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Shelley’s message… “keep going, don’t stop!”

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Dear friends

On an early morning long run I ended up in the city centre.  The weather was overcast and drizzly and it felt like I had been running for a long time.  Then a voice shouted from the bridge “keep going, don’t stop!”  The command woke me up from the greyness as I saw a man sat on the floor, wrapped in a sleeping bag.  Hebrews 10:24 says “And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.”  A spur is a small spike or small wheel a rider wears on their heel to help urge a horse forward or to direct the horse’s steps.  It gives direct action to the horse and complements the words of the rider.  It had the desired affect on me as I shouted thank you, picked up the pace and decisively picked my route.  It’s a thought..

This week looks like this..

Sunday 11am service with group for our younger friends and on youtube.  Luke 2:40-51

Sunday 7-8pm rock solid youth group in church

Monday 10-12midday Warm welcome space beacon café

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

Tuesday afternoon house group in church, see Howard Dews

Wednesday lunchclub, see Rachel Beedle

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

Thursday 2-4pm warm welcome space craft group

Thursday 7pm bible study with Gareth

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

Friday 8pm housegroup, see Jonathan and Hilary or Steve or Helen

Saturday 15th 9.30am sung worship breakfast at the toby carvery.  See Andy Berry for more information.

Sunday 16th 11am service with communion and a group for our younger friends.

Sunday 16th after church, Sunday morning pray group meet with lunch, Shelley leading a session on ‘Hearing God’s voice’.

We are linking with Gather25  www.Gather25.com We will be gathering for some prayer, art, music, dance in the afternoon to evening on 1st March.  If you have an idea, a prayer, a picture, a song please get in touch, it is a shared gathering.

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley’s update – Connections, 1 February

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Dear friends

Usually, one good piece of advice I have been given in the past regarding technology is ‘turn it off and back on again”. Usually, things sort themselves out.  Since my laptop and phone have been ‘temperamental’ this week I tried it out on them both.  For my laptop, it worked.  My phone was a different story.  Only specialised, high-powered intervention involving connecting the phone to equipment that was able to do all sorts of things whilst it was ‘asleep’ was able to bring it back to life temporarily. It’s a reminder again about the importance of being connected. Trees are connected to goodness in the soil to remain healthy and stand.  Tomorrow, we’ll hear more on this at café church starting at 11am looking at John 15.  There will be pastries, fruit and drinks and an activity to practically explore the theme.

Connection can look like many things.  If we are talking about connection to God, the word ‘prayer’ may come into our minds.  Prayer is one way we keep our roots strong.  Christians have always prayed but in 2025 there seems to be a renewal of focus to pray again, pray with others, prayer in a new way with or without words, pray across cities, across countries…

The Baptist Union have started some online prayer gatherings for 2025.  The first one happened last week but there are more throughout the year.  The next one is on 25th March.  Please follow the link below to catch up and join in.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Prayer Broadcasts

One of the Wednesday evening groups has started The Prayer Course by Pete Greg of 24/7 prayer, a course that has been run once already at MBC last year.  For more information for your own group or if you want to find resources for yourself or to do the course with others talk to Krys Gadd or myself.

On 1st March ‘Gather25’ is planned, see Gather25 | 25-hour Global Christian Conference in 2025 described as using the technology we have to Gather, inspire, share stories of the whole church around the world so that we can commit ourselves again to live the Great Commission and see Jesus everywhere.  There are 7 areas from where worship, prayer and stories will be broadcast.  These include the UK, Romania, Malaysia, Rwanda as well as an 8th area hosted by the Persecuted church around the world. I will share more information tomorrow and on a separate email but for now put 1st March in your diary (afternoon into evening)!  As well as the livestream we hope to have some live worship/prayer/art in the building as well as a Movement and prayer workshop praying in a new way for the year ahead. Do get in touch of you have a thought/idea/can help.

