John Sherbourne

For well over a year Moortown Baptist Church has been delivering a whole raft of online services and events via Facebook, YouTube or Zoom. With  a core team of around a dozen people this has been no mean feat. These broadcasts have included more than 60 Sunday Services (including Christmas and Easter specials and a good number of Communion Services) over 50 live Moortots/Oasis sessions, scores of weekly or fortnightly housegroups and of course numerous Church Meetings.  

Now as we slowly, surely but most importantly safely start to look towards reopening some parts of our building our need for volunteers to step up and join that team is as acute as it’s been since that first Sunday (March 22, 2020) when Church at Home was born. 

So who do we need? Well we need people to read scripture, people to pray, people to preach, to help unpack a particular theme, to make things, to sing, to introduce our live stream welcome… the list is almost endless. 

But why you may ask do we still need all this if as we hope and pray our “new normal” is waiting in the wings. The answer put quite simply is that even when lockdown ends, even when our doors are open wide and even when handshakes and hugs can be shared MBC will not be the same as it was pre Covid. What the differences will be and how as a fellowship we will respond to them is as yet unknown. However, without robust planning and a strong and resourceful team of volunteers working alongside them those charged with breathing life into any number of fresh ideas may just find the task overwhelming.

Please think prayerfully if there is a part you can play in helping to develop and sustain MBC’s “new normal” and if you decide there is don’t sit back and wait for self doubt to set in – dash off an email to ILT@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com

Thank you

At the age of 90 and just three months after losing her husband, Wilfred, it is very great sadness that we learn of the death of Irene Wyatt.

In addition to her commitment to many external organisations, here at Moortown to call Irene a pillar of the church would be an understatement. Her service to our fellowship included many many years of involvement in Sunday School and Family Church,  the pastoral team, the deaconate and of course Day Care. 

We will update you with funeral details as soon as we have them. In the meantime please hold Irene’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.  

In normal times, the annual assembly of UK Baptist Churches, organised by the Baptist Union and BMS World Mission, takes place over a long weekend in May or early June at a different venue each year. MBC usually sends its minister and/or official delegates.

In these Covid times, this year’s “Assembly” will be an online affair open to all both as individuals and churches. This gives all of us the opportunity, from our sofas, to share in the national activities of Baptist Churches and to worship and celebrate with fellow Christians from around the country.

The keynote speaker will be Shane Claiborne – an American evangelical speaker, activist and author. The Theme is:

“Heal our Hearts; Heal our Streets; Heal our World”

For a preview go to www.baptistassembly.org.uk

The Programme Outline is:

• Thurs May 13^th 7 – 7.45pm – In Memoriam – those we have lost.
• Fri May 14^th 7 – 9.30pm – Worship with address by Shane Claiborne
• Saturday 15^th May – 30am Baptist Union AGM
• 11am Bible Study “Dwelling in the Word”
• 12 noon BMS presentation – celebrating transforming 1 million lives and unveiling the new strategy for mission.
• 2 – 4.30pm Choice of Seminars on:
• ‘We can’t breathe until you can’ (racial justice)
• ‘Children, Young People and Families -building back better’
• ‘Walking with Jesus through a Changing Climate’
• ‘Mission Threads’
• 5 – 6pm Shane Claiborne Q & A

  Sunday May 16^th 10.30am – 11.40 am Sunday Service for All

With Shane Claiborne as speaker. This is a chance to share in National Worship. We are all encouraged to join in this service – usually the high spot of the Assembly

Anyone is free to join any part of this programme via the www.baptist.org.uk website.

OR you can register beforehand to be sent emails with joining instructions. Registration also enables you to choose the seminars you want to attend live. (Note – all will be recorded and available later). Register via the website.

As we seek to build MBC “back better” we pray this Assembly may be a great encouragement, challenge and inspiration to us as individuals and as a church.

Roger Robson

We’re delighted to report that you can now email your deacons any time you like. The address you need is either leadership.team@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com or the slightly shorter ILT@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com 

This account is specially set up to send your message to all six deacons simultaneously, a feature which we hope will ensure that what ever it is you are wishing to share with us you shouldn’t have to wait too long for a reply.