The Good Shepherd. Sunday May 29th – 11am in church and on our YouTube chanel.
And don’t forget next Sunday afternoon (June 5th) is not only Pentecost but the day we will be celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in the MBC carpark.
John Sherbourne
Be Filled and Flow, from Jane Coates
In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and as a result, believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, the One promised by Christ, as owned, and protected by God. The Spirit is the guarantee, the first instalment, the pledge, a foretaste of our inheritance until the redemption of God’s own purchased possession, His believers, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1 v 13-14 AMP
Don’t drink too much wine, for many evils lie along that path; be filled instead with the Holy Spirit and controlled by him. Ephesians 5 v 18
Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians from his prison cell in Rome in about AD 60. Ephesus was a very large, influential, and cosmopolitan city in what is Turkey today, and was the centre of worship for the Goddess Artemis. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul was seeking to give clear guidance and teaching to Christians as to who they were in Christ and how they should live. Christians were under great pressure from the influences of their surrounding cultures. Greek culture at the time, included pagan gatherings called symposiums which often involved a lot of drinking in addition to their discussions and gatherings, and Paul would have been very familiar with these kinds of drinking parties. He wanted to warn the Ephesians against joining in with this style of gathering, which could often lead to excesses and so he encourages them to be filled, to be continually, constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul wanted to show that the filling and flow of the Holy Spirit would lead to change, give a greater self-awareness and self-control not less, and an enhanced performance not reduced effectiveness. The filling and flowing were to be continuous. As God’s love flows into every part of our being, it is intended to flow out, fully, and freely to others around us and in our sphere of influence.
“Let love in and let it out. You are destined to be a channel for God to flow through and not a reservoir that merely sits and collects things. You are special and God has special plans for you.” Joyce Meyer
I remember listening to a talk by Joel Holm, United Christian Broadcasters entitled The Fluence Principle and he used the scientific principles of ‘flow’ using the key words of fluence, affluence, influence, and confluence. He asked his Christian listeners to evaluate their ‘fluence factor.’ He was referring to fluence being our outward ‘flow’ of Christian love and care. Affluence being God’s abundant, generous supply and flow of love and grace to us and through us. Influence was that love flowing out, the direction of that flow, and who we shared that love with. Who is in my sphere of influence? Confluence was about flowing together and delighting to work with others. As a church and teams, we can be compelling forces with greater influence as we work together.
The Holy Spirit is God’s mark on our life, His blessing and grace, His transformation energy, which we should not hold tightly to ourselves. His love and grace are to flow out for others.
A Prayer
Just as the owner’s seal is pressed into soft wax as a sign of ownership, I ask for your Holy Spirit to make His mark on my heart and my life.
May my life reflect His love and may that love be evident to those around me and in my sphere of influence.
As MBC, may we delight to join together and work for your kingdom here.
Charles Wesley Hymn
1 GRACIOUS Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would gracious be,
And with words that help and heal
Would thy life in mine reveal;
And with actions bold and meek
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.
2 Truthful Spirit, dwell with me!
I myself would truthful be,
And with wisdom kind and clear
Let thy life in mine appear;
And with actions brotherly
Speak my Lord’s sincerity.
22 May – Communion Service 11am in church and on YouTube
Join us at 11am this morning (22 May) as we celebrate Communion together. That’s both in church and on our YouTube chanel.
Another terrific effort as Jenny and her team push our Ukraine Support Fund to over £12,500
At 1pm MBC’s Ukraine Support Fund stood at a little over £11.500 Three hours later that total has risen by a magnificent £1,363.
Once again, in what’s proves year by year to be one of our most succesful fundraisers our annual plant sale didn’t disappoint.
Besides scores of plants – everything from apple mint to sunflowers – the kitchen crew contributed almost £200 whilst a table of hand made craft more than held its own.
The few plants that are left will be available to buy following Sunday’s communion service and for Beacon regulars it looks as if Monday’s session will have a selection of real goodies on offer.
Many thanks to Jenny, Nicky and the rest of the team. Planning, setting up, tending the tables, “manning” the kitchen, taking the cash and in particular tidying away are not east tasks.
But extra special thanks to eveyone who grew and donated plants, without you none of this would have been possible.
Administrative Assistant needed at MBC
Role: Administrative Assistant
Church: Moortown Baptist Church
Location: Leeds
Salary: £10,799 per annum (£11.24 per hour)
Hours: 18 hours per week
Holiday days: 12.5 days + bank holidays
Moortown Baptist Church is seeking to appoint an office based Administrative Assistant for 18 hours per week (days to be negotiated).
Salary is £11.54 per hour which equates to £10,799 per year.
Holidays are pro rata at 12.5 days as well as Bank holidays.
Training will be provided as necessary.
This is an important role as the person appointed would be the first point of contact for anyone approaching the Church in person, on-line or by telephone.
They would also have access to certain accounts/money in conjunction with the Treasurer and also all important documents pertaining to the life of the Church.
Confidentiality and accountability are therefore fundamental to the role.
Skills essential:
The person should be a Christian.
The person should have good working knowledge of Microsoft 365
The person should have recognised and experienced secretarial skills.
The person should be able to communicate with others and work as part of various teams as needed.
Responsibilities:
The person appointed would be responsible for:
- All work on the office computer. (Some training can be provided).
- Producing minutes from meetings, some being taped from a Zoom.
- The typing up and amending of policies.
- Writing and answering a variety of letters and correspondence as required.
- Maintaining a yearly calendar and members listings, plus all other admin work as needed e.g. making posters or downloading children’s work.
- They will have to answer all telephone calls and check recorded messages passing the information to the required relevant persons.
- They will need to order and maintain all consumables needed for the smooth running of the Church.
