Dear friends
A slightly later email than usual but one I hope that is helpful over the week.
Firstly, a thank you to all who prepared for the meeting on Tuesday and all who came. The minutes will be out shortly. I shared from 1 Corinthians 12:7, a reminder that to each one of us we are given gifts from the Holy Spirit for the common good. The New Testament Greek word for ‘common good’ means to bear or bring together, so there is a sense of us carrying something together, combining what we have with others. This goes against any ideas of relying simply on our own self-development in order to grow, instead the gifts flourish when in community. It is good to be reminded of this through our reports on the year and current MBC news. I was also encouraged by your support for myself and the other staff in the team, so thank you.
At the church meeting people were encouraged to write down words or bible verses that came to them through the evening that God may be saying. I will make sure we add these to the minutes next week. They will be good to look out for and pray about.
The last couple of Sunday we have followed the events after Jesus’ birth with thoughts about developing strong roots for 2025. We looked at..
What are we following or choosing not to following?
What do we treasure and what treasure have we been given?
Tomorrow, we look at what happens when we are shaken?
The next week looks like this..
Sunday 26th January 11am Service with a creative group for our younger friends. Matthew 2:13-14
Sunday 26th January 7-8pm Rock Solid for youth
Monday 27th January 10-12 Warm welcome café beacon
Tuesday 28th January 10-11.30 Stepping Stones for under 5’s and their carers
Tuesday 28th January afternoon housegroup in building
Tuesday 28th January mission group meeting 2.30pm
Tuesday 28th January Deacons and Shelley meeting 7.30pm
Wednesday 29th January lunchclub (see Rachel Beedle)
Wednesday 29th January bible study in church building at 7.30pm
Thursday 30th January 2-4pm Warm welcome space craft group
Thursday 30th January bible study in building 7pm
Friday 31st January bible study at 10am in the building
Sunday 2nd January 11am all age café church ‘What are your roots like?’
Please contact me, a deacon or Lesley for more information on any of these.
Some other dates..
Next week there are two sessions run by Faith in kids, one on zoom and one at Gateway church on Thursday night. Click the links below..
Welcoming children with additional needs zoom.. click here for information..
Raising confident kids in a confusing world ‘in person’
Let me know if you are interested in going.
Also coming up..
Gather Leeds Mini Summit (including Launch of Leeds Lent Prayer Diary) (Tues 25th Feb) There will be food served from 6pm with stalls from the projects in the diary, followed by speakers and round table discussions about how we can impact the city. Please reserve your tickets here
The return of MBC plant sale Saturday 17th May! Save the date
As we start the week again, I am reminded of the words of Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde who spoke at Trumps inauguration this week.
“Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.”
In Christ
Shelley