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Shelley’s news, 19th November

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Dear friends

We’ll be together again in the church building and online on the youtube channel at 11am tomorrow for a service with communion and a group for our younger friends and those who want to explore the theme in a different way.  It’s the last of our sessions on ‘fruitfulness’ and tomorrow we’ll be thinking about Growing in God and what healthy growth looks like.  It will be great to see you.

On the 27th November we start our advent journey which we are calling ‘Sky full of stars’ and tracing a journey of light in darkness through the bible towards Christmas.  There will be a full programme going out in the next week with cards for you to give out to others.  It would be great if many of you wanted to get involved in different ways over the advent season so have a look at some opportunities below…

3rd December – 1.30pm in the church building, come and decorate the church ready for Christmas!

10th December – 2-4pm Carnival Christmas, we’ll be welcoming our local community with festive drinks and treats, carol singing with ‘Steel Crazy’ steel pan band and making Christmas crafts.  If you can come along or you have an idea for a fun stall or want to help with refreshments let me or Karen or Lesley know.  You may want to help with singing along to the songs on the day, again do let us know. Even if you normally don’t sing on a Sunday morning in the band, we’d love to have you as part of this.

If you are musical and of any age and want to be involved in playing music at Christmas in some of our services, can you let me or Andy Berry know?  It would be great to have you join at this special time.

On the 17th December we’ll be having a wreath making workshop in church.  The workshop includes everything you’ll need to make a hanging Christmas wreath including festive drinks and a sweet snack.  We’ll be using a mixture of fresh foliage and seasonal objects.  Young children should be accompanied by an adult. Timings, prices and booking details to be advertised next week.

We are a now a registered warm space with Leeds city council from 9.30 to 12.30 every Monday.  If you can help with providing drinks, setting up, being around then do let me, Karen or Lesley know.  Or maybe you have a friend who would like to help with this who isn’t part of the church? It’s a great way to help bring a light to our local community.  Thanks to those who help already.  It maybe that we can do more so do keep talking to me if it’s on your heart to help or lead.

Beacon café takes place during this time and on the 19th December we’ll be doing a special Christmas Beacon with craft activities and Christmas refreshments. We’ll be talking to those who have already shown an interest in Monday mornings to get their ideas on this.

We’ll be producing Christmas cards to hang on the trees for passers by to the church so if you or a group you are part of want to make some then let me or Lesley know.  Its something that was very well received at Easter and last Christmas.  We’ll give you all you need!

Keep an eye on the website for more details on the life of the church at www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

Couple of other dates this week…

Sunday 20th November – Rock solid for young people in church at 7pm

Tuesday 22nd November – Space – in church from 6.30 for all ages.  It’s a chance to just be in a relaxed atmosphere, bring an instrument, sing along and have a busk, draw, write, pray, read, knit, wave a banner.  With refreshments.

Thursday 24th November – Worship teams get together at 7.30pm in the music room.  We’d love to see you to share some vision, pray, share where we need help and get excited about all God is doing through worship in church.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Col 2:6-7)

In Christ

Shelley

 

SPACE to be – 22 November

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Just letting you all know that the next SPACE service will be on 22nd November at 6.30 as usual. All ages are welcome to come and sing, play music, pray, draw, dance, or just “be”. 

Andy

BANNERS – it’s your choice

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Over the last few weeks Rod Russell has been busy thinking up some ideas and having new banners made. There’s a picture of the latest one above.

However, below is a list of suggestions that Rod has come up with for the future and we would like you to select your favourite. 

All you need to do is to select your top three and either speak to John Sherbourne or send an email to johns@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk

We’ll do the sums and send your top three off to the printers. 

1.  Walk in the Light of Jesus so your darkness will fade
2.  Do you live by God’s discipline or your own chaos ?
3.  Make life better for SOMEONE  today – and every day
4.  What matters – what you have ? (costs money) or who you are ? (free)
5.  Let love have the last word
6.  Live by truth and honesty with love and kindness – Jesus
7.   Happiness or contentment ?
8.  How will you be remembered ? By your possessions or by your personality ?

