Just a reminder that whilst the scaffolding or the warning cones are in place down the side of the Music Room you’ll need to take extra care as new lintels are being fitted above its windows.
Thanks to Rod for this reminder.
News
News items for public viewing
Now and then – a look back in time to how our kitchen used to look
The two black and white pictures in our gallery above show that many years ago MBC’s kitchen had a much more “old fashioned” look about it. Not that those who worked in it didn’t always turn out some amazing meals, in fact almost two decades ago and in addition to our weekly commitment to providing a hot meal for Lunch Club, we ran a number of lovely in-house dinners and an Alpha courses which saw 32 people sit down to a delicious pork caserole, stuffed baked potato and fresh veg (the alternative for those who prefered was vegitarian sausage) and a choice of dessert.
However, as time goes by things need replacing, and this includes cookers and fridges; things we probably all take for granted.
The colour pictures, however, show the kitchen as it is now, resplendent with a multi functional delonghi oven and a cavernous state of the art fridge. As Shelley said at our last Church Meeting the rules and regulations we needed to sign up to in order to buy and fit such devices took an age. But now they’re here they, and our wonderful cooks who use them can ensure that MBC can continue to provide hospitality to young and old alike.
Shelley’s news, 4th July
Dear friends
Here’s what’s coming up..
Sunday 5th July 11am Café Church Service all together exploring our theme of being alive in the spirit and what this means. All ages come and worship and explore together. With drinks, breakfast pastries and fruit for all. This week is ‘Living hope’.
Sunday 5th July Church meeting at 12.45, finished by 2pm. Updates, prayer, worship for the life of the church in Moortown and its mission. Please bring snacks/packed lunch if you need some food to keep you going. Zoom link will be available in a separate email. All welcome.
In the evening Rock Solid youth groups meet in the church building. All youth welcome! Talk to Martyn, Ruth, Val, Nathan 7-8pm
Monday 6th July 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all. Food pantry available
Tuesday 7th July 10.00 – 11.30am Stepping Stones for under-fives and their parents and carers.
Tuesday 7th July House Group 1.00 – 2.30pm in church. See Howard D or Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 8th July Lunch Club for those booked on and the volunteer team. Talk to Rachel B for more information.
Wednesday 8th July House Group in the Music Room at 7.30pm. Speak to Andy or Ruth or Shelley/Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 8th July Pact (Police and Communities together) meeting for Moortown area takes place 6.30-7.30 on Wednesday 8th July in church. Do come along if you live locally or if you want to hear about the policing concerns of local communities.
Thursday 9th July Craft group warm welcome space 2.00 – 4.00pm All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill – speak to Karen for more information. This week we made it a cool space but with a warm welcome!
Thursday 10th July Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley
Friday 11th July Bible Study in the Music room – 10.00 – 11.00am speak to Shelley for more information.
Friday 11th July Parkinson’s Exercise Class in the church building 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information
Sunday 12th July at 11am ‘Living Way’ Service with small group for children following the theme.
Sunday 19th July at 11am ‘Living Bread’ a service with communion for all.
Coming up at Moortown and what has been happening..
Please be aware that Lesley is not in the office until Monday 14th July.
Please have a look at our website page www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk for latest stories including news on our BMS mission partners in Chad, more information from Expect26 and news about how God is working through our friends in Romania. We also post on facebook. Facebook is a place we can post quickly about local activities we see but also about worldwide opportunities including prayer for the world.
Cream Tea fundraiser in aid of Romania on Sunday 12th July in church from 3.00pm – 5.00pm and everyone is welcome. There will be cream/jam scones and tea/coffee or juice. If anyone would like to help Karen in the kitchen then please let her know – you would need to be at church from 2.00pm to set things up and get the scones ready. Thanks.
On the same day, the youth are having an art evening so will be starting slightly earlier at 6.45, finishing at the usual time. Led in the same way as the create your own psalm group with loads of materials and time to express yourself. There’s loads of hints and tips if you don’t feel ‘arty’, just come and explore. It’s a great opportunity to bring a friend too so please let the leaders know if you are bringing friends so we have enough materials for you all. If you are a young person and don’t usually go to youth group but would like to go, just let one of the leaders know. You’d be really welcome.
