come. 

Friday 18th April 10-11am Good Friday service and reflection in church

Friday 18th April 2.30pm join with other churches on Alwoodley Green on King Lane for a Good Friday outdoor service (opposite the little Tesco).  Feel free to bring a chair and grab a drink.  The craft group have kindly been making ‘seed crosses’ that we can give out on the afternoon to help people remember the story of new life in Jesus at Easter.

Sunday 20th April 11am Easter Sunday celebration with baptisms, refreshments, and Easter egg hunt after the service.

Wednesday 23rd April 1.30pm Easter Wednesday worship with communion. (There will be lunch club that day).

70 years of MBC

Saturday 12th April Birthday barn dance for all ages in church 7pm with live music and a meal. Everyone welcome.  Put it in your diary, bring people along.  Collect free tickets from Lesley, myself, Karen or Rachel.  If you lead a group and know that you have people in the group who want to come, do collect some tickets to give out and let us know the number of tickets taken please.

The nearest Sunday to the official ‘beginning’ of MBC is Easter Sunday so we will have extra cake on that day and will thank God for all He has done, what He is doing and what He wants to do as well as for the family of God here in Moortown.

“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world.  It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace” (Colossians 1:6)

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

MBC’s Welcome Lunch, in a word… FAB

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Many thanks to Claire Taylor for passing on this picture of our Welcome Lunch. Her one word caption… “FAB” says it all. 

Thanks also to Mandy and her team for putting the whole thing on but particularly to all who attended. 

Krys and Bela report back on their recent visit to a girls refuge in Sri Lanka

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Krys Gadd and Bela Singh share their experiences, and in the galleries above and below some of their lovely pictures.  (To view these simply open up the gallery by clicking on any of the images) 

Bela and I went out in February for 10 days to a refuge run by the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy. The refuge is for girls who have suffered gender based violence and have fled there for safety. Krys has had connections with the charity since 2019 and this was her second visit.

Thanks to everyone in MBC (and many other people) for your financial support and encouragement. Bela and I funded ourselves to go to Sri Lanka and all the money raised last year and this has gone to help the girls, either with their day to day living costs or a number of projects that we have started.

Thanks for your prayers. It really made all the difference – no delays, illnesses, mishaps or even insect bites! Which for me is unheard of.

Your money and the donations of others helped not only with the running costs of the refuge but several projects. One weaving project was to make a bag from recycled fabric and another to make reusable nappies for the babies in the refuge. The sewing teacher knows how to make them and will teach the girls how to sew them.

The refuge is a happy place. It is clean and orderly but with very little of the extra stuff that we are used to. It really made me think about what is important in my life and what I spend my money on. One of the pictures in the gallery above is of Chandani, the refuge manager who is also a mother figure to all these lovely girls. She is standing in the television room. As you can see it has a television in it and some chairs.

There’s also a picture of where the girls sleep and to the right you can see some lockers in which they can keep any personal items.

Again, for me this was a sharp reminder that you do not need lots of stuff to feel safe and happy.

It was also so lovely to see some old faces as well as some new ones. The final picture in this gallery shows Bela and  I with our translators and the teachers. We had such a warm welcome which involved  very sweet tea and some sweet treats.

We had various projects in mind before we arrived. The first success was the bag made out of recycled fabric, woven on the rigid heddle looms Marcia and I sent out in 2020. 

Bela taught them how to weave in a different way. Firstly with fabric strips and then on finding some jute string, they tried the technique out on a table mat. I think it looks great and we hope to have the girls producing some of these soon.

Another success, the nappies. Here we have a picture of one of the babies modelling the latest one produced by one of the teachers.

The girls really took to crochet under Bela’s expert tuition. They were all really keen to model the bag they had collectively created

Some of you know about the tea towels. I spotted 15 of these and thought immediately: “These will sell” so I bought them for 300 rupees (under 1 pound) and asked people who would like to buy them for £4? I have orders for 61 and have some new ones coming soon.

We had fun too! Last year in the searing heat I was shattered after 4 days working  in the refuge plus another celebratory day. This year I built in a lot more rest time. In fact on one of the days we had off we went to see some elephants in a nearby sanctuary. Also the last couple of nights we stayed near to the airport, and this lovely shot, in fact the last in the gallery was the view just a few feet from my hotel room.

We left Sri Lanka feeling we had really achieved something. I saw the improvements in their use of colour, and the weaving from last year. The girls have stolen my heart; their stories are sad but they have the hope of a future in this refuge. When they leave, they have experienced love and safety. They have had a chance to finish their education and learn some new skills.

Thank you again for supporting them through your donations, items you have bought and most of all your prayers. If you want to find out how you can help by fundraising or if you are considering coming out then please get in touch with Krys.

