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Shelley’s weekly message flags up MBC’s AGM, plus two special events aimed at anyone with a heart for children’s ministry, or welcoming families with additional needs

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Dear friends

We have the theme ‘Rooted’ emerging on Sundays.  We’ll talk more about this over time, something to think about. We are taking some time in January to look at the events just after Jesus’ birth to see what God might be saying to us about ourselves, our communities and the wider world. Last week we looked at Matthew 2 and considered what do we choose to follow and what do we choose not to?  I wonder if you have given it some time this week to ponder about the things you follow and the things you don’t in order to be healthy as a disciple of Jesus?  January is full of ideas on how to start strong, some helpful and some maybe not so but its good to have January as a month to ponder things through and be intentional, not rushing but discerning, writing things down, sharing and praying things over.  Tomorrow, we look at the treasures the magi brought and the treasure they found.  We start at 11am in the building and on the YouTube channel.  There will be a group for our younger friends and we’ll also have some stories shared.

In the evening Rock Solid for youth meets  in the building 7pm-8pm.

Most of our groups continue as usual this week apart from Tuesday afternoon housegroup and Wednesday housegroup in the building as they want to allow for people coming to the church meeting on Tuesday evening.  Do keep in touch with your group leaders or contact Lesley at the beginning of the week in case there is a change. 

Tuesday evening is the Church AGM and church meeting at 7.30pm.  It would be great if you can come to this to pray and share and get a feel for what has been happening in the church and what God is doing.  We thank God for all those who volunteer in all sorts of ways including all those who are part of this community.  There will be a zoom link for those unable to be there.  We will send it out next week.

I wanted to let you know that Faith in Kids are doing a few sessions across the country called Raising confident kids in a Confusing world.  Its for anyone connected to any child, so you don’t need to be a parent, just anyone with a heart for children right now (parents, grandparent, those who are like parents and grandparents to others, children/youth leaders/helpers…) Its on Thursday January 30th 7.45-9.30 at Gateway Church, St Marks Road, Leeds, LS2 9AF more info here.  I’m going so if you are interested let me know. Buy tickets – Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World (Leeds) – Gateway at St Mark’s Church, St Mark’s Rd, Leeds

There’s also a zoom training session on 28th January for welcoming families with additional needs… Buy tickets – Inspire (Children’s Ministry Leadership Training): Welcoming families with additional needs – Zoom for those involved in this area.  I intend to invite Children/youth leaders on your whats apps with some information so I will be in touch this weekend!

Finally this verse from Matthew 5:9 seemed appropriate at this time.  Do pray for all who work for peace.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”

The Baptist Union have released a statement and a prayer that you may want to join with.  Click on the link below

The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Statement on the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow

Shelley

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. Stop, Stay, Go

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Stop, Stay, Go
 
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 take such a 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 guidance had been given to Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus. Joseph, being warned by an angel of the Lord in a dream to escape from Herod and his anger, escaped with his   family to Egypt, leaving hurriedly, in the middle of the night. They remained there as strangers, and refugees in a foreign land, because Herod’s clear intention was to search for and destroy the child. “Stay there until you hear from Me.” Matthew 2 v 13
I love that phrase ‘stay there until you hear from me.’ Joseph was told by God to wait for the right time and His guidance, which would allow the family to return to their homeland. He was to stay, to remain, to be settled, even though he could not know God’s timing.
 
Two years later, and once again instructed in a dream, Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, returned to their homeland of Israel. With Joseph’s wisdom and discernment, and God’s clear direction, Joseph took his young family, to Nazareth, in the region of Galilee. Herod Archelaus was now ruling in place of his father Herod the Great, so Jesus could still be in danger. The Nazarenes were often treated with suspicion and caution by other Jews and Jesus was once called ‘Jesus the Nazarene’ in an insulting, derogatory way. But this move would perhaps keep Jesus safe.
 