As a church, we’ll be featuring in the Yorkshire Baptist Association prayer diary the week of the 12th July. Have a look here Prayer & Spiritual Reflections — Yorkshire Baptist Association We have sent some prayer points and thanksgiving prayers. There are many more things we could say but we had to give just a couple. The prayer points will be on the YBA website that week.
Join Blossom for their Self-Defence Free Taster Session for women at Moortown Baptist Church on 27th August from 1:30pm-4:30pm This friendly, session focuses on building confidence, awareness, communication skills, and simple self-defence techniques that anyone can learn. No experience required. Whether you’re looking to feel more confident in everyday situations or simply want to try something new, Blossom would love to welcome you. Book your place today at https://blossom-uk.co.uk/courses/ola/services/self-defence-taster-session-moortown-leeds-27th-aug-11
Building work…
We have been monitoring the state of the building and when necessary, making improvements and repairs. It’s great that we have people to help and give of their skills and time so freely and we thank God for them, people who often work behind the scenes. Sometimes we need to bring in people to pay to do the work. Over the last year it has become clear that at some point some work needs to be done to parts of the roof as well some work to the right of the building by the music room. A fuller update will be given at the church meeting on Sunday but we wanted to let you know that some of this work will begin again and continue over the next few weeks. You may see cones by the music room wall outside by the path, encouraging people to not get too close to the wall whilst work is taking place. All work is risk assessed and should be planned. Groups that could be affected will be given notice if they need to change rooms. We are not anticipating anything to be cancelled or postponed.
Coming up locally..
A free Summer Band Concert at Wigton Moor Primary School, Barfield Crescent LS17 8RU on Sunday 26th July from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Organised by Harewood Parish Council.
“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” – Galatians 5:25
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
Romania Cream Tea… Sunday 12th July
On Sunday July 12th, in church between 3 and 5.00pm we’re hosting a Cream Tea with all proceeds going towards supporting our Romanian friends. There will be cream/jam scones and tea/coffee or juice.
If anyone would like to help Karen in the kitchen then please let her know – you would need to be at church from 2.00pm to set things up and get the scones ready.
A heartfelt thank you from Florin and Dana Fodor in Cluj, Romania
Dear friends and ministry supporters,
I hope this email finds you well and experiencing God’s grace in your week. As we look back at what has been happening through our Teachers Ministry recently, we are so incredibly grateful for your partnership, your prayers, and your heart for this mission.
Because of your faithful support and prayers, we saw a multiplication of our ministry in Romania (new volunteers, new communities, new events, new people reached with the message of hope in Christ.
Thank you very much. You are a vital part of this story, and we wanted to share firsthand the impact you are making.
Florin and Dana (Cluj, Romania).
Phil Coates unpacks more about Expect 26
BMS Expect’26
(William Carey: Expect great things from God, Attempt great things for God.)
Expect is the quadrennial conference of the BMS. Shelley and I were invited to attend the Wednesday, 24 June, of this 5 day event, at High Leigh Conference Centre near Ware, Herts. Delegates from all over the world included BMS missionaries (including Mark and Andrea Hotchkin). Over 150 delegates were there – and all received a copy of Jane Coates’ second book, More Encounters and Journeys.
The programme was packed, with a plenary every morning, breakout sessions and workshops, meals together and worship.
I arrived just in time for the Plenary by Rula Khoury Mansour, a Palestinian Israeli Christian lawyer who addressed what I estimate to be around 200 people in a packed very large ‘tent’. She spoke very movingly and incisively about Christian responses for peace in times of conflict, showing by examples how people together in conflict together “carry what would crush any of us” and are “formed into something we could not become alone”. She reflected on Palestinian experiences in recent years, using the Arabic word ’sumud’ meaning ‘steadfast remaining’ – in which people can become hard and bitter, or soft and making life. A stone near Bethlehem says ‘we refuse to be enemies’ and said that all acts for peace are a rehearsal for reconciliation in the future, not waiting for the new world somewhere in the future, but building small pieces of it now – ’to rehearse with bare hands the world God means it to be: Jesus told us the kingdom of God is here, now’.
Rula has built an International Centre for peace studies in Nazareth: “Peacebuilding is worth doing even when peace does not come. Where the Holy Spirit works to form us together or just coordinating us, we show up and God forms us through it. Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Come and see…” Dr Aniu Kevichusa (Exec Director for Intercultural Learning and Collaboration – and a PhD student of Prof Haddon Wilmer of MBC, over 20 years ago!) followed this up powerfully, reflecting that mission is the attribute of God who seeks the lost. To the potential disciples’ question “where do you live”, Jesus invites us – “Come and see” – and shows that this is close to the Father’s heart and close to the hurt of the world.