Also, aimed at those aged 13ish to 35ish or anyone with a heart for this age group including friends, youth and children’s leaders, teachers, parents, grandparents you might want to join us in ‘TheSend’.  It’s happening across the UK, 5 regions; Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Northern England and Southern England, similar to Gather25 with worship, prayer, inspiration and commissioning.  The big gathering for Northern England is at Leeds Arena on 22nd November and we have been invited to go to our nearest local pre-event prayer/worship hub (they are happening all over the region) at North Church on 8th May.  More information to come in the next two weeks.

Also, a reminder that all those who lead by playing/singing worship at any point throughout the week are invited to breakfast on 15th Feb at the carvery in Chapel A to hang out/share at 9.30am.  Each week there are different groups/bands so it would be great to spend some time altogether.  There will be a Tech team breakfast on 8th March 9.30am.

All our groups are running as usual this week.  Do check with Lesley, the group leaders or myself if you have questions and check out the website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

“My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:7)

In Christ

Shelley

MBC shares in a special Holocaust Memorial Day Assembly at Leeds Jewish Free School

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Last Monday, the 27th of January, Shelley Dring and John Sherbourne had the great privilege of representing Moortown Baptist Church at a special assembly at Leeds Jewish Free School to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. 

The 45 minute service, held exactly 80 years on from the date in 1945 that Russian troops liberated Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps, was a hard hitting yet poignant reminder of the evils of hatred, which not only led to more than 6 million Jewish men, Jewish women and Jewish children being exterminated, but also to the brutal massacre of hundreds of thousands of Roma, Slavic and black people, homosexuals and those with a physical or mental illness. 

By contrast, however, through the simple act of lighting candles, and the fine use of  poetry, prose and prayer the service delivered a palpable feeling of optimism and hope. 

Besides Shelley and John from Moortown, the event was  attended by the the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Marshall Katung, and representatives from many community and faith groups. 

The fact that MBC was invited to take part in such a meaningful event is yet further evidence of our standing in the community. That’s why I have no hesitation in saying that for Shelley and I to stand alongside the Lord Mayor, rabbis from a number of local synagogues, members of both the LJHB and the LJWB, representatives from West Yorkshire police and the leaders of other religious traditions, and then to be invited to light a candle and share a prayer with the entire Leeds Jewish Free School family really was very special. 

Shelley’s weekly update – 25th January

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Dear friends

A slightly later email than usual but one I hope that is helpful over the week. 

Firstly, a thank you to all who prepared for the meeting on Tuesday and all who came.  The minutes will be out shortly.  I shared from 1 Corinthians 12:7, a reminder that to each one of us we are given gifts from the Holy Spirit for the common good.  The New Testament Greek word for ‘common good’ means to bear or bring together, so there is a sense of us carrying something together, combining what we have with others.  This goes against any ideas of relying simply on our own self-development in order to grow, instead the gifts flourish when in community. It is good to be reminded of this through our reports on the year and current MBC news.   I was also encouraged by your support for myself and the other staff in the team, so thank you.

At the church meeting people were encouraged to write down words or bible verses that came to them through the evening that God may be saying.  I will make sure we add these to the minutes next week.  They will be good to look out for and pray about.  

The last couple of Sunday we have followed the events after Jesus’ birth with thoughts about developing strong roots for 2025.  We looked at..

What are we following or choosing not to following?

What do we treasure and what treasure have we been given?

Tomorrow, we look at what happens when we are shaken?

The next week looks like this..

Sunday 26th January 11am Service with a creative group for our younger friends. Matthew 2:13-14

Sunday 26th January 7-8pm Rock Solid for youth

Monday 27th January 10-12 Warm welcome café beacon

Tuesday 28th January 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their carers

Tuesday 28th January afternoon housegroup in building

Tuesday 28th January mission group meeting 2.30pm

Tuesday 28th January Deacons and Shelley meeting 7.30pm

Wednesday 29th January lunchclub (see Rachel Beedle)

Wednesday 29th January bible study in church building at 7.30pm

Thursday 30th January 2-4pm Warm welcome space craft group

Thursday 30th January bible study in building 7pm

Friday 31st January bible study at 10am in the building

Sunday 2nd January 11am all age café church ‘What are your roots like?’

