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Shelley’s update for week commencing 5th October – our Harvest weekend

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Dear friends

We look forward to joining with you on Sunday for our all-age Harvest Festival at café church at 11am in the building.  There will be drinks, pastries and fruit to share and we will be exploring the theme of fruitfulness.  We will be collecting for Caring for life www.caringforlife.co.uk and the North Leeds and West Foodbank Leeds North & West Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis .  Here is a reminder from last week about the most needed items..

The foodbank has asked specifically for..

  • Tinned Soup
  • Cereal
  • Tinned Tomatoes
  • Jars of curry sauce
  • Tinned Potatoes

Caring for life has asked specifically for..

  • Tinned foods: Meat Meals & Veg, Puddings and Fruit, Soup/Beans
  • Dried pasta and rice
  • Pasta sauce in jars
  • Biscuits and chocolate
  • ​Tea/coffee
  • Cereals
  • Long life milk
  • Pot noodle, cup-a-soup

If you have some fresh fruit that you have grown in your garden and would like to share with the community on Sunday, then we’d love it if you could bring it along to share on the day too.  You may even have made jams or chutneys.. there’s a challenge for Sunday!

The service will be live on youtube so do get your drinks and croissant ready to join in online. 

After the service, the Welcome lunch will take place for those who are newer at Moortown and then Rock Solid youth groups meet 7-8pm.

The week looks like this from tomorrow…

Saturday 4th October Craft Fair 10.30am – 2.30pm in the building.  All Welcome, £1 entry going to the Sri Lanka girls refuge project.  See link here Coming up soon, a Craft Fair in support of a girls refuge in Kandy, Sri Lanka – Moortown Baptist Church  Homemade crafts and gifts for sale.  Cake and drinks available!  Thanks to all involved.

Sunday 5th October Harvest Festival all together at 11am

.. followed by Welcome lunch

7-8pm Rock Solid in the building

Monday 6th October 10-12midday Beacon Warm welcome café in the building.

Tuesday 7th October 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents, grandparents and carers.  See Diane, Hilary, or Lesley for more information.

Tuesday 7th October afternoon bible study in church See Howard or check with Lesley
7th October Overseas mission meeting at 2.45 in the building.

Wednesday 8th October Lunch club for all attendees and lunch club volunteers.  Speak to Rachel or Lesley for more information.

Wednesday 8th October 7.30pm Bible study in church.  Speak or Ruth or Andy Berry, or contact myself or Lesley

Thursday 9th October 2.00 -4.00pm Craft group and warm welcome space in church building.  Do pop in and say hello.  Speak to Karen, Lesley or myself for more information or if it’s something you might be able to join or support.

Thursday 9th October Bible Study led by Gareth 7.00 – 9.00pm in church building.

Friday 10th October Bible Study 10.00am – 11.15 in church.  See Shelley for more information.

Friday 10th October House Group 8.00pm – 10.00 with Jonathan and Hilary D and Steve and Helen O.  Do speak to them or ask Lesley or I for more information.

Sunday 12th October 11am church service Fruitfulness: shared stories Colossians 1:3-14

Sunday 12th October after church, bring your lunch.  Discovering prayer group.  All welcome even if you haven’t been before.  See Krys or Shelley for more information.  Theme is ‘unanswered prayer’.

Beyond..

Tuesday 14th October Deacons and Shelley meet 7.30pm in the building

Wednesday 15th October Wednesday worship 1.30-2pm in the building

Wednesday 22nd October is the next Psalm Writing/drawing workshop at 7.30pm in the building.  See Krys or myself for more information.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last…”

(John 15: 16)

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

MBC HARVEST – This coming Sunday, October 5th

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This coming Sunday, that’s 5th October is our harvest thanksgiving Café Church.

For your delight there will be a selection of breakfast pastries, fruit and drinks, and as in previous years two local charities – Caring for Life and the North Leeds and West Foodbank plus on this occasion our own Lord’s Pantry will be the beneficiaries.

To help you, here’s a list of things CFL and the food bank have requested… 

The foodbank has asked specifically for..