Shelley and I attended the same ‘making disciples’ breakout session (which she referred to in the MBC service on 28 June) – disciple making is a lifestyle, not a method; the church exists for people who are not there. We all have a circle of people we can reach out to, to take the good news of Jesus to their homes.
The time allowed us to meet several really valuable contacts. We of course met with Helen Harris, BMS Director of Communications and Fundraising, who spoke at MBC in April, with whom we have ongoing close contact. MBC is historically a strong contributor to BMS through people and through our giving. We met for lunch with Orla Moxon the BMS Youth Engagement Officer, to discuss the recent highly successful BMS March4Mission 26 event in March in Malaysia, which was a pilot to replace the Action Teams; based on this success (a fuller report is available) the next March4Mission event will be in Thailand in March 2027 – aimed at training 18-35 year olds for mission at home or abroad. The Jane Coates memorial fund helps to support all of this activity.
We later met John Settatree who had organised the Church-Community Mobilisation (CCM) webinar Phil attended, in conjunction with Christians Against Poverty: some of the schemes in CCM – which is learning from overseas experience, e.g. in Nepal – are of great relevance to our current thinking about what Mission looks like and can become for MBC [separate slides with notes available]. Phil also met the new church engagement specialist in the UK, Nick Drury with whom we will develop contact.
After lunch, Shelley and I attended the Hope plenary session – a range of really encouraging, specific ‘stories and voices’ from around the world, including Mark and Andrea Hotchkins describing how God had blessed their Chad hospital, especially their local medical co-worker who had stepped up to undertake life-saving operations in their absence.
We then attended the Church Leaders session, to hear Kang San Tan, the BMS President, speak eloquently about the changing nature of mission movements, which increasingly involve partnership with a move from 80-90% of UK people going to the world (“the west to the rest”), to ‘everywhere to everywhere’ (or, polycentric mission). BMS seeks to be catalytic in this, aiming for more sustainable activities, enabling mission through generosity with partnership and seeking to avoid dependency. This includes the view ‘every church can receive and every church can send’. Some areas are very strong (e.g. over 2500 missionaries from Brazil are currently on service) but this is unusual, and there are moves to develop for example, ‘Africans to Africans’ seeking to raise Global South leaders and workers. The BMS still sees its resources as serving global mission, but the BMS three strategy areas: Heart for the Gospel; Hope for the World; and Help for the Journey link with the increasing emphasis on mission in our neighbourhood as well as far away. It was noted that the BMS is still founded predominantly on the support of UK Baptist Churches.
A Leaders Q&A session (fielded by Helen Harris, Kang and Aniu) was lively and informative. Questions included: Why should UK Baptist churches continue to support BMS? The local church can do local mission, but BMS is working in partnership with trusted people, for the longer reach – BMS approach is not UK-led by to create locally embedded leadership, avoiding dependency. Due diligence is always undertaken on fund distribution, aiming at long term sustainability.
What about the next generation of UK pastors/leaders? – in part this is beginning to be addressed by Orla Moxon’s role, with March4Mission as one aspect; Orla has a Harvest pack for kids this year. BMS engages with the training colleges. Interestingly, it was noted that the BMS journey is similar to that of local churches, changing to meet current needs.
Kang reflected that the BMS is unique in his view. It was founded by William Carey in 1792 (over 230 years ago) with a very strong history (and MBC has a very pioneering mission track record from 1960 onwards) but it is adapting to the new paradigm of mission in the current world in meaningful ways; it remains global in its reach (unlike many others), being wide ‘as is the gospel’.
The BMS statement ‘We believe that every follower of Jesus has a calling to mission’ holds well in these days!
I was privileged to then attend the latter part of the end of afternoon worship session, where retiring missionaries were gratefully thanked, celebrated and prayed with.
A very full day!
