Login

News

News items for public viewing

Shelley’s news. Week commencing 8th February

by

Dear friends

Today we continue with our Whole Life Worship series.  If you missed any sessions, you can find them again on our YouTube channel, just look for Moortown Baptist Church.  So far, we have looked at money, work, friendships and today we consider mind, body and soul with a focus on our soul.  We’ll start at 11am with a Sunday school group for our younger friends exploring the same theme creatively during the service. 

Rock Solid youth groups meet 7-8pm in the building.  Do ask if you want more information on any of the groups.  The older group are continuing to explore youth Alpha materials and the younger group are using some resources by Rock Solid.

The week ahead..

Monday 9th February 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all.  Food pantry available. 

Tuesday 10th February Stepping Stones For the under 5’s and their parents and carers 10.00 – 11.30am (speak to Diane or Hilary if interested)

Tuesday 10th February House Group in the Music Room 12.30 – 2.30 speak to Howard Dews

Tuesday 10th February at 7.30 Deacons and Shelley meet in church building.

Wednesday 11th February Lunch Club 10.15am – 1.15pm Speak to Rachel or Lesley if you want more information as you need to be booked on.

Wednesday 11th February House Group Music Room 7.30 – 9.30pm Speak to Andy or Ruth for more information.

Thursday 12th February Craft group warm welcome space.  All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill.  Contact Karen if you want to know more.  Thankyou to those who have stepped forward to help lead when Karen has been unavailable. 

Thursday 12th February Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley

Friday 13th February Bible Study in the Music Room 10.00 – 11.00am Speak to Shelley for more information.

Friday 13th February Parkinson’s Exercise Class 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information

Friday 13th February House group at 8pm in Adel. See Jonathan, Hilary, Steve or Helen.

Sunday 15th February Service together 11.00 – 12.00pm Whole Life Worship: part 5 ‘Mind, body, soul Part 2’ with a group for our younger friends to explore the theme creatively together.  We’ll also share communion together.

Sunday 15th February Rock Solid Youth group 7-8pm in the church building

February half term…

Monday 16th February 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all.  Food pantry available. 

No Stepping Stones this week.

No lunch club this week but at 1.45pm we’ll be having a film afternoon open to everyone!  With a nod to the Milano Winter Olympics that started this weekend, we’ll be showing the film ‘Cool Runnings’ (PG) The story of a Jamaican bob sleigh team at the Winter Olympics!  All ages are welcome and we’ll have choc ices at the interval.  Film running time is 98 minutes so we’ll be done by 3.45pm.

Thursday 19th February Craft group warm welcome space.  All welcome to come along and chat or to make something or learn a new skill. 

Most house groups will be running through half term but do check with Lesley or Shelley or ask individual group leaders.

Looking ahead..

Tuesday February 24th 7.30pm Whole Church meeting.  All welcome.  The agenda will come out this week and will include budget priorities for the year, looking at what God is doing amongst us and updates from those who want to share what has been happening in the areas of church they have been leading or involved in since the last meeting.

The mission group were due to meet on 24th February but this has been postponed due to the church meeting needing to be in February and this being the only available date when reports can be prepared.  It is proposed that mission group meets a week later on the 3rd March.  If you are usually part of this group we’ll be in touch with you this week.

A few things to let you know about..

Over the last week we have had two meet ups for those who lead sung worship each week and for those involved in sung worship and in the tech team.  Thanks to Andy who led the discussions and a big thankyou to all those who contributed to praying, eating, sharing practical skills and discerning where we are and what we could prayerfully develop. 

Thankyou to those who came to support the family and friends of Jean Hiley last Thursday at Jean’s Thanksgiving and Celebration of life Service.  Do continue to pray for the family.

Sadly, Joan Gardner died recently after an illness.  Some of you may remember Joan as she has been part of the church for a long time although she hasn’t been in the building for a while.   Joan’s funeral will take place on Thursday 19th February at 11.00am at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Harrogate Road.  All those who would like to go to the service to remember and thank God for Joan’s life are welcome.   