  • Tinned Soup
  • Cereal
  • Tinned Tomatoes
  • Jars of curry sauce
  • Tinned Potatoes

Caring for life has asked specifically for..

  • Tinned foods: Meat Meals & Veg, Puddings and Fruit, Soup/Beans
  • Dried pasta and rice
  • Pasta sauce in jars
  • Biscuits and chocolate
  • ​Tea/coffee
  • Cereals
  • Long life milk
  • Pot noodle, cup-a-soup

There will of course also be an opportunity to give money to either or indeed both of these charities; more details about that on the day. 

A series of three booklets in which John Whitehead asks… Is The Bible True?

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“I never meant to write a book,” says John. “In fact, I did not think I was capable of it. As an engineer by profession I wanted to look for the truth, subjecting the Bible to the findings of science, archaeology, cosmology and history, leading to a logical and reasonable conclusion.

I started writing this as a challenge to myself, but the more my writing progressed the more I realised this could be useful not only to other Christians who wanted to establish a more firm foundation for their faith, but also to enquirers into the Christian faith and even a challenge to those who are sceptical. 

Part one is the first in a three part series of booklets, titled Is the Bible True? Using the analogy of a lighhouse, Part one looks at the foundations, Part two the building blocks – the characters who contributed to the narrative and Part three the light, seeing Jesus  as the Light of the World.

Writing these booklets has strengthened both my own bible knowledge and also my own faith. When, or indeed if you yourself read them I trust they will do the same for you.” 

John Whitehead. 

Next week we are hoping to start serialising John’s books here on the MBC website. However, should you want your own copies all you need to do is to email John on  jdwhitehead1938@gmail.com and he will arrange everything for you.  

Special training course brings MBC’s first aiders up to speed

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A couple of weeks ago Rachel Beedle, MBC’s Seniors’ Worker organised a Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work course. Led by Matt from MR Safety Training it covered, amonst other things, such potentially dangerous situations as burns, stemming bleeding and knowing what to do when someone is choking. It also looked at the best way to deal with someone in shock.

Twelve people attended the course (the maximum allowed) and as our pictures show it was a real hands on affair with all trainees lapping up the chance to apply slings, resuscitate – in this case a dummy, and even give mouth to mouth. 

As John Clark, our Health and Safety Deacon told a recent Church Meeting there’s much more to keeping us all safe than meets the eye, it’s far more than knowing where the elastoplasts are kept and being able to say “now, now come on you’ll be alright.”

So the next time you’re in church, please have a good look round. You’ll find First Aid boxes clearly marked and spreadout through the building and our own defribulator in the Meeting Area.  

More Encounters and Journeys, a lifetime of adventures – a second book from Jane Coates

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Troughout her lifetime Jane Coates travelled far and wide. As the map above shows Jane, who at the age of 74 so sadly died last April, there wasn’t much of the world that either on mission, on business or on holiday hadn’t been touched by what son John calls mums “humanity, humility, her listening skills or her presence.”

The map itself which features in Jane’s second  book More Encounters and Journeys was lovingly created by Laura and  Lucy, and in pin-pointing places as far apart as China and Chile serves as a permanant reminder of a life well lived. 

That Jane’s book is available so soon after her death isn’t simply a matter of good fortune. No, as Phil explains in its introduction that was what Jane was like, everything was ready. In fact short of ordering them into book form the posts were complete, yet his wife of almost 54 years who, in hospital and just hours away from death was still insisting that he emailed out what was to prove to be her final Thoughts and Prayers.

For those of you unfamiliar with Monday Thoughts and Prayers, they were as the name suggests a collection of engaging and inspiring articles, always posted on a Monday, often based on personal experience but always underscored by the Word of God.

This second book, which incidently was officially published on what would have been Jane’s seventy fifth birthday is now available from Moortown Baptist Church. It doesn’t have a price tag, if you want a copy please, just help yourself.  That said, if anyone would like to make a donation rest assured it will, in memory and honour of both Jane and Jane and Phil’s daughter Charlotte who before her death in 2014 had worked at the hospice be sent on to Wheatfields.  