- They will need to purchase yearly licences and maintain and pay bills to the necessary contractors used in the running of the Church.
- They will pay expenses to staff and volunteers in conjunction with the Treasurer.
- They will need to liaise with the cleaning staff and all other persons working in the building, which may change daily.
A personal handover and a written handover of the role can be made to the successful candidate.
A detailed job description listing the wider role is available.
Please send a copy of your CV to:
Mrs Karen Ross (HR Deacon)
Moortown Baptist Church
204 King Lane.
Leeds
LS17 6AA
or email LT@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com
All applications should be into the office by Wednesday 1st June 2022
Interviews will be on June 6/7thth 2022 to be arranged.
MBC Plant Sale – Saturday 21 May
MBC’s Plant Sale – which this year is supporting our friends in Romania as they reach out to their neighbours in Ukraine will take place here at church on Saturday 21st May.
Below there is an extract from an email that Jenny Dixon sent round the organising team; if there is anything in it that you would like to help with please make contact with the relevant person.
Plants:
– plants can be brought on Saturday morning or left behind the church garden before then if you can’t get in on Saturday.
– please do label your plants so we can tell buyers about them.
– please do remove dead leaves, slugs etc so they look as nice as possible!
On the day :
The plant sale set up will be 9-12 on Saturday 21st, with doors opening at 1. Our proceeds this year will be going to support our Ukraine initiative.
– we need to set up the tables in the sanctuary
– we need to put a price label (these will be pre-written) on each plant and bring them in to the appropriate table
– we need to set up for refreshments
During the sale :
– volunteers needed to tell our visitors about the plants and generally help them
– volunteers needed to add up the purchase value while people are queuing to pay so the till volunteer doesn’t have to
– volunteers to take payment at the ‘tills’ so the queue moves quickly through and people aren’t waiting with heavy loads
After the sale :
– clearing up!
So we would very much welcome help doing all these things. The most work-intensive period is the setting up.
– We also need cardboard boxes or big bags for people to put plants in, please bring them in to church any time
– Gwynneth is looking after refreshments (thank you Gwynneth) so please contact her if you can help out with cakes – they are always a massive attraction!
Please could you let me or Nicky Gibb know if you are up for any of these roles? We’ve had great help in the past which has been key to making the sale so successful. You can email me on jennyveg11@gmail.com or contact me on 07580 301641.
Latest news from Andrea and Mark in Chad
Ahead of their visit to MBC’s Beacon cafe on Monday July 25th here’s the latest newsletter from Andrea and Mark Hotchkin.
Life in Chad is never easy but as Roger Robson points out “this letter really does show how difficult and tough their life is compared to ours, it also shows their terrific dedication.”
There’s a taster to the letter above but you can read it in full by following this link.
https://moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/0522-Hotchkin.pdf
Carpet bowls – minus the carpet
Many thanks to John Hornby for sending in this picture of MBC’s Lunch Club playing carpet bowls.
No prizes, and yes I know we’ve given it away in the headline but can anyone guess what’s missing… yes you’re right, a carpet.
Never mind eh!
Christians as citizens
At our recent Church Meeting, when John Sherbourne introduced the discussion paper on Vision, I was particularly struck by the paragraph which read
“Share a Hunger for God’s coming Kingdom – by nurturing what the BU calls a ‘holy discontent’. Something that arises from our desire to give practical expression to our vision of God’s purpose. For example confronting evil, injustice and hypocrisy and challenging worldly attitudes to power, wealth, status and security”
I had already written a big YES against this before the meeting.
By chance, a few days before I had been to the first meeting since the lockdowns of Leeds Citizens, an organisation which MBC used to belong to, which we voted to leave in an earlier church meeting. I don’t wish to re-open that debate but would like to say a few things about Citizens in the light of our Vision discussion paper., and about our vision in the light of Citizens
Leeds Citizens currently has 44 member organisations around Greater Leeds. The majority are church groups with others from the Muslim and Jewish communities and a small number from Education and Trade Unions. Their purpose is [1]to Listen to their local people to hear what Issues, stories and experiences they have which need changing for the better [2] to find and help develop Leaders in those communities [3] To build Core Teams [4] To build Relationships with people with the Power who can bring about good changes in our society.
It seems to me that these aims (supported by many church groups) are not a million miles away from the vision “To share a hunger for God’s Coming Kingdom” and offer practical ways of Christian involvement in our wider society for good.
Not surprisingly in present circumstances many of the groups told stories of financial worries and needs and of trying to work with power to establish a Real Living Wage for people in our region – especially in the Care Sector. Other issues ranged from campaigning on Mental Health and Disability issues including for children as we emerge from lockdown (Schools are seen as very important in several campaigns), to improving local facilities such as footpaths and steps in some housing estates.
In the past MBC has run a “What matters?” listening campaign in our locality and Shelley is developing relationships with groups on our neighbouring Queenshills estate and with the Jewish Housing Association, and we have community connections on the Lingfields. Leeds Citizens will be holding an Assembly later in the year to work out the common issues to work on City Wide.
There are many other ways we can link, for God’s Kingdom, with other churches and secular organisations to bring about change and do good, and I pray this will continue to be a major part of our Vision as Moortown Baptist Church.
Roger Robson
New MBC Housegroup starts up this coming Friday
A new house group starts this coming Friday at Jonathan and Hilary Darling’s home which is in Adel. It begins at 8pm and goes on to 9.30. Alternating between the Darling’s and Steve and Helen Olijnyk’s home in Shadwell the plan is to run the group each Friday, for three months, that’s up until the end of July and then to take stock.
This is a really exciting initiative and anyone who might be interested in taking part is encouraged to email jonathandarling@gmail.com or steve.olijnyk@gmail.com