Login

News

News items for public viewing

Another word where silence is NOT ON! Haddon Willmer adds to his 7 November blog:

by

Two quotes from George Monbiot’s article:  The earth is in a death spiral  –  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/14/earth-death-spiral-radical-action-climate-breakdown

 

It was a moment of the kind that changes lives. At a press conference held by climate activists Extinction Rebellion last week, two of us journalists pressed the organisers on whether their aims were realistic. They have called, for example, for UK carbon emissions to be reduced to net zero by 2025. Wouldn’t it be better, we asked, to pursue some intermediate aims?

A young woman called Lizia Woolf stepped forward. She hadn’t spoken before, but the passion, grief and fury of her response was utterly compelling.

 “What is it that you are asking me as a 20-year-old to face and to accept about my future and my life? … This is an emergency. We are facing extinction. When you ask questions like that, what is it you want me to feel?”

We had no answer.

……

Two tasks need to be performed simultaneously: throwing ourselves at the possibility of averting collapse, as Extinction Rebellion is doing, slight though this possibility may appear; and preparing ourselves for the likely failure of these efforts, terrifying as this prospect is.

Both tasks require a complete revision of our relationship with the living planet.

Grandparents at the crib. Graham’s blog

by

If things go according to plan, Margaret and I will become grandparents for the first time on Boxing Day! So, a new perspective comes into our lives.

With my new identity I have noticed that there are no grandparents in the Christmas story. Now I am not arguing for 2 new fabled figures around the crib. But adjusting to becoming a grandparent has got me thinking and praying.

As I await a birth, I am so aware of the vulnerability of it all. I am sure I felt this on becoming a parent, but it has come back deeper. This coming birth brings such a mix of expectation, uncertainty, joy, anxiety. As I look on as a grandparent, I see this mix of emotions not so much in me but in the parents to be. This is a massive thing they are experiencing, they are feeling vulnerable as they prepare. The new child will be vulnerable too.

The other thing that strikes me is the number of adjustments to be made. The arrival of one new life is going to change the whole rhythm, balance and shape of family life for the parents. Nothing will ever be the same again. They can decorate room and get all the necessary equipment but there is so much more to adapt to.

In Advent we expect a birth and we prepare our nativity. There will be no grandparents in the scene. But there are major vulnerabilities in our Christian story, there are huge adjustments that the child will demand.

We know in the Christmas story the vulnerability and adjustments are not just for a family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus but in the life of God in human form and in the consequences, demands and transformation Jesus will bring among people and in the world.

Well, with just under 5 weeks to go, our apprehensive daughter and her partner get to the stage of saying “We wish the baby was born now” – bring it on. As grandparents we wonder: “Do they know what they wish for?”

I guess the same wishes and questions belong to advent and Christmas too!

Graham Brownlee, November 2018

Margaret Barr 1927 – 2018

by

It is with deep sadness that we learn of the death of Margaret Barr.

Margaret’s funeral service will take place here at Moortown Baptist Church at 12.30pm on Friday the 23rd of November and will be followed by a private family burial. 

We extend our love and prayers to Arthur and the family.  

Fair Trade: shop here at MBC, at The Beehive or on line

by

There will be a special Fair Trade Christmas stall after the morning service here at MBC this Sunday (Nov 25th). This is a wonderful way of supporting Traidcraft, particularly so in this their hour of need.

However, if for one reason or another you don’t get the chance to visit Roger Robson and his team on Sunday don’t forget you can also shop for Traidcraft products at The Beehive on Potternewton Lane or online by visiting https://www.traidcraftshop.co.uk/

Rewind to Christmas – set up and rehearsal this coming Sunday

by

This coming Sunday, immediately following our morning service we’ll be clearing church ahead of Rewind to Christmas 2018.

Preparing the Sanctuary and the Music Room in order for over 400 primary school children to join us and share what we as Christians believe the true meaning of Christmas to be is no easy feat. So if your’re on team and you spare us an hour or so we’d love to see you anytime from say 12.15 on wards. 

Oh and if you’re in our drama team we’re having a full run through at 3pm. 

This year Shelley Dring will be leading Rewind, her first time on team. Please pray for Shelley and all the rest of the twenty strong team as over two days they throw themselves into this – one of MBC’s most important outreach projects. 

 

Introducing MBC Missionaries. Chris and Bela Singh – Missionaries with WEC International

by

Chris and Bela have been missionaries with WEC International since 1989 working with the radio ministry, Radio Worldwide (RW).They moved to Rothwell with RW in 1993 and joined MBC partly because of the children’s and young peoples’ ministry. Their son and daughter, Abishek and Anugrah, grew up here. Anugrah is now married living in London and mother of Solomon – Chris and Bela’s first grandchild.

Chris travels around the world training Christians to use Radio and new media for spreading the Gospel and Church planting. His fruitful ministry includes training nationals in closed countries and opening Radio Stations in Africa and elsewhere. He has Masters degrees in Communication and Mission Studies and a PGCE. Bela serves in WEC’s base in Leeds as a book-keeper and administrator and is involved in local church work and in teaching English to women from South Asia in Harehills.

The WEC centre in Rothwell was recently sold and Radio Worldwide moved to new studios in City Evangelical Church in Beeston, where Chris works when he is not travelling. Chris and Bela still live in Rothwell

The best ways to support the Singhs are:

 Request to receive their prayer letters by emailing Chris and Bela at chrisrww@gmail.com

 Give financial support either through MBC or WEC International OR through Stewardship at https://www.give.net/20022776 OR directly to them. Chris and Bela rely on God for their financial support and totally depend on giving from churches and individuals.

A look back at MBC’s Remembrance Sunday Service

by

November the 11th 2018 was the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War 1.

At MBC we marked this special day with two services; our regular 10.30 service, and in the afternoon Songs of Praise. 

Below is a gallery of pictures taken during the morning service.

The poignant silhouettes were among a whole raft of images which in the build up to the commemoration served to remind us that besides service personnel many others, and on both sides were involved in the four year struggle. 

The beautiful flowers which were donated by Gillian Bayliffe in memory of her parents were arranged by Nichola Holmes, and the stunning poppy displays were crocheted and knitted by a team of Beacon cafe and Cast Off members led by Sue Gladman. 

To view a larger version of any of the gallery images simply click on the picture.

 

 

 

 

Come Lord Jesus

by

As a venue for Moortots or a Sunday morning creche MBC’s old Church Hall is perfect: slides, playhouses, pretend kitchens. But one has to concede that as the setting for a service of morning prayer and quiet reflection its dazzling colour scheme and its equally vibrant wall art is perhaps a tad out of line. 

And that was the conundrum facing Shona and Graham as they began to plan the second of our pilot services. The solution, as brilliant as it is simple was to invite members of our congregation to each make a banner that would set the tone for forty five minutes of multi cultural devotion. 

Between them, using the phrase Come Lord Jesus Sammy Bollarapu, Johnny Osemwengie and Kate Slater produced four banners in Hindi, Edu, Telugu and English.  

We’re now looking to extend the display so if you would like to make a banner using your first language all the materials you need are readily available from Kate Slater’s office. 

As a Leeds lad, born and bred, no prizes for guessing what my contribution would be… “eh up, cum ed Jesus.” 

JS

Subscribe to the MBC Newsletter

Weekly news and stories about everything that is happening at Moortown Baptist Church

PHP Code Snippets Powered By : XYZScripts.com