There were also 6 regional Expect meetings going on in June – see https://bmsworldmission.org/events
Overall reflection:
I already had high respect for the BMS, over many years, not least because of the involvement of so many (most known to us personally) in Moortown Baptist Church in full time and part time service abroad, including our own direct connection through Jane. That respect has grown, with the excellence of this event, the quality of the people leading BMS World Mission (and our increased positive contact with them), the clarity of the vision and theology of mission, and the willingness to embrace change – yet firmly rooted in the clear desire to follow Jesus, and sharing His love. Superb!
I believe that we need to continue to strongly support the BMS enthusiastically at MBC, learn from them in partnership, and further develop our links with them so that we have a strong, dynamic connection.
We have asked Orla to come to speak at MBC, most likely in the autumn now, to help our church see some of the steps being taken by BMS to encourage all generations – potentially some of our own church? I’m sure we will invite Helen Harris again in the future too. Meanwhile, we will continue our warm and direct links with them, and with Aniu, which I aim to continue to develop, to the benefit of MBC.
Phil Coates
28 June 2026
All our yesterdays… MBC cricket team circa 1958
Who said nostalgia was a thing of the past
I have to admit that the success of the two 1960s Youth Club hike pictures I recently posted took me by surprise. That’s because between them they were seen by almost 150 people; many more than a lot of other posts!
So today I’ve decided to show you another of our old images – this one is MBC’s 1958 cricket team. There’s also a scan (below) of that summer’s fixture list, something that to us oldies brings back warm memories of our younger days.
Our Mission Partners Andrea and Mark Hotchkin return to Chad
In their latest newsletter, and as they prepare to return to Bardai our BMS Mission Partners Andrea and Mark Hotchkin ask for our prayers in some quite specific areas.
Who, what, where and when? A guide to all that’s happening here at MBC in 2026
www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk
Following Jesus and serving the community
Lasting for just over an hour our Sunday Service starts in church and on YouTube at 11am. The first Sunday of each month is Café Church and on the third Sunday we celebrate Communion.
An important part of our weekly worship is Sunday School. Here a small group of young children learn all about Jesus and the love of God.
Rounding off Sunday we have Rock Solid. Meeting between 7 & 8pm and majoring around having fun, Rock Solid regularly sets our teenagers some serious and not so serious challenges and tasks.
Monday… Our free Warm Space Beacon Café, 10am to 12noon.
Tuesday… Stepping Stones, a toddler group 10 to 11.30am.
Tuesday… The first of our Housegroups, only this one is in church between 12noon and 2pm.
Wednesday… 10.30am – 2pm. Lunch Club, games, quizzes and always a hearty lunch for our seniors.
Wednesday… 7.30 to 9.30pm. Our hybrid Housegroup. With half the group meeting at church and the other half online.
Wednesday… 7.30pm – 9.30ish. Ladies Housegroup in the comfort of someone’s home.
Wednesday… 7.30 to 9pm. Country Dancing.
Thursday… 2pm to 4. Open Door Craft Group. Our second Warm Space of the week. No experience needed, Free refreshments and always lots of chat.
Thursday… 7pm to 9pm. Bible Study, in church.
Friday… 10am to 11am. A second Bible Study, again in church.
Friday… And finally, between 8pm – 10pm, another Housegroup, again in someone’s home.
In addition to all this we also host or provide a Pastoral Team, which without overstepping the mark provides confidential support to anyone who needs it, we host a Parkinson’s Exercise Class, two Extend Exercise Classes (ideal for our older friends), Pilates, Pathways, a Christian Counselling team, Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store, PACT (Neighbourhood Policing Teams) and local councillor surgeries. In addition, and particularly at certain times of the year we host special Services such as those associated with Easter, Nativities, Christingles, Baptisms, Mission weekends etc. etc.
For more information about Moortown Baptist Church please email
admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk
Moortown Baptist Church. 204 King Lane, Leeds LS17 7AA
Shelley’s news for 27th June
Dear friends
When Jesus said, ‘I am the gate’ for the sheep, he explained this would be a gate of freedom and life.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Since we celebrated Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit, the person of God who would be with us all the time, we have been starting to explore what this life is like. We started looking at Living stones. Objects like stones are not known for being alive but Peter, a friend of Jesus, uses the picture of stones to represent people who are being built together into something special. Over the next few weeks we’ll continue this theme and look at other objects and ideas in the bible that were described as living because of the power of God’s Spirit working through them and what this means to us and our world.
This week we look at Living water, something we probably all appreciate more after this warm weather week!
Here’s what’s coming up..