Around the city…

The launch of the Leeds Lent Prayer Diary which will take place on the 12th February, 6 – 8pm at the St George’s Conference Centre, 60 Great George St, Leeds LS1 3DL. You can sign up for the launch here Leeds Lent Prayer Diary Launch Tickets, Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite  If you have any questions then please email at comms@lcct.org.uk.

There will be a Day of Prayer for the City of Leeds on Saturday 21st March with provisional times being between 9:30am and 6pm. This will be hosted by/held at Bridge Community Church. More information coming soon.

North Church are hosting two events you may be interested in…

On Wednesday 11th February it is the Women’s night 7-9pm with a time of sung worship and visiting speaker is Jo Hargreaves, psychotherapist and pastor, known as the Faith filled therapist on Instagram she links science, mental health and the bible.  Open to all.

What’s On | North Church

On Wednesday 18th March ‘Care for the Family’ are hosting an evening at North Church called ‘Tweens and Teens: what every parent needs to know’ Book a ticket at the link here Tweens and Teens: What every parent needs to know – Leeds Tickets, Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite

If you would like to know more about any of the groups, about membership or baptism then do get in touch with myself, a deacon or Lesley, who will pass on a message and arrange a time to get together.

“My soul magnifies the Lord
  and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” (Luke 1:46)

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Jean Hiley, a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration

by

Last Thursday afternoon MBC held a Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for the Life of Jean Hiley. Jean who was 99 when she passed away on January 9th was the widow of Norman who for many years worshipped and served here at Moortown as well as helping to lead MRSG – our Moortown Romania Support Group.

One particularly poignant part of the Service was when Jean’s 6 year old great grandson Tayn read what in the Order of Service was headed Reading of Jean’s Words – a response to her family’s recent request to share with them “something you want us to know about you.”

Standing on a chair, and in a loud clear voice little Tayn said this:

I praise the Lord continually for the life he has given me.

From my upbringing in a lovely home with loving parents.

For a loving husband of so many years.

For 2 good sons gone too soon.

For those I enjoy now. Grandchildren and even lovely Great Grandchildren.

My biggest hope for the future is?

Well, To get to Heaven!

News from Krys, Bela and friends in Sri Lanka

by

Half way through their visit to Sri Lanka, Krys, Bela and their three friends have sent us an update on how their visit to the Women’s Development Centre in Kandy is going. 

The pictures we have received so far show lots of activity in the vocational learning centre for adults with special needs, a school for children with learning disabilities and the Centre’s weaving area. However, don’t get the impression that the trip is all work and no play; on the contrary says Krys “we’ve also had some fun” which included elephant watching, getting up close to two animals which to me look like some type of monkey and even a visit to watch the Sri Lanka cricket team lose to England.  

Above and below there are a couple of galleries showing all the pictures we’ve so far received. 

Whole Church Meeting. In the building and online. February 24th at 7.30pm

by

Tuesday February 24th 7.30pm Whole Church meeting.  All welcome.  The agenda will come out soon and this will include making some decisions for the year ahead.  We are continuing to pray for Gods guidance, looking at what God is doing in our communities and what the opportunities and challenges are. 

This includes items that have been brought up at more recent meetings, such as people support to support this work, over the next 6/12 months. 

Our building is an important part of this, many of you may have noticed a number of places where recently water has leaked into the building. Rest assured this is something we are investigating but again if you have anything to share on any of this do let the deacons or myself know. 

We want to prayerfully see all of this in the light of the bigger picture of what God is doing here in this community.

Shelley’s News for week commencing Sunday 1 February

by

Dear all

This week I was reminded of Psalm 23 v 2-4 (Living translation)

“He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He gives me new strength. He helps me do what honours him the most. 

Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way.”