Just one more day to go to our Craft Fair. Again supporting a women and girls refuge in Kandy, Sri Lanka

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There’s now just one day to go until Krys Gadd hosts our third annual Craft Fair.

Saturday October 4th, between 10.30am and 2.30pm, here at MBC are the date, time and venue for this amazing event.

Table holders, who have bought their tables for £15 and have also donated a raffle prize get to keep any profits they make, whereas everything Krys makes will go towards supporting a girl’s refuge in Kandy, Sri Lanka. 

Above you can see just a small selection of the home made crafts that will be on sale on the day. And, on top of the advertised raffle there’e also a seperate one with the winner walking away with a fabulous hand made throw. 

Please put this date in your diary, it’s a wonderful cause and brings real hope to the women and girls who either live in or use the refuge’s facilities. 

You can read a report of how Krys and Bela (another MBC member) got on when they visited Kandy earlier in the year by following this link https://moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk/krys-and-bela-report-back-on-their-recent-visit-to-a-girls-refuge-in-sri-lanka/#more-61225

An update on MBC’s summer exhibition. See your “unique” take on the Fruit of the Spirit

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Every year the Royal Academy in London mounts a special summer exhibition. The purpose being to encourage people to think about a specific topic in a new way. You can find out all about this year’s exhibition by visiting https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2025

Taking a leaf out of the Royal Acedemy’s book we too are mounting a summer exhibition, based on The Holy Spirit, the very same theme we are exploring in our Sunday services.

And in what some might consider to be a rather rash move we are asking you to contribute by submitting your very own take on what you imagine the Fruit of the Spirit – that’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control to be like.

You can approach this in which ever way you want: by painting, drawing, photography, writing, crafting, doodling – in fact you name it and it’s fine with us. 

With all ages and all levels of expertise invited to take part, few of us have any excuses for not joining in. In fact as Shelley said in one of her recent emails “half an explored idea is good too.” 

So, as and when you’ve finished your entry please hand it to Shelley or to Lesley and they’ll take it to the next stage. 

Shelley’s news for w/c Sunday 21 September

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Dear friends

We look forward to joining together in person or online at 11am as we continue our theme of the person of the Holy Spirit.  Currently we are exploring the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in our lives. This is the time of year when some people reap a harvest in their gardens or green houses, fruit including apples, tomatoes and plums being grown and shared with others.  You may have been blackberry picking as Rachel was sharing about at Wednesday Worship.  People are making pies, crumbles or simply enjoying the fruit as it comes.  It’s such a good picture of how the fruit of the Holy Spirit is shared and passed on in lots of different ways, forms and combinations to produce energy, enjoyment and nourishment.

This week..

Sunday 21st September 11am Service with communion.  Fruit of the Spirit: Self Control.  There will be a group for our younger friends to explore the theme creatively together after the first introduction to the theme.  Prayer available after the service. 

Sunday 21st September 7-8pm in church building, Rock Solid for young people.  Do ask if you want more information.

Monday 22nd September 10-12 midday Beacon warm welcome café in the building

Tuesday 23rd September 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their parents, grandparents and carers.  See Diane, Hilary or Lesley for more information.

Tuesday 23rd September afternoon bible study in church See Howard or check with Lesley
Tuesday 23rd at 7.30pm AGM and church meeting in church 7.30pm.  Everyone welcome.  If you are unable to make it but want to be part of the meeting, a zoom link will go out on the day.  Please have your cameras on if you are voting.

Wednesday 24th September Lunch club for all attendees and the lunch club volunteers.  Speak to Rachel or Lesley for more information.

Wednesday 24th September 7.30pm Bible study in church.  Speak or Ruth or Andy Berry, or contact myself or Lesley

Wednesday 24th September 7.30pm Creative Psalm Writing/Drawing group.  See Krys or ask Lesley for details.  In church.  All welcome.

Thursday 25th September 2.00 -4.00pm Craft group and warm welcome space in church building.  Do pop in and say hello.  Speak to Karen, Lesley or myself for more information.

Thursday 26th September Bible Study led by Gareth 7.00 – 9.00pm in church building.

Friday 27th September Bible Study 10.00am – 11.15 in church.  See Shelley for more information.