Sunday 28th June 11am Service together with a group for our younger friends to explore the theme creatively together. Come and explore ‘Living water’ John 7 and more.
After the service, kids group leaders and Shelley meet to pray. Please do pray for them and their ministry.
Sunday 28th June 7-8pm Rock Solid Youth groups meet in the building.
Monday 29th June 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all. Food pantry available – Linking Leeds available for any advice on health, housing, support..
Tuesday 30th June 10.00 – 11.30am Stepping Stones for under-fives and their parents and carers.
Tuesday 30th June House Group 1.00 – 2.30pm in church. See Howard D or Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 1st July Lunch Club for those booked on and the volunteer team. Talk to Rachel B for more information.
Wednesday 1st July House Group in the Music Room at 7.30pm – Speak to Andy or Ruth or Shelley/Lesley for more information.
Wednesday 1st July Create your own psalm art group meet in the sports hall. All welcome even if you haven’t been before. 7-9pm Contact Krys, Cas, Lesley or Shelley for more information.
Thursday 2nd July Craft group warm welcome space 2.00 – 4.00pm. All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill – speak to Karen for more information. This last week we made it a cool space but with a warm welcome!
Thursday 2nd July Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley
Friday 3rd July Bible Study in the Music room – 10.00 – 11.00am speak to Shelley for more information.
Friday 3rd July Parkinson’s Exercise Class in the church building 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information
Sunday 5th July 11am Café Church Service all together exploring our theme of being alive in the spirit and what this means. All ages come and worship and explore together. With drinks, breakfast pastries and fruit for all.
Sunday 5th July Church meeting at 12.45 until 2pm. Updates, prayer, worship for the life of the church in Moortown and its mission. Please bring snacks/packed lunch if you need some food to keep you going. Zoom link will be available. All welcome. Agenda went out to members last week. If you want to see it then do get in touch with Lesley and she will sort you one out. Please be aware that Lesley works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
In the evening Rock Solid youth groups meet in church building. All youth welcome! Talk to Martyn, Ruth, Val, Nathan 7-8pm
Coming up at Moortown and what has been happening..
Please have a look at our website page www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk for latest stories including initial information about Shelley and Phil’s time at Expect26 with Baptist Missionary Society, the gardening day and ongoing plans, local community Summer fayre’s and upcoming events such as the MBC cream tea. We also post on facebook. Facebook is a place we can not post quickly about local activities we see but also about worldwide opportunities such as the new prayer requests for Venezuela, appeals, and prayer points from people in the middle of conflicts.
Here are a couple of things to let you know about…
Cream Tea fundraiser in aid of Romania on Sunday 12th July in church from 3.00pm – 5.00pm and everyone is welcome. There will be cream/jam scones and tea/coffee or juice. If anyone would like to help Karen in the kitchen then please let her know – you would need to be at church from 2.00pm to set things up and get the scones ready. Thanks.
On the same day, the youth are having an art evening so will be starting slightly earlier at 6.45, finishing at the usual time. Led in the same way as the create your own psalm group with loads of materials and time to express yourself. There’s loads of hints and tips if you don’t feel ‘arty’, just come and explore. It’s a great opportunity to bring a friend too so please let the leaders know if you are bringing friends so we have enough materials for you all.
In the last week we have had a new fridge arrive and a new cooker arrive in the kitchen! It’s been a long process of trying to find the right cooker for all our groups, as well as finding people to fit the appliances so that they comply with regulations for communal use and to take the old appliances away. Thanks to those who stepped up to do this including Jill D, John D and Rachel B.
As a church, we’ll be featuring in the Yorkshire Baptist Association prayer diary the week of the 12th July. Have a look here Prayer & Spiritual Reflections — Yorkshire Baptist Association We will be submitting three points of thanksgiving and three prayer points for others in the association to pray about on that week. If you have anything you think we should include (no personal names) then do let a deacon or Lesley know. Lets keep praying and sharing about what God is showing us in this community.
Thanks to those offering to help with Alpha, I haven’t forgotten.. we’ll chat together over the next few weeks. The plan is to start in September but we want to see your thoughts too as well as explaining where this specific idea has come from.
Coming up locally..
A free Summer Band Concert at Wigton Moor Primary School, Barfield Crescent LS17 8RU on Sunday 26th July from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Organised by Harewood Parish Council.
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church