John Sherbourne – Page 19 – Moortown Baptist Church

An update on Jane’s Encounters and Journeys book

June 18, 2023June 13, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken a copy of the book ‘Encounters and Journeys’ a collection of almost three years’ worth of weekly encouragements and devotional messages. I was more than happy for people to have the book without payment so that it would encourage and bless them, but I also hoped that by sharing the book, it might also help Wheatfields Hospice and Sue Ryder in a small way. Our second daughter Charlotte was a Sue Ryder Nurse at Wheatfields Hospice, but sadly died at the young age of thirty-six.

You will be delighted to learn that we have just transferred £150 as a donation to Wheatfields in relation to the books now distributed, some of which travelled as far afield as Australia and the USA. We have also been able to Gift Aid the donation that was kindly given in lieu of the book, which means that the benefit to Wheatfields is even greater. If you were not able to take a book, then please do wait for the reprint. I am hoping to have more books printed (100 copies were first printed) and we are in the process of getting an ISBN for the book. The journey is not over yet!

Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness.

You may also be interested to learn that a beautiful Memory Tree will be installed in the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice gardens in memory of Charlotte Joyce and her husband Richard, who died aged forty, a year before Charlotte. The Garden and Memory Tree will provide a space and comfort for families who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The Memory Tree is a handcrafted art installation and every copper, silver and gold leaf on the tree is engraved with the name of someone special. By dedicating a leaf to the memory of a loved one people can also help to ensure that the hospice continues to be there when it matters most for other families in the future.

Jane Coates

10th June – news from Shelley

June 11, 2023June 10, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the theme of how and why our mind is transformed over time when we look to Jesus as our guide and the spirit to work in us. I wanted to let you know that tomorrow morning at 11am both in the building and online we’ll be looking at this again. The focus will be ‘love hopes all things’ (1 Cor 13:7) and we’ll be reflecting through songs and words how love and hope are connected and this helps to transform our thoughts, plans, and emotions. There will be a group for our younger members tomorrow where we will be exploring this practically using clay. I’ll have some clay suitable for our littlest ones too if they want to have a go at some free play alongside us on the same theme.

What’s on next week…

Sunday 18^th June – Sunday service 11-12midday ‘Be transformed’ series

One sign of a transformed mind is that you like yourself despite the difficulties you have. You rejoice in your weakness, knowing that when and where you are weak, He is strong (2 Cor 12:1-10). There will be a separate group for our younger members. Communion will take place on the 4^th Sunday this month, not the 18^th, so if you are down to help and you can’t make the 25^th can you let Lesley or myself know please.

7-8 ‘Rock solid group in the church building for young people.

Monday 12^th June – warm welcome café ‘beacon’ 10-12 in the building, free snacks and drinks, open to all

Tuesday 13^th June ‘ stepping stones’ for under 5’s and their carers, 10-11.30

Thursday 15^th June – warm welcome craft group and drop in drinks 2-4pm in the building

For bible studies do get in touch. There’s no bible in a year on Thursday. Do talk to myself and the deacons about what you think you might like to learn, spend time doing or offer to help with for example, you might want to find out about some of the basics of the Christian faith.

Wednesday 21^st June – Wednesday worship after lunch club at 1.30pm in the building, all welcome.

Thursday 22^nd June – Dementia friends’ training session on zoom for those who would like to do it but missed previous in person sessions. Its 45 minutes exactly and led by Dementia friends’ trainer Rachel Beedle.

Sunday 25^th June – Be transformed service with communion 11-12.15pm

7-8 ‘Rock solid group in the church building for young people.

Friday 7^th July – Deacons prayer and leadership day

Baptisms

Thanks to those who offered to help. We’ll be welcoming people from All Nations Community Church at 2pm on Saturday 17^th June and some from Christ Temple of Worship at 3pm on 24^th June. If you are around on Sunday (today) after the service we can have a quick chat. If you aren’t around then I will make sure you all get an email on Monday and we can work out who is doing what. There are also two deacons helping out, Phil Commons on 17^th and John Sherbourne on 24^th. Help so far involves – filling the pool on the morning of the baptism, opening up and locking up afterwards and someone to welcome people. Afterwards we will need to drain the pool but that can be done on Sunday or Monday afterwards. There could be a few people doing each thing. I have chatted to both churches about risk assessment/details. The cleaners have kindly agreed to clean out the baptistry on the 16^th June.