Krystyna.gadd@icloud.com

With the focus on Lent, here’s Shelley’s weekly update…

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Dear friends

Lent began this week, the period of time 40 days before we celebrate Easter when many in the church choose to observe a renewed focus on God. Our lives get full of all sorts.  We carry a lot. Lent has been described as a time to turn away from some things, minimise, clear out so that we can reclaim space for Jesus and all He has for us.  Praying, fasting and giving to others all help, but it might also include other things that help us realign such as reading a verse a day, a walk a day, singing a song a day.  At the beginning of lent we think about the story of Jesus going into the wilderness; choosing to move away from the busyness and distractions to make space to hear God before he started his teaching, healings and journey to the cross.

Listed below are a few resources you may find helpful. 40 ways to give in lent and a devotional for everyday…

40acts: Do Lent generously

40 things to do in lent for all ages outside

Exploring Lent with Younger Kids – 40 Nature Activities Printable.pdf – Google Drive

40 acts youth wallchart

Youth_Wallchart_A4_Black_and_White.pdf

The lectio 365 prayer app (download on your phone) is doing a lent series now.  Do ask me or a Rachel B and we’ll get it sorted for you or point you to someone who can.

If you have something that is helpful do share it with others.

This week looks like this..

Sunday 9th March 11am service with group for young ones

Sunday 9th March Welcome lunch for those who feel ‘new’ and want to meet some other people, in church.

Sunday 9th March 7-8pm Rock Solid youth in church

Monday 10th March 10-12 midday Beacon warm welcome café

Tuesday 11th March 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and parents and carers

Tuesday afternoon house group, see Howard Dews

Wednesday 12th March lunchclub, see Rachel B or send a message to Lesley in the office

Wednesday 7.30-9pm house group in church, see Ruth/Andy Berry, also one in Alwoodley, see Diane S

Thursday 13th March 2-4pm warm welcome space craft group in church, see Karen or Diane S

Thursday 7pm bible study with Gareth

Friday 14th March 10am Bible study in church, any questions, chat with myself

Friday 8pm house group, see Jonathan and Hilary or Steve or Helen

Sunday 16th March 11am service with communion and group for younger friends

Just a heads up that the next church meeting is Tuesday 25th March 2025.  Agenda will be out by mid next week.  It will include budgets and current priorities.  Do pray and keep sharing if you have thoughts on how God is guiding us.

Last Sunday we were reminded of Jesus baptism.  On Easter Sunday we’d love to baptise those who feel they want to be baptised or feel God is ‘nudging’ them about it.  Do get in touch with me or send a message to Lesley to get hold of me if you want a quick chat.   

Last Sunday we connected with Gather25, the highlights are available here if you want to watch again or catch up here Watch the Gather25 Livestream

See you tomorrow

In Christ

Shelley

MBC’s Seniors celebrate World Book Day

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World Book Day was first introduced by UNESCO in 1995 as a plan to promote reading and books. 

Celebrated, other than in the UK on April 23, the date William Shakespeare was born and died, World Book Day has  now become a hardy annual among MBC’s Seniors.

However, to the avoid the possibility of ever clashing with either Easter or St George’s Day, this year, here at Moortown it was celebrated on Wednesday March 5th, just one day before the official UK date of March 6th. And once again a number of Lunch Club members plus Rachel Beedle, our Senior’s Worker turned themselves into book titles. 

They are (left to right) The Day it Rained in Colour, Little Red Riding Hood, Room on the Broom and the Pipe Piper of Hamelin. 

Gather25 – a worldwide gathering of Christians which through the marvels of the internet MBC could play a part

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There is no emailed update from Shelley this week, mainly because over the last seven days she’s hardly had a minute to sit down and draw breath.

However, instead, what we do have for you is a report and pictures of a truly worldwide event in which we here at Moortown played a part. 

Gather25 which began yesterday (Friday) was an unprecedented 25-hour global broadcast event telling the inspiring stories of the global Church, by the global Church.

Both online and face to face it brought together Jesus followers in churches, campuses, arenas, and living rooms from every continent and denomination across every time zone to worship, praise and pray.

At Moortown we joined the live feed at 1pm on Saturday to listen and watch a rally which was staged in Cluj – the Romanian city with which we have strong links. You can see pictures of this in the gallery below. 

An hour later it was quite literally our time to step up, which for us meant disconnecting from the internet and turning to a time of music, song and prayer. This, for the two dozen people present was a very special time, with a real sense of the Holy Spirit moving among us. 

The last hour which Shelley focused on worship and prayer through movement – both with and without flags.

With one of our sanctuary walls serving as a giant prayer board, and easels and paints feeding the needs of our more arty types, in all, Gather25 was a wonderful experience, particularly so knowing that our church was singing, praying, and even flag waving with fellow Christians right across the globe.  

Again you can see some pictures from the second and third hour Gather25 in the gallery above.  

Saturday March 8th, FAIRTRADE CAFE is revived and you’re all invited

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A message from Roger Robson.