Please contact me, a deacon or Lesley for more information on any of these.

Some other dates..

Next week there are two sessions run by Faith in kids, one on zoom and one at Gateway church on Thursday night.  Click the links below..

Welcoming children with additional needs zoom.. click here for information..

Buy tickets – Inspire (Children’s Ministry Leadership Training): Welcoming families with additional needs – Zoom

Raising confident kids in a confusing world ‘in person’

Buy tickets – Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World (Leeds) – Gateway at St Mark’s Church, St Mark’s Rd, Leeds

Let me know if you are interested in going.

Also coming up..

Gather Leeds Mini Summit (including Launch of Leeds Lent Prayer Diary) (Tues 25th Feb)  There will be food served from 6pm with stalls from the projects in the diary, followed by speakers and round table discussions about how we can impact the city. Please reserve your tickets here

The return of MBC plant sale Saturday 17th May! Save the date

As we start the week again, I am reminded of the words of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde who spoke at Trumps inauguration this week.

“Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.”

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley’s weekly message flags up MBC’s AGM, plus two special events aimed at anyone with a heart for children’s ministry, or welcoming families with additional needs

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Dear friends

We have the theme ‘Rooted’ emerging on Sundays.  We’ll talk more about this over time, something to think about. We are taking some time in January to look at the events just after Jesus’ birth to see what God might be saying to us about ourselves, our communities and the wider world. Last week we looked at Matthew 2 and considered what do we choose to follow and what do we choose not to?  I wonder if you have given it some time this week to ponder about the things you follow and the things you don’t in order to be healthy as a disciple of Jesus?  January is full of ideas on how to start strong, some helpful and some maybe not so but its good to have January as a month to ponder things through and be intentional, not rushing but discerning, writing things down, sharing and praying things over.  Tomorrow, we look at the treasures the magi brought and the treasure they found.  We start at 11am in the building and on the YouTube channel.  There will be a group for our younger friends and we’ll also have some stories shared.

In the evening Rock Solid for youth meets  in the building 7pm-8pm.

Most of our groups continue as usual this week apart from Tuesday afternoon housegroup and Wednesday housegroup in the building as they want to allow for people coming to the church meeting on Tuesday evening.  Do keep in touch with your group leaders or contact Lesley at the beginning of the week in case there is a change. 

Tuesday evening is the Church AGM and church meeting at 7.30pm.  It would be great if you can come to this to pray and share and get a feel for what has been happening in the church and what God is doing.  We thank God for all those who volunteer in all sorts of ways including all those who are part of this community.  There will be a zoom link for those unable to be there.  We will send it out next week.

I wanted to let you know that Faith in Kids are doing a few sessions across the country called Raising confident kids in a Confusing world.  Its for anyone connected to any child, so you don’t need to be a parent, just anyone with a heart for children right now (parents, grandparent, those who are like parents and grandparents to others, children/youth leaders/helpers…) Its on Thursday January 30th 7.45-9.30 at Gateway Church, St Marks Road, Leeds, LS2 9AF more info here.  I’m going so if you are interested let me know. Buy tickets – Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World (Leeds) – Gateway at St Mark’s Church, St Mark’s Rd, Leeds

There’s also a zoom training session on 28th January for welcoming families with additional needs… Buy tickets – Inspire (Children’s Ministry Leadership Training): Welcoming families with additional needs – Zoom for those involved in this area.  I intend to invite Children/youth leaders on your whats apps with some information so I will be in touch this weekend!

