Login

Avatar photoJohn Sherbourne

Christmas is coming, but MBC’s Christmas programme is coming even sooner

by

In six weeks time Christmas 2024 will be all but over, and we will have moved into that period of time that airlines and tour operators market as “Twixmas” – the days between Christmas and New Year. 

However, here at MBC, while December 25th is one of the defining days in the Christian calendar, the build up right the way throughout Advent can be almost as exciting as the big day itself. 

And that’s because our first “Christmas” event takes place on December 7th when between 1.30pm and 3.30 the Steel Crazy Band return to Moortown Baptist Church to once again host an afternoon of sing along carols and festive songs, book-ended by some seasonal treats and a Christmas Quiz. 

The following day at 3pm (Sunday December 8th) it’s our Stepping Stones Nativity to which you are all invited. 

Then the following week (15th December, starting at 3pm) we have what is fast becoming a hardy annual and that’s our wreath making workshop.  

Add to this a festive Beacon on the 23rd, a Christingle Service on the 24th and the following day our traditional Christmas celebration and you’ll see why once again MBC is throwing its doors wide open and saying to everyone within earshot that God loves them, and that’s the reason for Jesus. Of course, and actually it goes without saying, at the heart of that message is an invitation for them to come along and join us any time they like. 

Do look out for more information about Christmas 2024, either here on the MBC website or in Shelley’s weekly update. And remember what I told you, no matter how much or how little preparation you have made it won’t be long now! 

There are a few pictures from previous Christmas events in the gallery below. To look through them simply click on any of the images. 

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. The gate and the gatekeeper.

by
He strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
Psalm 147 v 13-14 NIV
 
Some years ago, I had the opportunity to serve on several of the BMS World Mission Short Term Placements. Perhaps the most memorable and significant for me, and where there was also a measure of risk, safety concern, and culture adaptation, were the times spent in Herat, Afghanistan, teaching in the International School, and teaching in the Pre School-Education Projects, in Luanda, Angola.
 
In Herat, the accommodation was securely behind high walls and there was always a gate keeper on duty, especially at night. Before I left the compound in the morning to walk to school, the gate keeper’s job was to open the heavy wooden and barred gate. He would walk down to this gate at the end of a long passageway, look out, then walk to the main road, to check that everything was safe. In the early weeks it was safe to walk alone to school or to go by tuktuk. But on some days, he would have to walk me to the school- a job which he hated as he did not want to be seen by others with a westerner. He would walk a long way behind me. But his main job was to guard that heavy gate to the compound. There’s a picture of The Herat Gate at the top of this article.
 
In Angola, a nurse, a teacher and I shared a house. My role was to teach in the newly established Pre School-Education Projects (PEP’s) placed in Luanda. The PEPs were often a two-hour drive away on dreadful roads. At night, there was a gate keeper at the door of the house. He sat all night in a small marquee in front of the house, and his role was to look out for anything suspicious or any threat. Many of the houses on the road had a similar night guard or gate keeper, and we would often hear them whistling and calling to each other through the night, alerting other guards to any possible threat. His was a nighttime role only, as during the day the driver of the jeep provided the protection needed as we travelled to the different projects in the areas where few westerners would be allowed to go, but where the need for the PEP was greatest.
 
I remember that heavy wooden gate with its strong bars across, the high walls of protection around the compound and the gate keeper. The gate keepers and guards were essential to safety and a measure of calm and peace of mind.
 
Psalm 147 begins and ends with the words’ Praise the Lord!’ It is a psalm which encourages us to praise Him for His protection and care. He is the all-powerful, creative God. Our God is the One who provides for us, gives security, strength, and peace. He strengthens the bars of our gates so that we can always feel safe and secure. He protects those that are within. He grants His peace to our borders
 
In heaven, there will be no need to lock or guard a gate as the gates will be permanently open. The gates will never be closed. There will be no need to feel unsafe or vulnerable, there will be no darkness but only light.
 