It’s an earlier start for Remembrance Sunday

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Dear friends

This Sunday you are invited to our service in church or online at the slightly earlier time of 10.45 instead of 11am.  This is so that we can observe the 2-minute silence as it is Remembrance Sunday.  We’ll be continuing our theme of Fruitfulness with a special link to remembrance as we think about ‘planting in peace’.  There will be an opportunity to respond creatively to the theme through artwork for all ages.

Then at 4pm we will have a short, simple Service of Remembering in church to remember those who have died. This is not specifically linked to remembering those in a war but for anyone of any age who has been affected by losing someone recently or a long time ago.  There will be an opportunity to light a candle for those we are remembering.   

Things coming up…

Beacon café in church on Monday 10-12midday

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

Craft group in church at 2pm on Thursday

Bible study at 10 in church on Friday

Please ask me or the Deacons about housegroups.

Thanks to all those who have offered to support MBC as a warm welcome space over the Winter.  If you want to help or come or find out more then do let me know. 

Next Sunday 20th November we have communion in church and the service will start at 11am in the building and online.  There will be a group for our younger members or those who want to respond creatively.

Rachel will be holding another dementia awareness session after the service on the 27th November.  It takes 45 minutes and anyone is welcome.  Thanks to those who came along last week.

‘Space’, a time to sing, pray, play music, draw, paint, dance, be…’ takes place this time on a Tuesday night on 22nd November from 6.30pm in church.  Come if you are curious.  All ages are welcome, come for a bit or stay for a few hours.  Hot drinks available. Talk to Andy and Ruth Berry or myself if you have questions.

All musicians and singers involved in leading on Sundays are invited to the music room on 24th November at 7.30 (starting no later than 7.45) for snacks and a cuppa and a relaxed chance to get together as one team to talk all things worship, why we do what we do, what might God want to do, how does musical and creative worship support MBC services and the wider community, how we can work together and what we might need going into the future.

Advent and Christmas plans are being made but if you have any ideas of things you would like to do and contribute to then do speak to myself or a Deacon or someone in leadership. We love to hear your thoughts about sharing the good news of Jesus. 

A few other things to let you know about…

Saturday 10th December 2-4pm.        Join us for ‘Carnival Christmas’ as we welcome ‘Steel Crazy’ steel pan band to lead us in carols and songs, crafts, Christmas snacks and drinks, facepainting, gifts, prayer tree, Christmas story trail and more… let us know if you want to help or have ideas, let your friends and family know..

Saturday 17th December              Wreath making workshop using fresh foliage and found objects…more info to come…

Sunday 18th December                 All age nativity

Saturday 24th December              All age Christingle

More information to come but let’s keep praying, sharing, dreaming, listening…

In Christ

Shelley

Latest news from our BMS Missionaries

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Following on from their summer visit BMS Missionaries Mark and Andrea Hotchkin, and from France John and Sue Wilson share their latest news. 

There’s a rough copy below but if you want to read the original pdf follow these links. 

For the Hotchkin message visit HERE 

And for the Wilsons go to HERE 

 

Shelley’s message for 6th November

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Dear friends

I am reminded this week that we have a God who sees us.  It was Hagar in the Old Testament, pregnant to Abram and on a dangerous journey through the desert fleeing for her homeland who was met by the angel of the Lord who “found her” (Genesis 16:7).  The angel tells Hagar what she should do and Hagar, encouraged by these words, calls God ‘El Roi’, the God who sees.  First God sees Hagar (Genesis 16:7-12) and then Hagar sees God (Genesis 16:13-16). Hagar felt God’s compassion for her and trusted God for her present and her future.

We too can call on ‘El Roi’ today and can trust that whatever we have experienced this week, God sees us.  Today you may want to recognise ‘El Roi’ as Hagar did and know His love and hear His words to you.

Tomorrow, we continue in our series about fruitfulness as we look at the fruit of the spirit at café church.  It starts at 11am and is planned to finish at 12. There will be drinks and breakfast pastries/fruit for all.  Thanks to those who have helped set up this week.   You can also join online on the Moortown Baptist Church YouTube channel.  Rachel will be running a dementia awareness training session after the service tomorrow which is open to all.  She can take about 10 at a time so do let her know if you want to join.