Administration job at the Yorkshire Baptist Association

I have been approached by Debbie Gamble at the YBA to see if we know anyone in our congregation or known to us who would be interested to apply for a 15 hour administration assistant job based in Leeds city centre with the YBA. Hours are flexible and can be done for example on either two long days or shorter days to fit in with school hours. The link is here Yorkshire Baptist Association | Seeking a new Administrator (yba.org.uk) but if you would like a chat about it you can get in touch with Debbie on email at debbie.gamble@yba.org.uk

Training sessions

Saturday 8^th July 10-1.30pm in the church building. A relaxed session on self care including lunch for all those who support others. More information from Jane Coates, Mandy Russell or Shelley.

Saturday 7^th October 10-1.30pm in the church building. Loss, grief, and bereavement course led by Care for the family www.careforthefamily.org.uk for all those who would like help to support others going through loss. Limited places available so please book in with Jane Coates or Lesley in the office.

21 July 2023 – a reflection and discussion based on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s letter of 21 July 1944 at 7.15pm in the church building with refreshments.

On 20 July 1944, the plot to kill Hitler failed, and Bonhoeffer knew immediately that some of his companions in the resistance were already dead, and he and others were in even more danger. He wrote a remarkable letter from his prison cell to his friend Eberhard Bethge. It says a lot about being human, and being Christian, in real life. Introduced by Haddon Wilmer on why he finds the letter both instructive and inspiring.

Prayer day

Saturday 22^nd July. Please make a note in the diary, its in the planning stages so do have a word with Krys Gadd if you have ideas.

Couple of things to pray for…

It would be great if you could pray for our young people and children this week, that they will know the truth of God’s love and purpose for them right now. Please pray for all those who lead them and support them in some way in church. Pray we get more people who will pray and come alongside them. Thank God that we are a church of all ages and experiences and let’s ask God for His inspiration and heart as we grow together as a community.

Also, thanking God that we were able to host community leaders across Moortown and Alwoodley last Tuesday. Let’s pray that God will help us to keep working together for the good of our community, praying for our area and asking Him for His guidance in all we do.

“How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,” (Isaiah 52)

Shelley

Shelley: latest news

June 3, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

Tomorrow we look forward to café church at 11-12midday so come along as we meet together in the building and online. We’ll be looking at Acts 16:11-15, the story of Lydia and seeing how the holy spirit transformed the disciples and how the news of Jesus spread rapidly through the land, as part of our Be transformed series. Tomorrow is designed for all ages together so there’ll be a mixture of sung worship, video, stories,art and prayer as well as pastries, fruit and drinks to share.

After the service there’s a get together in the music room for all the yellow badge prayer team to share how its going so far and to pray.

Other dates…

Beacon café is back on Monday 5^th June from 10-12midday

Deacons and Shelley meeting on Tuesday night on zoom

Most housegroups are back next week. Do ask me or a deacon if you need any information

Stepping Stones Toddler group for under 5’s and their carers is back on Tuesday 10-11.30 in the building

Lunch club meets again on Wednesday

On Thursday, craft group/warm welcome space takes place in the building 2-4pm

There will be no ‘bible in a year’ group on Thursday next week

8^th July – 10-1.30pm Self /wellbeing session at church. More details from Jane Coates and Mandy Russell. A relaxed sessions designed for all those who support others.

Saturday 22^nd July – Day of Prayer. Its in the planning stages so do chat to Krys Gadd if you are interested in supporting in words or music or art or anything else…

Saturday 7^th October 10-1.30pm Loss, Grief and bereavement course led by Care for the family www.careforthefamily.org.uk in the building for all those who feel that the course would help them to support others going through loss. Do let Jane Coates know if you would like to come as places are limited and a trainer from Care for the family has been booked.

In other news…

The Yorkshire Baptist Association are looking for a part time administrator based in Leeds City Centre. If you are interested please email Debbie Gamble at debbie.gamble@yba.org.uk more information at Yorkshire Baptist Association | Seeking a new Administrator (yba.org.uk)

As supporters of Caring for Life (particularly at harvest time but I know many of you support throughout the year) you are invited to their supporters day on Saturday 8th July. Click HERE to view the Supporters Day flier with details about the day and how to get access passes.

Individual and family access passes are essential for entry and can be obtained (June onwards) from the Caring for Life office 0113 2303600 , via info@caringforlife.co.uk

Thanks to some of our volunteers who have been working on the tech side of the digital hub this week. We are still waiting for some of the equipment to arrive but you did a great job looking at where we need wifi and how its been installed in the past and how we can put the new equipment in to make it better in the future for all. We’ll soon have a guest log in for you to use when you are in the building…more news to come.