“The gates of the city will stand open all day; they will never be closed, because there will be no night there.” Revelation 21. V 25
 
But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Yes, I am the Gateway. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.  John 10

Shelley’s update – 8th November

by

Dear friends

This Sunday we meet a little earlier at 10.50 for a service together and a group for the children exploring the themes of remembrance.  Over the last few weeks, we’ve been looking at the story of Ruth and last week at café church looked at what a redeemer was and how restoration started to come back to Ruth and Naomi.  They were people who experienced tragedy, but we also see Gods restoration beginning to shine through, we planted seeds of hope.  As we look to Remembrance Sunday we see the sacrifice, we remember Jesus ultimate sacrifice and we are reminded that God is able to bring restoration through his love and grace.

Next week is also the United Nations Climate Summit known as COP29.  As we were reminded last week that Boaz restored both the people and the land, we pray for our planet.  Here are some prayer points and thoughts…

COP29: Is climate change a Christian issue? – Evangelical Alliance

Locally, Leeds had some climate action hubs so you can find out about how people in our city are trying to look after the planet.  Here’s a link to the Alwoodley Climate hub,

Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub

They have  an update meeting on how to help nature in Yorkshire, at St Barnabas Church on 19th November.  You need to book a place to go but its free.  See link below.

Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub – Nature & Biodiversity

Through the week, all our regular groups take place as usual, see the website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk or ask a deacon or Lesley in the office.  There are also information sheets in the foyer of church. 

Rock Solid is back on Sunday evening 7-8.00pm for young people in church.

Wednesday 13th November is Wednesday worship,1.30pm -2pm in the music room with drinks for those who arrive before 1.30pm.  The theme this week is Exciting God.  All welcome.

Next Saturday 16th November there will be an Art Exhibition in church 11-3pm with refreshments, all welcome.  It’s called Ralph Bainbridge: The painting machine.  The exhibition will include a large collection of canvases, framed paintings and unframed ink and powder abstracts.  Ralph was Trisha’s late husband, and he painted all his life.  Trisha and friends have organised the exhibition in aid of Parkinsons UK.  There’s more information on the website or you can ask Mandy or Trisha for more details.

On Sunday November 17th we meet at 11am to share communion, sing, share and look at Ruth 4: 13-22.  There will be a group for our younger friends.

On Sunday 24th November we have our service in the morning at 11am and then welcome Sue and John Wilson, BMS missionaries from Paris at 4pm in church around tables with tea provided.  Designed for all ages to come along, share food, hear how Jesus is working in France.

A little look to Advent and Christmas…

We’ll be producing some cards to give out about Christmas at MBC and to help us share the good news of Jesus.  These will include some of our services but also some festive events.  I’ll share more about Advent and Christmas next week as there’ll be opportunities to help, get involved and come along.  Here’s some of them for your diary…

1st December at 11am Advent café church

7th December at 1.30-3.30pm, “Sing along Christmas carols and festive songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band, festive treats and a fun Christmas quiz.”

8th December 3pm “Stepping Stones and friends” Christmas Nativity

15th December at 3pm “Creative wreath making workshop where you will learn how to make your own Christmas wreath to take home, materials and festive refreshments will be provided.  £10 each.  Please book in with Lesley so that we can provide the right number of wreaths and resources.  If you have a favourite pair of scissors/secateurs you may want to bring them along, but we will have some for you to use anyway!”

22nd December 11am All age Nativity

23rd December Festive Beacon

24th December afternoon All Age Christingle

25th December morning all age Christmas celebration

Finally…

The church AGM will take place on January 21st 2025.  It will be a good time to thank God for all He has done in the year and to pray expectantly for the year ahead!

In Christ

Shelley

The Painting Machine – art sale pays tribute to an extraordinary talent

by

To Ralph Bainbridge painting came as effortlessly as breathing. Whatever the medium, be it pastels, oils, acrylics, inks or charcoal Ralph, known to friends and family alike as The Painting Machine was little short of a genius. 

A lifelong painter, much of the work of this former Leeds engineer is soon to go on show here at Moortown Baptist Church as between 11am and 3pm on Saturday November the 16th, Ralph’s widow Tricia shares (and hopefully sells) some of more than 200 of his works. 

For many years, Ralph who died aged 72 and whose funeral was held here at MBC last January had Parkinson’s Disease, and whilst he’d always painted it was in fact the medication he was taking for this illness which, says Tricia, “turned a hobby into an addiction.” 

And that’s no doubt why no matter what the subject – portraits, landscapes, seascapes or merely something quirky that happened to catch his eye, the combination of Ralph’s imagination, that keen eye and above all his delicate touch made everything he approached come alive.