Finally this verse from Matthew 5:9 seemed appropriate at this time.  Do pray for all who work for peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

The Baptist Union have released a statement and a prayer that you may want to join with.  Click on the link below

The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Statement on the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

Shelley

Today and tomorrow – it’s business as usual, Shelley updates us after a somewhat challenging week

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Dear friends

The church building will be open tomorrow for a café style all age service at 11am.  There will be drinks available and some time to chat together.  A big thank you to those who came down to church today to help with clearing snow and ice, and those who have been monitoring it and working with me through the week.  Even if we had decided not to open tomorrow, it was appreciated and it helps us with the groups next week.

A few things to note:

The full car park will not be open tomorrow. The west side of the carpark (the bit that slopes by the creche room) still cannot be used so there will be a small team of people helping people park and move between the cars and building in front of the church and by the entrance and the bins in the available space.

Please use the usual entrance and exits to the carpark.

Please drive slowly.

We don’t want to encourage people to put themselves in unnecessary danger so we have a volunteer who is able to broadcast the service on youtube as usual tomorrow.

Rock Solid youth group is taking place 7-8pm at church tomorrow evening.

Decisions about activities in the week will be made after tomorrow morning.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to worshiping together tomorrow.

In Christ

Shelley

After a massive effort, Sunday’s 11am service gets the go-ahead both on line and in the building

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After a massive effort by a small army of snow clearers Sunday’s morning service will now take place both online and in the building. 

Obviously, with our car park nowhere near as clear as it would normally be we do ask that no matter how you arrive – by car or on foot – you take extra care both where you park and how you walk. 

Huge thanks to our intrepid “ice breakers” who incidentally varied in age from their mid teens to their eighties, because without them and their shovels we would have had to cancel our 11am service for a second week running. 

 

 

 

Shelley’s New Year greetings…

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Dear friends

Happy New Year!

Or as Donna Ashworth writes more eloquently..

“…when I say happy new year

I’m really wishing you more happy days

Than sad days

More joy than misery

More laughter than tears

More bravery than fear

And the wisdom to accept that they all belong”

For we know that in the difficult times, God is still good, Jesus is still faithful and Holy Spirit is drawing us close and revealing new treasures (1 Corinthians 2:10). Our hearts go out to people in all parts of the world who suffer, we pray ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven’ and look for ways to act where we are.   We also pray for those in our community, praying Gods healing and peace but also continually grateful for all God has been doing over the last year.  We may not always know what the next step looks like but we know Jesus calls us to ‘Seek the Kingdom of God first above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ (Matthew 6:33) 

We continue this journey on Sunday at 11am with all age café church looking at Matthew 2:1-12.  We have been focusing on a ‘down to earth’ God through advent and how we can be ‘down to earth’ too and we will continue to explore this over the next few weeks as we start the new year.  You could say that something that is down to earth is also ‘rooted’.  Last week we were reminded of how important it is to be rooted in God and how God weaved hope through generations of those who sought Gods heart above all else despite and through their struggles.

Next week..

Sunday 5th January – rock solid youth 7pm-8pm in church

Monday 6th January – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday 7th January – Stepping stones 10-11.30 in church

Tuesday 7th January – housegroup Tuesday afternoon

Tuesday 7th January – Deacons meeting 7.30pm

Wednesday 8th January – lunch club is back, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday 8th January – 7.30pm housegroup in church

Thursday 9th January – 2-4pm craft warm welcome group in church

Thursday 9th January – 7pm bible study in church

Friday 10th January – 10-11am bible study in church

Friday 10th January – 8pm housegroup

Sunday 12th January – 11am service with group for our younger friends during the talk connected to the theme

Sunday 12th January – 7-8pm Rocksolid youth

Reminder that there’s a church meeting and AGM on 21st January at 7.30pm in church.  Thank you for your prayers for the church and its work here in North Leeds and further afield.

Over the next week we’ll have more information about whats happening in the next few months.

Do get in touch with Lesley (office 9-4pm on Monday, Tuesday or 9-1pm on Wednesday), or myself or a deacon or group leader if you have questions about any groups advertised above.

In Christ

Shelley

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