Our groups continue to meet next week with Beacon café, house groups (I know we have one in church on Wednesday at 7.30) and there are others.  There’s bible study in church at 10am on Friday. I am working on making groups clearer for people to find out about.  Do get in touch of you want to join a group. Craft group is open to all on Thursday.  Steppingstones and lunch club meet again this week. 

Next Sunday we look at fruitfulness and planting on Remembrance Sunday from James 3:13-18.  There will be a group for our younger members during the talk. The service will start at 11am. 

In the afternoon Shelley will lead a simple short service in church for all who want an opportunity to remember those who they miss who have died.  We will light a candle for each one.  It will take place in church at 4pm. 

On Monday, following Beacon, there is a short get together for anyone wanting to support ‘warm spaces’ in the daytime midweek.  I know this isn’t good for those wanting to help on a weekend or evening (we haven’t committed to this yet) but we thought we’d start somewhere.  If you help with Beacon or have expressed an interest in warm spaces and can make it on Monday after Beacon at 12.30 then come along.  If you come to Beacon feel free to bring your lunch as we chat.  If you can’t make it and want to help on other days, such as contributing to hospitality at café church or other times then can you let me know?  Thanks so much.   

Thanks to all those who attended the church meeting and have contributed to healthy discussions.  We are still replying to people following that meeting.  Thank you for your prayers, patience, and action.

In Christ

Shelley

 

  

Dementia Friendly training – 12.30pm, Sunday November 6th

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Next Sunday, November 6th, Rachel Beedle will be hosting the first of our Dementia Friendly training sessions. 

Immediately following our morning service (that’s as near to 12.30 as we can make it) this 45 minute session will introduce us to how best to go about addressing this increasingly worrying subject. 

There’s no need to sign up, simply stay behind this Sunday or turn up on Sunday 27th November for a second run of this fascinating course.   

30th October – Shelley’s message and a reminder about Tuesday’s Church Meeting

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Dear friends

As half term ends we thank God for his faithfulness in October.  As we see the leaves changing colour and falling from the trees in the UK we are reminded again that we live in seasons.  A friend of mine who moved to Gibraltar said the one thing she missed was the seasons in the way we have it here. 

In our two funeral services this week, we thanked God for the life of Joan Baker (Kate Slater’s mum) on Wednesday and for Michael Losits (Magdi’s husband) and in both we heard words from the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3

“..there is a season or time for every activity under heaven.” We live in a world of change, it was never meant to stay the same all the time.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 goes onto say that although in this world there is a time for beginnings and endings, that God is always the same and he has put something of ‘forever’ in our hearts.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men”.

So we live in the tension of being ‘forever’ people in an earthly world of change.

Thanks to all those who came to support church family in different ways this week.  We know there are a number of people with colds, covid or a mix and we pray for them too.  For all who have enjoyed holiday we pray it’s been peaceful and fun.

Talking of change, the clocks go back an hour tonight. 

We also have a shift in theme on Sunday too as we move into a mini series on ‘Fruitfulness’.  I’ll explain more about this tomorrow and to those I know want to be involved.  So it will go like this…

Sunday 30th October – Seed                John 15:1-8

Sunday 6th November – Fruit               Galatians 5:22-26  (café church)

Sunday 13th November – Planting      James 3:13-18

Sunday 20th November – Flower                   Matthew 6:28-34  (communion)

On the 27th November we develop this into our Advent to Christmas season…

Services are 11-12ish in church and on YouTube.  Tomorrow there will be a group for our younger members.

Many of our groups are back next week including Beacon, stepping stones, rock solid, lunch club and craft group.  Do check out the website or ask someone if you are unsure.

A reminder about the AGM and church meeting and update at 7.30 on Tuesday 1st November in church and on zoom.  Zoom link will go out on Monday.

In Christ

Shelley

Clocks back please!

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To suggest you all stay up until 2am on Sunday October 29th is perhaps too much to ask but please don’t forget that according to a long standing tradition that’s precisely the time we put our clocks back by one hour. 

I think I’ll do mine before I go to bed. 

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