Looking back, the first exhibition he himself staged was eleven years ago, that was in 2013, and it was very much a home grown affair. That’s because one sunny Saturday, and out of the blue he decided to take his easels and a selection of paintings outside and  invite passers by in to his front garden to view his work.  From that modest start, and later, with the aid of a local school teacher The Painting Machine’s art work is now shown throughout Horsforth each July in churches, schools and community centres.

So, with much of the  money raised from the sale being donated to Parkinson’s UK it’s now our turn to show our appreciation of Ralph’s work.

Don’t forget 11am until 3pm, Saturday the 16th of November here at Moortown Baptist Church. Oh and I know there will be refreshments available because my wife and I are part of a team “manning” the kitchen. 

There’s a gallery below showing just a very small selection of Ralph’s work. If you would like to view it simply click on any of the images.  Oh would you also please note that we will only be able to take payment for pictures in cash and not by machine. 

 

 

Remembrance Sunday – in order to observe a two minute silence our morning service will start at 10.50am

by

This coming Sunday, that’s November the 10th, our morning service will begin at 10.50am. 

Being Remembrance Sunday, this slightly earlier start will give us an opportunity to gather ourselves before observing a two minute silence, in which we will pay our respects to all the men and women who throughout the years have fallen in combat. 

If you can please join us for this act of remembrance which will take place at precisely 11am. 

Shelley’s news for week commencing Sunday 3rd of November

by

Dear friends

We look forward to seeing you at café church tomorrow to worship together, catch up, have breakfasts pastries and drinks, pray and hear more from the book of Ruth as we move onto Ruth 4:1-12. Its an all age service so there are things designed for all ages and experiences including a planting activity linked to the themes.  We start at 11am in the building and online.

Through the week are activities are as usual..

Monday – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents/carers 10-11.30am

Tuesday afternoon – house group in church, see Rod/Howard

Wednesday – lunch club for all those booked in and the volunteers, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday evening – house group in church, see Andy/Ruth Berry.  There’s also a house group of women led by Diane Sunter on Wednesday evenings.

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

Thursday – bible study at 7pm in church, see Gareth Gadd

Friday  – bible study at 10am in church, see Shelley or send a message to Lesley for more information

Friday evening at 8pm – house group, see Jonathan/Hilary Darling

Do call or send a message to Lesley or ask Shelley for more information on groups through the week.  Lesley is in the office Monday and Tuesday 9-4pm and Wednesday until 1pm.

Next Sunday we have a service in church and online with an opportunity to think about remembrance.  This service will start ten minutes earlier at 10.50 so that we can observe the 2-minute silence.  There will be a group for our younger friends.

The next Wednesday worship is 13th November at 1.30pm in church.

On Saturday 16th November there will be a special art exhibition in church with opportunity to buy box canvases, framed paintings and hundreds of ink and powder abstract works created by Tricia’s late husband.  It is called Ralph Bainbridge: The painting machine. It will take place from 11am to 3pm.  More information to come but do ask Mandy, Tricia, or Shelley if you have any questions.  Messages can also be sent to Lesley to pass onto them.  It is open to all.  There will be a small table out on Sunday 17th too.   

On Sunday 24th November at 4pm, we welcome Sue and John Wilson for a retirement visit and tea at church to catch up with them about life as missionaries in Paris with BMS.  All welcome!  More details to come.   

More details to come about Christmas! Just a couple of dates for your diary and chance to let others know about…

1st December Advent café church together at 11am

7th December at 1.30-3.30pm, sing along Christmas carols and songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band, festive treats and a fun Christmas quiz.

15th December at 3pm Creative wreath making workshop where you will learn how to make your own Christmas wreath to take home, materials and festive refreshments will be provided.  £10 each.  Please book in with Lesley so that we can provide the right number of wreaths and resources.  If you have a favourite pair of scissors/secateurs you may want to bring them along but we will have some for you to use anyway!

“I know that my redeemer lives…I myself will see him with my own eyes” Job 19:25-27

In Christ

Shelley

In the most welcoming of ways a shared lunch topped off a wonderful morning of creative worship and praise

by

With BMS Missionaries Andrea and Mark Hotchkin leading our morning Service, with Communion and with a terrific shared lunch it’s fair to say that last Sunday, between 11am and about half past two, MBC pulled out all the stops in terms of being a truly community church with  world wide vision. 

