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Avatar photoJohn Sherbourne

Shelley – 20th January

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Dear friends

I recently read in the book ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May, that robins don’t migrate in winter unlike many other UK birds, that their bright plumage stands out even on the greyest days and they sing all the way through the darkest months. Occasionally other birds will sing in winter but its often to ward off other predators, but robins sing because they can, even though its far too early to attract a female robin in Spring, its as if they are ‘practicing for happier times’.  They sing for now and they sing for what is to come.

Psalm 59 by David is entitled in my bible: “For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.” David sings of his enemies being close, but he also sings……”But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” (psalm 59:16)

In Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas sing in their prison chains before the prison chains came loose and the prison doors flew open. And Jesus sang with his friends before going to the Mount of Olives (Mark 14:26)

Sometimes we sing and we don’t know why. Sometimes we sing and it doesn’t seem to ‘fit’ with what happening around us.

Like the robin, it stands out in a sea of grey. Like the robin, we sing because we can.  Like the robin, our song has lots of different notes, tones and variations.  And sometimes it’s a song of promise, for happier times to come.

Maybe it’s a good reminder in wintertime that we each have a song.  The song connects with who we are.  How do we encourage others in their song?

This week some of us have been at the fresh streams leadership conference.  John has written a short article for the website here Fresh Streams 2024 – discipleship in theory and in the real world – Moortown Baptist Church

The theme was discipleship.  To continue the song analogy, you could say it was about recognising the songs being sung in the land now, singing alongside others even in the darkest times and encouraging others with a song of hope… with a lot of practical steps along the way.  If you want to catch any of the main sessions they are free on youtube at the Fresh Streams Youtube channel, at this link (106) Fresh Streams – YouTube.  This years conference is called Discipleship in a Divergent world.

Thank you to all those involved in leading and facilitating activities this week, from lunchclub to Beacon, from bible groups to crafts. We also thank those who supported, either behind the scenes and on the day, the funeral for Ralph on Friday.  Do keep Tricia and her family in your prayers.  

Reminder of future dates…

Sunday 21st January – 11am service in church and online with communion.  Following on the story from the visit of the wise men in Matthew 2.

Sunday 21st January 7-8pm rock solid for youth

Monday 22nd January – Beacon café and warm welcome space 10-12

Tuesday 23rd January – Stepping stones for under 5’s and their carers/parents 10-11.30pm

Tuesday afternoon – house group in church

Tuesday 23rd January 3pm – missions group in church – talk to Roger Robson

Tuesday 23rd January 7.30pm Deacons meeting and Shelley

Wednesday 24th January – lunch club – see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday 24th January – Wednesday worship at 1.30pm in church.  More info here on the website  Wednesday Worship… following on from Lunch Club and in numbers growing rapidly – Moortown Baptist Church

Wednesday 24th January – bible study in church at 7.30pm see Ruth and Andy Berry

Thursday 25th January – craft group and warm welcome space 2-4pm

Friday 26th January – bible study in church.  Talk to Robert or Carol Owen

Friday 26th January – housegroup – talk to Hilary/Jonathan Darling or Steve/Helen Olejnik

Sunday 27th January – service in church at 11am and online on our youtube channel.

Next cafe church is Sunday 4th February 

There will be a pastoral team meet up after church with lunch on Sunday 11th February. More details to come. 

Next whole church meeting is Tuesday 27th February. 

“I will remember my song in the night; I will meditate with my heart, And my spirit searches:…” (Psalm 77:6)

See you soon

Shelley

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Fresh Streams 2024 – discipleship in theory and in the real world

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I’d never been to this part of the country before but Swanwick, just a dozen or so miles from the M1 in deepest Derbyshire is a gem. Set in acres of rolling countryside The Hayes Conference Centre has a gym, two lakes, ensuite accomodation for almost 400 delegates, four large conference rooms, over 20 meeting rooms, 2 resident artists and enough fabulous food to sit everyone down at one time and you’ll soon understand why I’m so enthusiastic. 