More work has gone on this week in terms of mending the base and the cross for the roof. Thanks to Rod and others for working on this over the last few weeks.

This week is National Volunteers Week and we are thankful for the ‘body’ of people who are the church following God’s call here in Moortown. Many may not call yourselves volunteers, it’s what you do as a Christian but it’s a good opportunity to say a big thank you to you all. As it says in the bible, the church is the ‘ekklesia’, referring to the ‘called out ones’ in Greek. So thank you to you all for praying, encouraging, serving, discipling, visiting, leading worship, administration, teaching and all the many other things done to support others of all ages as we pray “Let your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven” Amen

I had a couple of days away at the beginning of this week and the second half of the week was pretty busy with church things so if you messaged and haven’t had a full reply then I will get back to you in the next few days. As ever If you have anything you want to share, pray, chat about do get in touch and I will get back over the course of next week.

In Christ

Shelley

Our new cross puts MBC firmly back on the community map

June 3, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Who would have thought that two pieces of wood, blown off a roof could cause as much commotion as it did? But that’s precisely what happened when some weeks ago now, what many of us refer to as our disco cross blew down – or to be more accurate became seperated from its base.

Almost immediately the rumours started; was it because the church was upsetting it’s neighbours, or perhaps it was its twinkly lights that sparkled from dusk to goodness knows when, or maybe simply its ever presentness that was being missed.

Anyway as your leadership team were busy WhatsApping one another having been invited to suggest both the colour and the positioning of the lights, and as the issue was even brought up in a Church Meeting Rod Russell and his trusty second in command didn’t allow any such distraction to deter them from the task in hand.

To us here at MBC the cross, of course is a symbol of our faith and our beliefs, however, to many of the thousands of others people who pass by each and every year (in a car, on a bus, on foot) and who might never dream of setting foot in a church it had become much more than that. To them whether they were aware of it or nor something was different, something they may not be able to put their finger on but they were right, what was missing was the symbol of what MBC stands for, what it projects… the love of God.

Thanks Rod for helping us all realise the message we attach to something as simple as two bits of wood which, without us even saying a word mean so very much to our outreach.

Overflowing joy… John & Sue Wilson report from France

June 1, 2023June 1, 2023 by John Sherbourne

The latest prayer letter from John and Sus Wilson in France can be seen by clicking on this LINK

Know your Leadership Team

May 27, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Moortown Baptist Church, like every other church within the tradition has deacons or as we like to call them a Leadership Team. This is currently made up of eight members of our congregation who between them have somewhere in the region of 275 years working and serving in one area of ministry or another; you can imagine that for a church that only opened its doors in 1955 some of them must have done just about anything and everything whilst others we still call relatively new.

Nevertheless, our collective aim, our vision – particularlly post Covid – is to make MBC relevant to both our members and to the community we all serve. Whether that be through worship, prayer, all manner of community work – both face to face or online, pastoral care etc. etc. we know that as long as we put Jesus front and centre we are heading in the right direction.

If for any reason you would like to contact anyone on the Leadership Team please drop and email to leadership.team@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Another busy week at MBC

May 27, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

This Sunday is known to many in the church as Pentecost Sunday, the day when we remember the Holy Spirit joining with the friends of Jesus in a powerful way as they sat together in an upper room. We’ll read about it in Acts 2 of the bible.

When I was younger, I knew the day as Whitsunday and mum and dad bought me and my sister a new dress each. The name Whitsuntide referred to an old medieval holiday, a time when those who were forced to work the land were allowed a time to rest, pause, to ‘catch their breath’. All of us at some time need a time to ‘catch our breath’. Interestingly, the Greek word for Spirit in the new testament part of the bible is ‘pneuma’, often translated as ‘breath’. Amongst all the ups and downs of life, lets take a moment to ask the ‘pneuma’, the breath of God, God with us, the comforter to refresh us again. Let’s remember to ‘take a breath’.

Week of 27^th May…

Sunday 27^th May. 11 o clock Pentecost Service with a group for our younger friends to creatively explore the theme together. Also on our Youtube channel.

Wednesday 31^st May. Beacon warm welcome café. The day has changed from Monday to Wednesday just for this week. 10-12 midday, all welcome, free drinks and breakfast snacks.

There’ll be no Stepping Stones under 5’s group or lunchclub this week (but do come to Wednesday beacon)

I’m not sure which house groups are running this week so if you go to one do ask those who lead it and, in the meantime, I’ll try and find out!