Based in a hospital in Bardai, a small oasis town in the north of Chad, surgeons Andrea and Mark are currently in the UK on a month long home assignment. 

As one of their supporting churches it was once again great to catch up with them and to hear first hand exactly what in one of the most challenging environments on earth God is doing in their home life, in their church life and of course at work.

Special thanks to all those people who brought the Service together; to the worship band and Shelley, to Phil and Maria, to the people on the sound desk, to Roger our BMS rep, to those who brought in and served up the food and particularly to those that during Mark’s talk supervised our youngsters as they created some amazing paintings. 

Below is a gallery of pictures taken throughout the morning. To view them simply click on any of the images. 

Jane Coates. Thoughts and prayers, Empty and full

by
Empty and full –Father, may I live this day to the full.
 
When we were both working full time with four young children and both sets of aging parents living nearby, my daily and weekly diary was very full. It had appointments for the children, school events and holidays, parents’ evenings and staff meetings, swimming lessons, evening Uniformed Organisations, medical and dental appointments, church events and all sorts of extraneous events to fix in the planner. Life was busy and full. As the children were growing up and moving on then holiday and university visits were added into the planners. One of my busiest periods of time was perhaps the pandemic period when visiting many of our elderly church folk became extremely important. Those busy periods of time seem a long time ago now.
 
These days, my weekly diary looks rather empty. There are some fixed appointments, but now I no longer need that daily check on the diary to see what my day or week will hold- visits, church sessions, shopping trips. The diary has gone from almost full to empty. In many ways our human preference is for these busy daily and weekly markers that perhaps make us feel useful, significant, and essential. These markers and events are important to us and many of us keep our old diaries going way back in time.
 
Yet, I am beginning to learn that every day, -whether empty or full- is a gift from God. Each new day is the day that the Lord has made, to rejoice and be glad in. Psalm 118 v 24. Jesus is present with us in each new day-empty or full. His presence, grace and favour meet us in that day. So, whether your diary is choc a block full, or your week is stretching out in front of you with a rather empty feel and lots of ‘blank’ days, may we be thankful for what God is continuing to do for us and with us in each new day. That new day is a gift from God, and whatever that day holds, is known to God and can be used by Him and us, with thankful hearts. God will meet with us in each new day, -every day.
 
The Lectio 365 daily prayer begins with these words: Father, may I live this day to the full, being true to you in every way. We can give thanks today to our faithful God and He can use us in this day as He can use us at no other time. He has kept us in the past and He waits for us in the days ahead and our unknown future. We receive from His fulness grace upon grace upon grace, a grace that is continuous, inexhaustible, and limitless. May our today be full of His grace and presence.
 
“And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace”.
Words of John the Baptist John 1 v 16 GNT
 
May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3 v 19 NLT
 
Lectio 365 Prayer
Father, may I live this day to the full, being true to you in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost, proclaiming Christ in all I say and do. Amen.
 
Jane Coates 
23 October 2024

W/C October 20th. News and updates from Shelley

by

Dear friends

We look forward to joining with you tomorrow for our service at 11am in the building and online.  We welcome Andrea and Mark Hotchkin from BMS to lead with us.  We’ll have a group for our younger friends where we will look at the theme creatively together. We’ll share communion together and after the service everyone is welcome to continue the sharing of food in a bring and share lunch.  Do drop your food in the sports hall on the centre tables.  We have volunteers to sort out where it can go.  A reminder to bring cold pre prepared food that can be eaten without needing heating up.  Youth meet in the evening 7-8pm in church.

Monday – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents/carers 10.-11.30am

Tuesday afternoon – house group in church, see Rod/Howard

Tuesday evening – deacons meeting in church 7.30pm, do pray for John as he joins the team.

Wednesday – lunch club for all those booked in and the volunteers, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday evening – housegroup in church, see Andy/Ruth Berry

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

Thursday – bible study at 7pm in church, see Gareth Gadd

Friday  – bible study at 10am in church, see Shelley or send a message to Lesley for more information

Friday evening at 8pm – housegroup, see Jonathan/Hilary Darling

Do call or send a message to Lesley or ask Shelley for more information on groups through the week.  Lesley is in the office Monday and Tuesday 9-4pm and Wednesday until 1pm.