Looking through the conference programme is another matter; over three days there were five two hour worship and teaching sessions, sixteen what they called Digging Deeper seminars and enough additional odds and sods to keep you on your toes from the moment your feet touched the ground, from 7.30am until almost 10pm. 

There were four of us there from Moortown: Shelley, Karen, Rachel and I, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it – not sure if that’s the appropriate word but it seems to fit.

The opening “lecture” was given by Lynn Green of the BU and right from the start she emphasised time and again how in a time of generational change we should be more adventerous and be prepared to take more risks… bring it on! From then on working through four vastly different titles, four vastly different presenters concentrated in one way or another on the common theme of divergence.

The five conference lectures were broadcast live on YouTube (just as our Sunday Services are) and are available by going to YouTube and searching for Fresh Streams 2024. However, if you haven’t the time to take all that in please try and remember that as it says in the conference brochure “Our desire is to be a movement informed by the Word and inspired by the Spirit to speak peacefully in a world of violence, truthfully in a world of lies, courageously in a world of fear, compassionately in a world of hate and hopefully in a world of turbulance.”  

Amen to that. 

Shelley’s message for 14 Jan

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We look forward to welcoming Tim from caring for life www.caringforlife.co.uk tomorrow to share with us in worship and speak, at 11am in the building and online. There will be a group for our younger friends during part of the service. Rock solid group for our young people will start again in the evening 7-8pm in the building. 
 
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Rachel, two deacons (Karen and John) and myself will be at a leadership conference https://freshstreams.net/events/conference-2024/ we look forward to catching up with you all and sharing in our service next week when we are back. I’ll be on my mobile and emails for urgent matters. Otherwise, contact Lesley our administrator who is in the office Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning or one of the deacons https://moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk/about/leadership-team/ . Lunch club will go ahead lead by volunteer leads, John and Sue, supported by our brilliant volunteers. Beacon will take place with Rod (deacon) being the lead, supported by again a team of great volunteers, with Lesley and Mandy helping with the food pantry. 
 
On Friday 19th January I ask you to pray for Tricia and her family and the friends of her husband Ralph as it will be Ralph’s funeral on that day. If you want to know details about the service do contact myself, Lesley, Karen (deacon), Diane (deacon) or Tricia herself. 
 
A few new dates for you..
Next deacons meeting is Tuesday 23rd January 
Next Wednesday worship is Wednesday 24th January 
Next cafe church is Sunday 4th February 
There will be a pastoral team meet up after church with lunch on Sunday 11th February. More details to come. 
Next whole church meeting is Tuesday 27th February. 
 
Let’s continue to pray for Gaza. There is so much that we don’t have words for but let’s keep holding them in our prayers and look for wisdom and what we can do with Gods help. 
 
A few weeks into our new year, let’s keep looking at what God is seeing us and our community at moortown doing and pray for all those who lead us. 
 
I share a prayer from the Lectio app from 24/7 prayer https://www.24-7prayer.com/ who have had a series on ‘rewilding’ this week. 
 
God of the wild, in this new season I invite You to shape my soul with Your words and inspire my life through Your works. Show me where I’m clinging to comfort and lead me into greater wonder today.
 
 I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken. 
Psalm 62:1-2 (NLT) 
 
In Christ 
Shelley 

Thoughts and prayers – by Jane Coates

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The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.” Psalm 91 v 14 NLT

The Maji followed God’s leading by signs, star, and dream. They had ignored the disquieting voices in their heads and around them, that may have told them that they were unwise to undertake their long journey. But their instincts, the quiet prompting of God, and their research, told them to follow the rising, leading star.

After finding the infant, and in response to a dream, they were guided to find a new way home, avoiding a return to Herod’s palace. This new journey would be without the comfort of the leading star but God, in His mercy, gave His protection and safety to the Maji. They trusted and followed the dream’s instruction and the guidance of God. They returned to their own country by another route because God had warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. Matthew 2 v 12 Protection, safety, and grace were likewise given to Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus.