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
 
Care, certainty, God’s safe keeping and guidance are for those who trust in the name of the Lord. We may not have dreams, or hear angel voices, but we can lean into Him daily to know his presence with us and to find His direction. May we try not to look back, only forward to a new way, a new path, a new road. Not a star, but Jesus as the light for that new path, and this coming year. The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Psalm 32 v 8 NLT
 
SONG Lyrics My Guardian
 
King of love and grace, my Guardian,
All my hopes and fears are in Your hands;
I’m in Your hands.
Where You go, I’ll go; show me the way.
Every step I take be now my guide,
God on my side.
You go before me, You’re there beside me,
And if I wander Love will find me.
Goodness and mercy will always follow.
You go before me, my Guardian.
 
Jane Coates
17 January 2025

Today and tomorrow – it’s business as usual, Shelley updates us after a somewhat challenging week

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Dear friends

The church building will be open tomorrow for a café style all age service at 11am.  There will be drinks available and some time to chat together.  A big thank you to those who came down to church today to help with clearing snow and ice, and those who have been monitoring it and working with me through the week.  Even if we had decided not to open tomorrow, it was appreciated and it helps us with the groups next week.

A few things to note:

The full car park will not be open tomorrow. The west side of the carpark (the bit that slopes by the creche room) still cannot be used so there will be a small team of people helping people park and move between the cars and building in front of the church and by the entrance and the bins in the available space.

Please use the usual entrance and exits to the carpark.

Please drive slowly.

We don’t want to encourage people to put themselves in unnecessary danger so we have a volunteer who is able to broadcast the service on youtube as usual tomorrow.

Rock Solid youth group is taking place 7-8pm at church tomorrow evening.

Decisions about activities in the week will be made after tomorrow morning.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to worshiping together tomorrow.

In Christ

Shelley

After a massive effort, Sunday’s 11am service gets the go-ahead both on line and in the building

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After a massive effort by a small army of snow clearers Sunday’s morning service will now take place both online and in the building. 

Obviously, with our car park nowhere near as clear as it would normally be we do ask that no matter how you arrive – by car or on foot – you take extra care both where you park and how you walk. 

Huge thanks to our intrepid “ice breakers” who incidentally varied in age from their mid teens to their eighties, because without them and their shovels we would have had to cancel our 11am service for a second week running. 

 

 

 

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. Steps into a new year.

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As we take our first, few steps into this new year, we cannot know what 2025 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, as at Herod’s palace, when they 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.
 
So, as we go into this new year, may we be guided by wisdom, courage, compassion, and the light of the Christ child. 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.” Jan Richardson
 
A Prayer for the Year ahead
I arise today
Through a mighty strength:
God’s power to guide me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s eyes to watch over me;
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to give me speech,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to shelter me,
God’s host to secure me.
(First Millennium – Bridgid of Gael
 
Jane Coates.
7 January 2025

Shelley’s New Year greetings…

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Dear friends

Happy New Year!

Or as Donna Ashworth writes more eloquently..

“…when I say happy new year

I’m really wishing you more happy days

Than sad days

More joy than misery

More laughter than tears

More bravery than fear

And the wisdom to accept that they all belong”

For we know that in the difficult times, God is still good, Jesus is still faithful and Holy Spirit is drawing us close and revealing new treasures (1 Corinthians 2:10). Our hearts go out to people in all parts of the world who suffer, we pray ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven’ and look for ways to act where we are.   We also pray for those in our community, praying Gods healing and peace but also continually grateful for all God has been doing over the last year.  We may not always know what the next step looks like but we know Jesus calls us to ‘Seek the Kingdom of God first above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’ (Matthew 6:33) 

We continue this journey on Sunday at 11am with all age café church looking at Matthew 2:1-12.  We have been focusing on a ‘down to earth’ God through advent and how we can be ‘down to earth’ too and we will continue to explore this over the next few weeks as we start the new year.  You could say that something that is down to earth is also ‘rooted’.  Last week we were reminded of how important it is to be rooted in God and how God weaved hope through generations of those who sought Gods heart above all else despite and through their struggles.