David sings of the experience of trudging through a valley of death and although God doesn’t take him out of it, he recognises the God who travels alongside him, matching each step, each movement.  He is the same God who journeyed with the exhausted friends on the Emmaus Road.  They didn’t recognise him until a memory was triggered in their minds when they shared a meal. Like a meadow of flowers or a refreshing stream, there was creativity, grace, companionship and restoration on the journey. In psalm 23, David sees the promise that in the midst of the storm there is new strength for each day and it’s something we need to look out for before we get too focused on the valley slopes.

On Sunday our journey continues with our whole life worship series at all age café church, looking specifically at friendships. We start at 11am with breakfast snacks and drinks for all ages.  After the service, 1pm – 2pm there is a get together/share/pray session for ‘sung’ worship leaders in the music room, bring some lunch. Rock Solid for youth meets 7-8pm in the building.  Do ask if you want more information.  Let’s lift our young people and leaders in prayer at 7pm on Sunday.

The week ahead..

Monday 2nd February 10-12 Beacon warm welcome café for all.  Food pantry available. 

Tuesday 3rd February Stepping Stones For the under 5’s and their parents and carers 10.00 – 11.30am (speak to Diane or Hilary if interested)

Tuesday 3rd February House Group in the Music Room 12.30 – 2.30 speak to Howard Dews

Tuesday 3rd February at 7.30 Safeguarding group meets in church.

Wednesday 4th February Lunch Club 10.15am – 1.15pm Speak to Rachel or Lesley if you want more information as you need to be booked on.

Wednesday 4th February House Group Music Room 7.30 – 9.30pm Speak to Andy or Ruth for more information.

Thursday 5th February We will keep in touch about whether craft group warm welcome space will be going ahead this week as we are still looking for someone to help lead it.  For general information, contact Karen if you want to know more. 

Thursday 5th February 2.30pm The Thanksgiving Service for the life of Jean Hiley in the church building, followed by refreshments,.

Thursday 5th February Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley

Friday 6th February Bible Study in the Music Room 10.00 – 11.00am Speak to Shelley for more information.

Friday 6th February Parkinson’s Exercise Class 6.30 – 7.30pm Speak to Phil Commons or Lesley for more information

Friday 6th February House group at 8pm in Adel See Jonathan, Hilary, Steve or Helen.

Saturday 7th February Sung worship and tech teams get together at the start of the year.  Chance to share, plan, pray and eat! Starts at 12.30 and finished by 3.

Sunday 8th February Service together 11.00 – 12.00pm Whole Life Worship: part 4 ‘Body, mind and Soul’ with a group for our younger friends to explore the theme creatively together.

Sunday 8th February Rock Solid Youth group 7-8pm in the church building

Looking ahead..

Below you will see a poster I have just been sent for a free session on ‘how to avoid digital scamming’ at the Ziff Centre next door to the church on 3rd February.  Its open to anyone.

Tuesday 10th February 7.30pm Meeting for deacons and Shelley in the church building

Tuesday February 24th 7.30pm Whole Church meeting.  All welcome.  The agenda will come out soon and this will include making some decisions for the year ahead.  We are continuing to pray for Gods guidance, looking at what God is doing in our communities and what the opportunities and challenges are.  This includes items that have been brought up at more recent meetings, such as people support to support this work, over the next 6/12 months.  Our building is an important part of this, some of you may have noticed a couple of water leaks from the rain over the last few weeks.  It’s something we are investigating but again if you have anything to share on any of this do let the deacons or myself know.  We want to prayerfully see all of this in the light of the bigger picture of what God is doing here in this community. 

Last Thursday we held a service of Thanksgiving and Celebration for the life of Robert Owen and it was a privilege to hear people’s memories and stories of Robert.  Thank you to all those came along and to all those who helped with set up, welcoming, worship and tech support. We continue to pray for the family.

Look forward to seeing you all soon,

Shelley

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

Clowning around. Lunch Club tries out a spot of juggling

by

Whenever professional juggler Matthew Tiffany turns up at Lunch Club there’s never any shortage of volunteers wanting to get in on his act. 

Whether that act be juggling, plate spinning or for that matter anything else designed to mesmerize you can bet your bottom dollar that before long there’ll be no end of people – all old enough to know better – wanting to join in. 