Being warned in a dream to escape from Herod and his anger, the family escaped to Egypt, leaving hurriedly, in the middle of the night, remaining there as strangers, and refugees in a foreign land, because Herod’s clear intention was to search for and destroy the child. Rescue, protection, and safety were key.

When they (the Mai) had gone, an angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream. He said, “Get up. Take the young Child and His mother to the country of Egypt. Go as fast as you can! Stay there until you hear from Me. Herod is going to look for the young Child to kill Him.” During the night he got up and left with the young Child and His mother for Egypt. Matthew 2 v 13-14 NLT

Two years later, and once again instructed in a dream, Joseph with Mary, and Jesus, returned to their homeland of Israel. Then again, warned by God in a dream, and with Joseph’s great wisdom and discernment, knowing that Herod Archelaus was now ruling in place of his father Herod the Great, and realising that Jesus could still be in danger, Joseph took his young family, to Nazareth, in the region of Galilee. Nazarenes were often treated with suspicion and caution by other Jews. Jesus was once called ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ in an insulting, derogatory way. But this move would perhaps keep Jesus safe. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. 

So, the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2 v22-23 NLT

Protection, safety, security, care, and certainty. God’s safe keeping is for those who trust in the name of the Lord. We may not have dreams, or hear angel voices, but may we lean into Him daily to discern His direction and know his presence with us each day of this new year.

There is no going back-only forward by a new way, a new path, a new road. Not a star, but Jesus is the light for that new path.

BLESSING OF THE MAGI
There is no reversing this road. The path that bore you here goes in one direction only, every step drawing you down a way by which you will not return.

You thought arrival was everything, that your entire journey
ended with kneeling in the place you had spent all to find. When you laid down your gift, release came with such ease, your treasure tumbling from your hands in awe and benediction.

Now the knowledge of your leaving comes like a stone laid over your heart, the familiar path closed and not even the solace of a star to guide your way.

You will set out in fear. You will set out in dream. But you will set out by that other road that lies in shadow and in dark.

We cannot show you the route that will take you home; that way is yours and will be found in the walking. But we tell you, you will wonder at how the light you thought you had left behind goes with you, spilling from your empty hands, shimmering beneath your homeward feet, illuminating the road with every step you take.

Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons © Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. Used by permission. janrichardson.com

Full steam ahead for a new year – Shelley

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Dear friends

Sending you all greetings at the start of the New Year!

It has been great to journey with so many of you through Advent and Christmas in some way.  Thank you for welcoming so many people to the building during this season whether that be in a service, a café, a youth group, a communion or somewhere else.  I know we have missed some of you due to ill health, travel to see family and friends or other commitments and we do send love to you from the leadership team, staff, and myself.  We have an active pastoral and prayer team so do stay connected with others and look out for those who may need some encouragement.

Next week many of the regular activities begin again.  Tomorrow, we meet in the building and online at 11am for café church when we look at another aspect of the journey of the stargazers as they travel to find Jesus.  Last Sunday we looked in the book of Matthew, Chapter 2 at the word ‘after’, a question and a sign.  There was an ‘after’ to the nativity story and that ‘after’ includes all of us.  This week we find the visitors from the East choose to follow the star, as was their rhythm and vision, despite the possible dangers.  What do we choose to follow?  What is our rhythm?  Where will that rhythm take us as individuals and as a church?

Other days to make a note of (maybe in a new diary?)…

Sunday 7-8pm Rock solid for youth in the building

Monday 10-12midday Beacon warm welcome café

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

Tuesday 7.30pm Deacons and Shelley new year prayer and planning meeting in the building.. dates for next few church meetings to be set.  

Wednesday Lunch club for all those who are booked to go and for the team of volunteers.  Talk to Rachel Beedle for more information.

Wednesday 7.30pm House group in church.  See Ruth and Andy Berry or Shelley for more information.

Thursday 2-4pm craft group and warm welcome space in the building.  Talk to Karen Ross or Diane Sunter for more information.