Next week..

Sunday 5th January – rock solid youth 7pm-8pm in church

Monday 6th January – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12midday

Tuesday 7th January – Stepping stones 10-11.30 in church

Tuesday 7th January – housegroup Tuesday afternoon

Tuesday 7th January – Deacons meeting 7.30pm

Wednesday 8th January – lunch club is back, see Rachel Beedle

Wednesday 8th January – 7.30pm housegroup in church

Thursday 9th January – 2-4pm craft warm welcome group in church

Thursday 9th January – 7pm bible study in church

Friday 10th January – 10-11am bible study in church

Friday 10th January – 8pm housegroup

Sunday 12th January – 11am service with group for our younger friends during the talk connected to the theme

Sunday 12th January – 7-8pm Rocksolid youth

Reminder that there’s a church meeting and AGM on 21st January at 7.30pm in church.  Thank you for your prayers for the church and its work here in North Leeds and further afield.

Over the next week we’ll have more information about whats happening in the next few months.

Do get in touch with Lesley (office 9-4pm on Monday, Tuesday or 9-1pm on Wednesday), or myself or a deacon or group leader if you have questions about any groups advertised above.

In Christ

Shelley

Jane Coates, Thoughts and Prayers. Two posts joined as one

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Owing to us taking a Christmas break, this week we have two articles from Jane. The first is called Open Arms. 

When any of our family come to visit us, we normally rush from the house to the driveway to ‘welcome them with open arms.’ The grandchildren are often welcomed with a wide hug or picked up with a swirl around in the air-depending on their size of course. When each of the newborns arrived, we made sure that we visited, either hospital or home, and welcomed each one into our arms with great joy. It is a delight to welcome a new baby into the family.
 
For Simeon, his welcoming of the eight-day old infant Jesus, was a very significant event. It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen with his own eyes the Lord’s Messiah. ‘Led by the Spirit, Simeon went into the Temple. When the parents brought the child Jesus into the Temple to do for him what the Law required, Simeon took the child in his arms and gave thanks to God.’ Luke 2 v 27-28
 
Simeon took the eight-day old baby into his arms, holding him with arms of love and welcome, and again by the Holy Spirit spoke powerful prophetic words, and words of blessing, over the child and Mary, His mother. Simeon praised His God and blessed the young family. “Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen Him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Saviour you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and He will be the glory of your people Israel!” Joseph and Mary just stood there, marvelling at what was being said about Jesus.
Luke 2 v 29-33
 
For many individuals and families, 2024 has been a challenging year, but as we look forward to a new year, with whatever it may hold for us, we can be assured that God is faithful and that He holds us securely. He is our refuge, and He does not just hold us in His arms, but He carries us close to His heart.
 
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33 v 27
 
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart: He gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40 v 10-11
 
Then Jesus placed a little child among them; and taking the child in his arms He said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming my Father who sent me!” Mark 9 v 36-37
 
And Jesus took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10 v 16
 
So, he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15 v 20
 

A Blessing
Bless all who worship You, from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same. Of Your goodness, give us; with Your love, inspire us, by Your spirit guide us; by Your power, protect us; in Your mercy receive us now and always. AMEN

(An Ancient Collect)

 
And the second is… Planting Peace
 
I am very poor at growing anything green. It might be seeds, houseplants, plants for the garden or vegetables. I can succeed with cress and hardy perennials such as lavender, but little else. My father was a member of a horticultural society, and we had a garden and a large allotment which we looked after every weekend, but I am afraid that I did not absorb his many gardening skills. But I am encouraged to be a planter of peace. Our world is a very troubled place and, in 2024 on our screens we have witnessed wars, disasters, heartaches, mental health crises in our young people and much more. So, as we enter a new year, may we endeavour to be planters of peace, whether we feel capable, skilled or woefully inadequate. May we offer love, joy, gentleness, along with peace, as we connect with others in our everyday. Help us to share the peace of the Prince of Peace.
A Prayer for Planting Peace
(In the style of the prayer of St Francis of Assisi)
By Lizzie Ojo Martens
 