Friday 27th September House Group 8.00pm – 10.00 with Jonathan and Hilary D and Steve and Helen O.  Do speak to them or ask Lesley or I for more information.

Sunday 28th September Church with group for children to explore the theme creatively.  The Fruit of the Spirit:  Galatians 5: 22-24

Sunday 28th September 7-8pm Rock Solid for youth in Church.

Beyond…

Saturday 4th October Craft Fair See link here Coming up soon, a Craft Fair in support of a girls refuge in Kandy, Sri Lanka – Moortown Baptist Church  If anyone would like to make a cake to go alongside the teas/coffees at the craft fair could you let Krys or Lesley know please? Thanks so much! (no fresh cream or nuts)

Sunday 5th October café Church Harvest festival.  More information to come next week.

Sunday 5th October Welcome lunch for those who feel they are new to Moortown and want to find out more or get to know some other people.  Speak to Mandy or contact Lesley or Shelley and they will point you in the right direction.

A couple of other things going on in Leeds…

Prophet or Provider: the Hook Lecture “How to be a prophetic voice for change while meeting the needs of those at the margins”

Prophet or Provider: The Hook Lecture 2025 Tickets, Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM | Eventbrite

Morning course supporting children and young people’s leaders

Ministry with Children and Young People – Pudsey Parish Church – Diocese of Leeds Learning

Day conference on Isaiah: Discover the Hope of Gods promise with Rev Jon Swales

Conferences – Leeds School of Theology

Thanks to all those who qualified as a First Aiders and completed the course today.  We’ll make sure there is a list on the wall.  Thanks for giving of your time to serve in this way so that we can be a safer place to be!

In Christ

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

National Week of Prayer 2025 starts Saturday September 6th

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National Week of Prayer 2025, 6th to the 14 th of September 2025.

It says in Matthew 18:20 “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven”.

In this National Week of Prayer 2025, we have an opportunity to pray collectively as a church and as a nation. Take time to reflect and pray each day about the topics in the list we have put together. You may wish to journal, paint, draw or write what God might be saying to you in your times of prayer.

Date Prayer Points
6 th September The World – the planet, environmental issues.

7 th September The World – wars, disasters, opportunities and consistent prayer.

8 th September The world and the global church.

9 th September Europe in general and our place in Europe.

10 th September Great Britain –the nations and being part of the UK, the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

11 th September Leeds – people who are marginalised, disabled, homeless, unemployed, refugees, physical and mental illness.
Opportunities and noticing where God is at work.

12 th September Moortown and MBC – the communities we are involved in
the surrounding area. What God is doing near to you and
how you could be involved.

13 th September Our family and friends, neighbours locally and far away.

14 th September Us and our relationship with God.

At the end of the week please reflect on which prayer(s) you would like to share. Then either write or draw out your prayer which we can then include in our Book of Prayer.

https://www.nationalweekofprayer.uk/

 

Two young visitors to Warm Space pictured with the “owl” trophy MBC jointly won in the Leeds Compassionate City Awards

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The first Compassionate City Awards scheme took place in Leeds in 2017. Its aim was to recognise the time, the effort and the dedication shown by volunteers (individuals and groups) throughout the city that like many other places could see its population facing up to enormous economic difficulties.  

By 2023, the first year MBC was recognised, more than 200 organisations had stepped forward to become part of what by then had become the Warm Space Project. These including all Leeds City Council Community Hubs and Libraries, many faith-based groups and no end of supporters from both the private and the third sector.

The idea was simple: to offer opportunities for people to gather for free in a warm, safe, and welcoming space.

As you can see from the picture above, the trophy MBC shares is by custom a statue in the form of an owl. And we’ll be looking after him or her for the next three or four weeks before we need to pass it on to the next worthy winner. 

To use the word “buzzing” to describe something that each and every week sees Beacon, our Warm Space, alive with laughter and conversation should perhaps be described as a contradiction in terms: yes, it’s one thing to say that alongside the Lord’s Pantry MBC is blessed to be in a position to offer anyone and everyone the most basic support. But it’s also sad, in fact it’s oh so sad to think that the need for us to provide such a service still exists. 

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