There are also housegroups on Tuesday afternoon (talk to Rod Russell), fortnightly on a Wednesday (see Diane Sunter), Friday morning (see Robert and Carol Owen) and Friday evening (talk to Hilary and Jonathan Darling or Steve or Helen Olijnyk).  Do check with them or with Lesley Murphy, who works in the office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday mornings for confirmation on when these groups start this weekNext Sunday, 14th January, we welcome friends from Caring for Life www.caringforlife.co.uk who will be leading our service.  The service will start at 11am as usual.   There will be a group for our younger friends during part of the service.

On Sunday 21st January we will share communion together as part of our service.

Lesley sent an email out this week about whether you would like to read or lead prayer on a Sunday.  If you feel you’d like to be involved then do let Lesley, a deacon or I know.  We are all different and bring something unique when God speaks through us so do have a chat if its something you feel God is saying to you.  There will be opportunities for training and support in the new year in different aspects of ministry so if you do have something in your mind, even if it’s not clear, then let’s start a conversation.  The key thing to start with is the heart behind what we do (1 Corinthians 13).

As we meet again, you’ll see the building has already started to be tidied after Christmas.  Thanks to those who took down the decorations this week.  I love the decorations but when they go down it makes you look afresh at the space; there seems to be more space again. Sometimes taking the decorations down highlights some of the areas that need attention.  I pray that we look at the spaces that God has given us with our physical and spiritual eyes.  Who are we making room for?  What spaces need to be tidied or fixed?  Which spaces do we need to pray over?  Who and what do we need to thank God for in those spaces?  You may have more questions..

As we approach a Sabbath day, lets encourage each other to have space just to be and to wonder…

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1

See you soon

In Christ

Shelley 

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Into the New Year, by Jane Coates

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As we take our first, few steps into this new year, we cannot know what 2024 will hold for us. There may be unexpected joys or trials, new challenges begun, or opportunities missed, dreams realized, or ambitions and hopes lost, new friendships begun, or familiar traditions lost. It may be a blessing and a grace that we cannot know the details as the year unfolds before us. We are asked only to step forward in faith, one step at a time. I am reminded of the accounts of the Maji, who stepped out on their long and uncertain journey, to find the promised child. The routes and resting places of their journey would be unfamiliar, hazardous at times, and strange. Their journey, with its distances, cost, risks, and the uncertainty of success, was perhaps their daily reality and challenge. There would be moments of confusion. At Herod’s palace, the Maji failed to find the expected One, although the star was still present. But despite the hardships, the unexpected, and the uncertainties, they kept travelling towards the child. 

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising.  

Matthew 2 v 9 RSV 

I love the blessing written by Jan Richardson. I have copied the opening section of it here but please do find and read the whole poem. 

A Blessing for Epiphany “For Those Who Have Far to Travel” © Jan Richardson from Circle of Grace: A Book of Blessings for the Seasons. Used by permission. janrichardson.com 

If you could see the journey whole, you might never undertake it; might never dare the first step that propels you from the place
you have known toward the place you know not. 

Call it one of the mercies of the road: that we see it only by stages as it opens before us, as it comes into our keeping step by single step. 

So, as we embark on this new year, may we be guided by wisdom, courage, and compassion. Let us cherish the joys, learn from the trials, and remain open to the countless possibilities that await us. May we take each step with intention and grace, and may our journey be filled with love, grace, growth, and new possibilities. 

“The road is revealed by turns you could not have foreseen.” Jane Richardson 

 

Happy New Year

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As 2023 breaks over into 2024 everyone here at MBC really does send you the compliments of the season. 

As last Sunday’s service continued to show we are a church on the move. Whether that be to becoming a more independent church, a more community minded church or whatever few, if any, would dare deny we are definitely on the move.

So let’s keep up this momentum and hand in hand with God let’s see in which direction He sees us going, and who in particular He wants us to help.   

Christingle 2023

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It only happens once a year but that sweet scent of oranges mixed with the general giddiness of the final build up to Christmas can only mean one thing… CHRISTINGLE.  Here are a few pictures from 2023. 

Nativity 2023

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Last week MBC held its rather unusual Nativity Service. Readings, prayers, carols and a fair bit of ham acting made up the perfect mix of humility and hope.   

 

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