Thanks to all those who came to the church meeting last week.  Minutes will be out soon.  Do keep praying and continue the conversation before our next meeting.

Last Sunday in the service, at the church meeting and at Wednesday worship, we spent some time thanking God together for things in our world and our lives that we are grateful for.  Philippians 4:6 reminds us to “..bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.”  The letter goes onto say that the result will be that the peace of God “…that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus”. It does not mean that we ignore what is going on around us, but our requests are balanced with thanks, and this brings safety to our minds and hearts.  God wants us to see and act with passion but he wants our minds and hearts to operate from a place of safety and not fear.  Colossians 3:15 says “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”  It is this peace that needs to rule, not just have a place or a say, but be in charge, be sovereign, have the final word, over our minds and hearts.  This peace brings us unity with others.  A lack of peace can bring division and a feeling of separation.  We have been reading the book of Ruth together on Sundays.  Naiomi’s husband Elimelech appears right at the beginning and his land is mentioned throughout the book.  His name means ‘God is sovereign’ and it’s a reminder that even though God is not obviously speaking in the book, God is in control as Ruth follows Him.  The story continues.

Further Autumn Sunday dates..

Sunday 27th October 11am service with group for our younger friends

Sunday 3rd November 11am all age café church

Sunday 10th November 10.50am service with a group for our younger friends.  Note the slightly earlier start time so that we can have the 2 minute silence for remembering.

Sunday 17th November 11am service with communion and a group for your younger friends

Sunday 24th November 11am service with a group for our younger friends

Sunday 24th November 4pm Tea for all and a chance to join with John and Sue Wilson from BMS on their retirement visit and to hear some of their stories about mission in Paris.

There will be a short service in November to remember those we miss who are no longer with us.  Date to be confirmed this week.

Ideas for Advent and Christmas are coming together, dates will be out in the next two weeks.  Our Christmas programme will begin on December 7th 1.30-3.30pm, sing along Christmas carols and songs with Steel Crazy steel pan band and festive treats.

Finally, this week at lunch club, Prickly Pigs Hedgehog Rescue visited.  It was great to see a rescued hedgehog, but we were reminded of the decline in hedgehog populations.  Do check out the webpage here A Prickly Encounter – Wednesday 16th October – Moortown Baptist Church and for those who live in the North Leeds area there is a meeting at St Barnabas on 19th November on how to get involved with the local nature recovery plan.  Alwoodley 2030: Climate Action Hub – Nature & Biodiversity

In Christ

Shelley

As MBC lines up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, these words ring as true today as ever

by

 

   1955 – 2025. The past, the present and the future

 In 1980, Roger Robson, who first came to Moortown Baptist Church in 1955 as a ten year old, was asked if he would write a short history of the first twenty-five years of MBC’s life.  This he did, and I suspect that if you’re prepared to search high and low you might still find the odd copy. 

Anyway such was the success of Roger’s excellent account that twenty five years later, and to mark the church’s fiftieth anniversary he was again asked to dig into our archives, collate as much information as he could and update his work. 

You can see the front covers of both of these booklets above. 

The end result was the perfect example of how over fifty years a mix of documented fact, anecdote and old faded pictures can be drawn together to bring the past alive.   

In April next year Moortown Baptist Church celebrates its seventieth anniversary, and at our most recent Church Meeting  those that were there were not only challenged to come up with even more memories but if possible with specific stories that reflect the ups, the downs, the ins and the outs of MBC; a vibrant community church with world wide vision. 

Below you will see a few more quotes from Roger’s second book; the top one is a Charge to the Church issued in April 1955 at South Parade Church in Headingley to mark its founding, the others written since by either former Ministers or members. 

One more thing we can promise is that nearer the time you will hear much more about our forthcoming anniversary, indeed you may even be asked to help. But as for now all we ask is that you put your thinking caps on so that by the time we’re ready to launch our dedicated Anniversary Email address you’ll be all ready to go. 

    1955 – 2025. The past, the present and the future 

 

Subscribe to the MBC Newsletter

Weekly news and stories about everything that is happening at Moortown Baptist Church

PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com