Lord as I reflect on the challenges present within my community
As well as my own lived experience,
I ask that you make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is division, let me sow unity.
Where there is stigma, belonging.
Where there is unfamiliarity, awareness.
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Where there is silence or shame, light.
Where there is isolation, inclusion and companionship.
Where there is hopelessness, hope.
O Divine Counsellor, grant that I may not so much seek to be comforted, but to comfort others
And to speak, as to listen.
For it is in giving that we receive,
And it is in your presence that we find peace.
 
For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
    will never end. Isaiah 9 v 6-7 NLT
 
In John 14 v 27 Jesus offers His shalom’ peace. He ‘bequeaths’’ His peace. Just as a rich person would bequeath property or something valuable to someone else, the peace of Jesus is bequeathed to us Jesus offers wholeness, completeness, soundness of spirit, soul and body, and wellbeing. This is His gift to us. Let us share this gift.
 
SONG
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
Let there be peace on Earth
The peace that was meant to be
 
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live
Each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me
 
Songwriters: Jill Jackson & Sy Miller
Let There Be Peace on Earth lyrics © Music Copyright Consultant Grp
 
Jane Coates,  23rd and 30th of December 2024.

ONE MORE SLEEP! MBC’s Christingle Service lights up the darkness

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At 4.30pm on Christmas Eve, and with four red candles casting flickering beams of hope, joy, peace and love our Advent wreath once again took centre stage. 

Before long, however, and one by one these symbols of the tenets of the Christian faith were joined by a hundred or so others as with great care an array of Christingles were lit. 

In recent years MBC’s Christingle Service has become not only one of our most loved and best supported events, but in terms of community outreach a shop window with which people for whom church is the exception rather than the norm can safely engage. 

Of course the following day, Christmas Day, we lit the wreath’s centre candle, the Jesus candle, which completed the Advent cycle.

But what we all need to remember now is that as one year makes way for another it is only by igniting or perhaps that ought to be reigniting our own flickering flames – those of hope, joy, peace and love that the true light of the world, Jesus, may shine through.  

To view our gallery simply click on any of the images. 

It’s Christmas, and MBC’s Nativity Service asks where would we all be without a little bit of chaos?

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With the exception of  certain elements that are set in stone i.e. a time of prayer, a bible reading and a talk, if anyone were to describe MBC’s 2024 Nativity Service as slick I’d say that to use the word “slick” in relation to the rest of the Service would be an overstatement of near biblical proportions.  

Let me explain, and please believe me when I say I’m not being deliberately critical. 

Just two minutes before the scheduled start time there was no narrator, or was it Joseph – luckily, which ever it was one was found. 

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem there was no inn keeper to greet them – luckily one was found when Shelley was quick witted enough to dart across from the lectern to fill this small but vital role.

Then there was that precious moment that the angels appeared (one well over 5 foot tall, the other about half her size) which found the one with the dialogue, the small one, jumping up and down to reach the mic.

Finally, when at the very end of the Service we were all invited to stand and sing our closing song, our Worship Leader somewhat sheepishly announced that as he didn’t have another song, why don’t we reprise Hark the herald angels, the last one we did.

Immediately following the Service I heard one person muttering something along the lines of  “blimey, that was anything but reverent,” whilst no more than a couple of feet away and topping up his coffee cup another described what he had just seen as… “a blast, uplifting, joyous, inclusive, encouraging and full of truth.” 

Regarding how we tell the Christmas story, how we worship, far be it for me to cast an opinion one way or the other. But on Sunday morning, here at MBC, the one thought that stuck in my mind was what was it really like in Bethlehem  the night Jesus was born? Was  the stable cosy and warm, were there stars in the bright sky and were cattle lowing etc. etc. or was it more  like MBC’s Nativity – a much more down to earth affair shot through with its very own catalogue of chaos?

I’ll leave it to you to decide. 

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