Some MBC folk may remember the Fairtrade Café run by the Beehive in past years. Well, this year the idea is being revived by Churches Together in Chapel Allerton and Meanwood on Saturday 8th March in the Chapel Allerton Methodist Centre from 10am to 1pm.

There will be refreshments, Fairtrade stalls and good company. All are welcome to support Fairtrade and Green Christian organisations seeking to help tackle climate change and help those in vulnerable countries that are most affected.

Please come along.

Shelley’s message… 22 February

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Dear friends

Just a short email this evening as I will send another email on Monday as we have a number of things coming up.  I took a couple of days out of what I usually do with church to rest (in a Shelley kind of way) but I look forward to seeing many of you on Monday.

Tomorrow, we meet in the building at 11am.  There will be some linked activities using clay to connect in with what Phil C will be sharing.  Last week was a good time of fellowship and hearing from God although we had a problem with the screen and youtube.  Thank you to those who have been working on this through the week, we hope to have a livestream tomorrow.  Rock Solid youth group have a break for half term tomorrow but return the week after.

Just a couple of notices before Mondays email..

A reminder about the deacons meeting next Monday at 7.30pm

The funeral of Gillian Bayliffe takes place in church at 11.30am on Thursday 27th February followed by refreshments in church.  All who remember Gillian or want to support David and the family are invited.

Next Saturday we will be joining in with Gather25 from 1 until 2 (mentioned in last week’s email) then we will be joining to pray together for our world, country, city and church until 3ish.  Everyone welcome

Blessings

Shelley

Shelley’s message for w/c 16th February

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Dear friends

We meet on Sunday at 11am to hear from the next part of Luke in Luke 3.  There will be a group for our younger friends and communion too.

Next week is half term so if you want to go to a housegroups do check with the leaders or contact Lesley although to date I haven’t heard about any changes in housegroups/bible studies.  There will be no Lunch Club this week and youth meet on Sunday night at the usual time of 7pm.  They will break for a week on 23rd February and be back again on Sunday 2nd March. Warm welcome Beacon café and craft group are on this week as usual too.

We love to make space for people to chat over a drink and food and we do this every first Sunday of the month at café church (as well as Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays).  Lesley sent out an email this week to ask if anyone could help every so often with topping up water, sorting cups etc for café church.  If you can, can you let Lesley know please, it won’t be every month but if we have more people, it will help share the roles a bit and make other things possible.

Gather25

On 1st March Gather25 takes place across the world.  It’s a livestream of worship, prayer and stories live from 8 worldwide locations plus the persecuted church.  We want to partner in prayer and worship with brothers and sisters around the world.  The livestream will be broadcast in many languages.  We will be broadcasting in English and will be showing the livestream from 1pm in church which happens to be live from Cluj in Romania.  You will have chance to watch, sit, write, pray, sing during this time. Between 2 and 3pm we will have some live sung worship, art area and activities, map of the world, prayer.  Then 3pm-4pm I will lead a movement workshop ‘Prayer for 2025’ with props including flags for all ages and no experience needed, just come and learn how to move in prayer. Adjustments will be made for different fitness levels/abilities. The livestream will continue… the livestream then moves to Kigali in Rwanda and then to the UK at 7pm. www.gather25.com  I will send a separate email out this week but if you know you can contribute then can you let me know and everyone else just come along and feel free to invite people.  This isn’t about an ‘event’ but it is an opportunity to pray at the same time with many other brothers and sisters around the world and to be encouraged and challenged by how God is working across the world and to motivate us where we are.

Notice of funerals

We will be hosting the funeral of Gillian Bayliffe at 11.30am February 27th followed by refreshments.  All those who would like to remember Gillian or support David and her family are invited to come along.

We will be hosting the funeral of Jenny Trout at 4pm March 6th. More details to follow.

Change of Date for MBC plant sale It’s now 10th May!  It seems a long way off, but Jenny says “if anyone is splitting up perennial plants that have got too big, then it would be great if you could save and pot up the bits they don’t want so they will be nice and big and healthy by May time!  Probably not something anyone is going to want to be doing this weekend though due to the weather!”.

Wednesday worship songs of praise

There will be a songs of praise at Wednesday worship at 1.30pm on 26th February.  If you have a favourite hymn or bible reading to share can you let Rachel B know please.

Seminar on Cristian considerations of potential changes in law regarding “assisted dying” Venue: Woodlands Methodist Harrogate Date: Saturday 22th February 2025, 10.00 – 12.00 noon with breakfast available from 9.30 am Tickets: General admission: £5 Under 18s: free Tickets: On EventBrite Seminar – February 2025: Assisted Dying – Harrogate School of Theology & Mission  Session delivered by David Hanson, retired Consultant ENT surgeon, who in addition to his medical career, has been a leading supporter of WYSOCS (West Yorkshire School of Christian Studies) which became the Thinking Faith Network https://thinkfaith.net/about/

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

 

 

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