Thursday 1^st June. Warm welcome space and craft group 2-4pm. All welcome.

Sunday 4^th June. café church 11-12midday. This was due to be a service with the local charity ‘Caring for life’ but they are now joining us on a different day. I’ll keep you posted. We’ll still be having café church and we’ll be continuing with our Be transformed theme.

After the service there’s a get together for anyone who is part of the yellow badge prayer team on Sunday mornings or anyone who is interested in finding out what they do and if it might be something they might want to do too. It will be a short informal time to check on how you think it’s going, facilitated by Krys Gadd. Feel free to bring your lunch.

Rock Solid will meet 7-8pm in the church building.

In the future…

Saturday 8^th July 10.00am – 1.30 pm at MBC Self-Care/Wellbeing session

This is for church community including the Pastoral Care Team, Church staff, Seniors Team, befrienders, and anyone giving long term support to a partner or family member in any capacity. This is a relaxed session designed to help us intentionally look after ourselves emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. More information to come. See Jane Coates, Mandy Russell or myself for info.

Saturday 22^nd July. Prayer day including opportunities to join together online and in the building. This day is very much in the planning stages so do let Krys Gadd know if you have ideas.

Saturday 7^th October 10.00am – 1.30pm at MBC. Loss, Grief and Bereavement Awareness Course

This course will be facilitated by a Member of Staff from Care for The Family, a Christian Organisation www.careforthefamily.org.uk Those who might be interested in coming along include the Pastoral Care Team, MBC Leadership and Staff, Seniors Team, House group leaders and toddler group leaders or anyone in the church family who feels that this course would help them support others experiencing loss or grief. Booking a place is encouraged as places maybe limited. See Jane Coates or myself for info.

Church Meeting 7.30pm – 25th May in church and on Zoom

May 20, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Our next Church Meeting is being held at 7.30pm next Thursday the 25th of May both in church and on line.

A link to the Zoom broadcast will be sent out shortly.

Shelley’s update for w/e 21 May

May 20, 2023 by John Sherbourne

Dear friends

I want to thank you all those who came up to the church building and took part in the plant sale, the service on Sunday morning and youth on Sunday night. There is always a great deal of work and prayer behind the scenes to all these things. We put a few posts on social media and chatted to the midweek groups who are part of our wider community and now most of the plants have been taken to a good home and donations given. I am glad I got a few myself!

Tomorrow we meet at 11 for our service in the building online. We will be sharing communion. There is a separate group available for our younger friends during the talk, exploring the theme of hope and prayer visually. We are looking at how our minds are being transformed (Romans 12:2) over the next few weeks and last week looked at hope; the idea that part of having a renewed mind is that we can find hope in difficult times. This doesn’t mean we are always hopeful, but that there is hope for us to access and this renews our thoughts and how we live. We’ll have the same reading as last week from 1 Peter 1:1-12 and I’ll be continuing this theme with you.

All the usual groups are on this week apart from Thursday night ‘bible in 24 hours’ as it’s the church meeting at 7.30. Gareth will be in touch with this group to look at alternative times to get together. All welcome to the church meeting where there will be updates from deacons, myself and other areas of church life. God is guiding us as a church so do share if you have any pictures or words that might help us as we discern all this.

Our month of prayer continues. If you want to be reminded of themes for each day or to join the prayer whats app then do find more information here May Day launches MBC’s month of prayer – Moortown Baptist Church

Next week we meet at 11am again and see afresh what happened at Pentecost. We find another way that our minds are being renewed is to realise that God is faithful and the impossible seems possible.

We now have access to wifi in the sanctuary linked to our digital health hub project. More news on this on Thursday night. We still need to sort a guest password to make it easier to access but if you want wifi when you are in Beacon, craft group or church on Sundays then do ask Rachel or myself for the current password and we’ll put you in the right direction.

Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”

1 Peter 1:1

In Christ

Shelley

MBC’s Plant Sale

May 13, 2023 by John Sherbourne

MBC’s Plant Sale once again gave us a hint of what in a perfect world our gardens may well look like.

Friends old and new and some folk paying their first visit to Moortown were soon at the tables and the cafe counter snapping up and sampling what we had on offer.

The proceeds of the afternoon were still being counted when this went to press so we’ll bring you the total as soon we can. However, this time it’s going to be a 50/50 split between Caring For Life, and the money we send to Romania to support the work they are currently doing with refugees.

Jenny Dixon and her team did a magnificent job; our thanks to you all.

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