And that’s precisely what happened at this week’s Lunch Club when Matthew paid a return visit. 

Well done Rachel for arranging this special treat. Just occasionally being able to act your shoe size rather than your age is something that I’m sure most of us would benefit from. 

Sixty years of MAF service to Chad links MBC to our BMS mission partners Mark and Andrea Hotchkin

by

Since 1966, MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) has been delivering help hope and healing to the remotest parts of Chad.

From fighting famine to delivering healthcare and improving literacy, MAF continues to serve isolated communities through a range of partners. MAF’s Claire Gilderson looks back through the ages.

Claire’s report talks about the part MBC’s Mission Partners Mark and Andrea Hotchkin play in the story.

You can read it by hitting the link below. 

Happy 60th birthday MAF Chad!

News from Banglabesh, and in particular from Jhumpara

by

Sharing a recent email sent from Bangladesh, Phil and Rod report on the support that the villagers of Jhumpara continue to receive. 

If you would like to find out more about MBC’s link to Jhumpara here is a post that appeared here in February 2010 and was written by Dr Michael Flowers who with his wife June served for many years in Bangladesh with BMS. 

There is a third project supported by the Bangladesh Fund, the Jhum Para Project. Back in the 1960’s there was a shift in the management of leprosy world wide, and all patients except those needing specialist hospital care were to be discharged from Leprosy Homes into the community. Inevitably, as in our case, there were some who were unable to live independently because of disability, or who had nowhere to go, because of ostracism. For them we obtained a plot of land where we built simple bamboo houses for them to live in.

We left Bangladesh soon after that and we lost touch. Although we began to visit Chandraghona again with medical teams from 1985 onwards we were unable to visit the village because of the civil war. It was only after the peace deal was signed in 1997 that June, during one of our team visits, was taken to the village and found the people there, some of them the original patients, with their children and grandchildren, all living by begging, and in abject poverty.

June was appalled and felt a compulsion from God to do something. We began to make plans and the following year a team from this church conducted a careful survey to see how we could help best. So the Jhum Para Project was born.

The urgent needs were for food, (instead of milk, or eggs, or fish, or meat, they ate snails and frogs), for drinking water, for house repairs, and most importantly, for education for the children, none of whom were at school. As an income generation scheme the initial idea of purchasing piglets for them to raise for meat or to sell was an attractive idea when raising funds at home!

Over the years the provision of school uniforms and equipment, tutors for coaching, mosquito nets, blankets, latrines, sewing machines, and adult literacy classes, have brought about an astonishing transformation.

More recently textile training for the girls and driving instruction for the young men, have brought some hope of employment, and the appointment of a pastor has resulted in many conversions and baptisms. The most recent facility has been a brick-built schoolhouse to serve the whole community.

YTV’s Calendar features the Leeds & Moortown Furniture Store to highlight furniture poverty

by
The Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store was formed here at Moortown almost forty years ago. Since then a constant stream of MBC members have served it in one capacity or another, in fact even as I write five of our members are trustees while numerous other people help as volunteers.
 
As one of Leeds’ most valuable and respected charities LMFS is at the forefront of the battle against furniture poverty. Hence the reason YTV chose to visit its Seacroft warehouse and also why shortly after the feature was aired Rachel Dodson, the Store’s General Manager took to social media… here’s what she wrote.
 
On Tuesday January the 20th ITV Calendar, that’s Yorkshire Television’s regional news programme featured a piece on furniture poverty and how some local authorities are cutting the welfare scheme that supports people living in crisis with furniture. If you would like to watch it it’s 14.54 mins in and available on ITVX).
 
As a charity the Leeds and Moortown Furniture Store supports 100’s of people a month that cannot access this scheme and with other items that this scheme does not offer.
 
The referrals for furniture are increasing and any support you can give us with furniture donations, volunteering or raising funds to buy furniture is always very much appreciated.
 
You can get in touch with us by calling 0113 273 9727 or by emailing info@leedsandmoortown.org.uk
PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com