News
News items for public viewing
Are you interested in teaching in China?
The Amity Summer English Teaching Programme in China for 2017 (9th July to 6th August) includes one week of orientation and three weeks of teaching working with Chinese English teachers in one of China’s rural provinces.
Amity Foundation, is a Chinese Christian Organisation created in 1985. Volunteers are needed for this summer. Teaching experience is helpful but not essential. Most volunteers are not teachers by profession. There is some funding to cover volunteers costs this summer.
This is a great way to experience the real China and the Chinese Church. For more information please speak with Jane Coates or text 0782 431 7650. You can also go on line www.short-term4china.org.uk
An environmental plan A – Caring for God’s Creation. Introducing an occasional series that takes a serious look at environmental issues
At times, we slip into a view that God is only concerned with human beings. Actually, the Bible tells of God’s much wider concern. In Genesis, we learn that all the universe is created by God and all is seen by God as good. God forms humans out of the creation – the dust of the earth and commissions them to be carers of the earth and it’s flourishing. After the flood, God made a covenant with humans and every living creature. In the New Testament Jesus teaches us to pray for the Kingdom to come on earth as in heaven and later Jesus is seen not just as the saviour of humans but the one in whom all creation holds together… so this makes the environment a faith issue.
Carbon dioxide and climate change has become the first thing that people think of when they consider our impact on our world. However, this is just one area of concern shared by environmental scientists and ecologists. About eight years ago, a group of scientists was convened under the chairmanship of Professor Johan Rockström of the Stockholm Resilience Centre to consider as far as possible, the totality of humanity’s impact upon planet Earth. They identified the following nine areas of concern:
- Carbon dioxide and climate change
- Reduction in biodiversity and species loss
- Use and misuse of nitrogen
- Land use and misuse
- Fresh water supplies and the influence of water on climate
- Release of toxic substances including plastic materials
- Release of aerosol-sized particles into the atmosphere
- Acidification of the oceans
- Damage to the Ozone layer and its consequences
As we shall see, these topics are inter-related, and information on them will be put onto the Church website, month by month for a trial period, beginning with an item on plastics (shopping bags, etc.). In future we hope to touch on topics including food, transport, energy use and so on.
MBC helps Messy Church perfect an exciting new venture
MBC is one of just thirty three UK churches chosen to trial a new, exciting outreach venture. Messy Church does Science is a project that builds on established programmes in order to bring a hands-on, 21st century approach to the link between a Christian understanding of Creation and science.
At Moortown our Children’s Worker, Cas Stoodley, and her Messy Church team set up five separate stations which in fifteen minute blocks each looked a different scientific activity.
As well as being asked to provide video and still images of the session volunteers and visitors were asked to fill in feedback forms which will soon be sent off to project organisers.
Our usual Messy Church takes place on the second Friday of each month (term term). To find out more about this brilliant, all age activity speak to Cas or email her via this link cas.stoodley.mbc@btinternet.com
To view a larger version of any of our gallery images simply click on the picture or if you prefer you can follow this link to watch some video of the event. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMEVvffJ7tM
Half term treat – Friday 17th Feb
On Friday 17 February, during half term, we thought it would be nice for the children, young people, team and parents of all our groups to get together outside of church. The plan is to meet at Roundhay Park (in the car park near the top playground) at 10.45am and spend a couple of hours having fun together.
Ooh! aren’t they lovely – a couple of rather unusual visitors check in at Lunch Club
If you thought our Senior’s Lunch Club was little more than a bunch of people sitting round, drinking tea and playing bingo then you need to think again. Last week Laura Thompson lined up a couple of very unusual visitors in the form of a blue otugnued skink and what to me (although I’ll bet I’m wrong) looked like a giant tortoise.
I have to confess I’m much more of a dog or cat man but many thanks to John Hornby for passing these pictures on… I just hope they all washed their hands before they moved through to the Sports Hall for lunch!
