“The Polar Express” film showing tomorrow evening at MBC, (Sat) 6pm till 8pm, free entry, comes complete with popcorn and hot chocolate.
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Steel Crazy sets MBC off on the right road to Christmas
Mince pies, Christmas cake, tea, coffee, juice, craft, painted biscuits etc. etc… oh and of course a fantastic steel pan band got MBC’s Christmas celebrations off to a great start. Steel Crazy, a band in which the all-female drummers – well with the exception of just one or two resident males plus Nick Taylor one of MBC’s regulars rattled through almost two hours of carols and Christmas songs.
Rachel Beedle our Seniors Worker plays one of the smaller drums, unlike the lady on the extreme left who seemingly has to lug around six giant kettle drums but I have to say collectively they make an absolutely brilliant sound.
Roll on 2024!
Shelley – 1 st Dec 2023
Dear friends
On the first day of Advent I am reminded again that beginnings matter. The 24/7 prayer app today highlights a beginning for the young boy Samuel when he first heard God’s voice.
“The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” (1 Samuel 3:3)
It is encouragement that no matter how we feel today, ‘the lamp of God has not gone out’ and he calls us again to settle in Him and listen to His voice.
We want to hear God’s voice in all the activities over the next few weeks and encourage others to draw near to Him too.
After starting the decorating of church this evening, we welcome Steel Crazy to play Christmas Carols and songs along with Christmas refreshments tomorrow 1.30-3.30.
On Sunday we meet for Café Church as we look at the theme of Comfort and Joy and in the light of what we have been learning over the last few weeks as we look forward to Advent and Christmas. It’s 11-12midday in church and online.
Rock solid for youth is 7-8pm in church on Sunday night.
Monday 4th December – Beacon café – 10-12
Tuesday 5th December – Stepping stones for under 5’s and their carers/parents 10-11.30
Tuesday 5th December afternoon house group in the church building– see Rod/Howard
Tuesday 5th December – 7.30pm in church – leadership team meeting
Wednesday 6th December– lunch club – see Rachel Beadle for more information
Wednesday 6th December – 7.30pm house group in the building and online on zoom. See Ruth /Andy Berry or Shelley
Thursday 7th December– 2-4pm warm space and craft group – all welcome
Thursday 7th December 7- 9pm The Thursday night bible study in the building – see Gareth Gadd
Friday 8th December Check with Carol or Robert Owen about bible study this week
Friday 8th December – House group – see Hilary/Jonathan Darling or Helen/Steve Olijnyk
Saturday 9th December – Polar Express film in church along with popcorn and hot chocolate. 6-8pm. Talk to Adam Argyle if you want more information or can help. Or get in touch with Claire Taylor or Lesley.
Sunday 10th December – 11am service in church with communion.
Saturday 16th of December 1-3pm in church, £8 per wreath. There are limited spaces so please book your place with Lesley if you are planning on coming. Do invite friends
All-age nativity service will be on the 17th December. Watch this space…
All-age Christingle service in candlelight on Christmas Eve afternoon at 4.30pm.
Christmas Day we will have an all-age worship service together to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. If you play an instrument or sing you’d be welcome to join in on that day to play the carols.
Do pray about all these events and services and bring your friends, family, neighbours along.
I have attached a copy of the Christmas Card. They have been professionally printed and you can pick one up in church. Do share on your social media too. A banner will be going up this week.
Finally we often have a Christmas appeal at this time. This year it has been suggested that we make small Christmas hampers for those who may need them locally this Christmas. We regularly have people coming into the building now who we are getting to know who come for conversation, food and help. If you think you can help we are looking for people to buy
A box of mincepies
chocolates
Bubble bath/shower gel
Coffee/tea/hot chocolate
Biscuits
Jam
You don’t have to buy all this, just one thing each is really welcomed. Please check dates before you buy food so that the food will last as long as it can as some may not go out until just before Christmas. You can start to bring things to Lesley or in church from Sunday 3rd December. We will need a bit of help putting these together so again if you would like to help do let us know
Shelley – 26 November
Dear friends,
We meet together again tomorrow at 11am in the building and online on our youtube channel for the final part of our walk-through Ezra/Nehemiah. It’s not the end of the story though, and we look forward to continuing to learn and reflect from the last few weeks as we move towards Advent. There will be a group for our younger friends during tomorrow’s service.
As we look to Advent, a time of preparation and expectation you’ll notice a few extra things happening in our church community. These include some things happening next weekend at MBC. Do have a look at the dates below and if you have any questions or you’d like to be involved in different ways do get in touch with the names person below, myself, one of the deacons or Lesley. Cards for Christmas are being printed so you can put them up in your home or give them to someone and they will be available by Wednesday but here is a look ahead for now..
Monday 27th November – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 midday
Tuesday 28th November – Stepping Stones group for under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30am
Tuesday 28th November afternoon house group in the church building– see Rod/Howard
Wednesday 29th November– lunch club – see Rachel Beadle for more information
Wednesday 29th November – 7.30pm house group in the building and online on zoom. See Ruth /Andy Berry or Shelley
Thursday 30th November – 2-4pm warm space and craft group – all welcome
Thursday 30th November 7- 9pm The Thursday night bible study in the building – see Gareth Gadd
Friday 1st December -No bible study this week with Carol and Robert Owen
Friday 1st December – House group – see Hilary/Jonathan Darling or Helen/Steve Olijnyk
Friday 1st December – Decorate the church for Christmas. 5-8pm All ages welcome for a short time or the whole session to help make the church look Christmassy
Saturday 2nd December – Carnival Christmas: 1:30pm – 3:30pm. Carols and songs with ‘Steel Crazy’ steel pan band, free entry including Christmas refreshments. If you can help with refreshments send Lesley a message at admin@moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk or give us a call/text.
Sunday 3rd December – Café Church at 11-12 midday
Sunday 3rd December – 7-8pm Rock Solid groups for youth in the building
On the 9th December we’ll be showing the film Polar Express in church along with popcorn and hot chocolate. 6-8pm. If you can help with setting up refreshments and clearing away, see Claire Taylor or get in touch with Lesley.
Our ever-popular wreath making workshop will take place on the 16th of December 1-3pm in church, £8 per wreath. Make a note in your diary and book your place with Lesley.
Our all-age nativity service will be on the 17th December. Watch this space…
We’ll be joining together and inviting our community into an all-age Christingle service in candlelight on Christmas Eve afternoon at 4.30pm.
On Christmas Day we will have an all-age worship service together to celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. If you play an instrument or sing you’d be welcome to join in on that day to play the carols.
Do pray about all these events and services and bring your friends, family, neighbours along.
I’m sharing here a prayer from Liz Green, General Secretary for the Baptist Union. You may find it helpful to join in with at this time.
A Prayer for the Israeli and Palestinian People
Lord God,
It is with shock and horror we witness the devastating violence and loss of life in Israel-Palestine over recent days.
We come to you as the source of all comfort
asking that you send your Spirit to surround and uphold
all those who are grieving,
all those who are suffering,
all those in fear,
and all those in captivity.
May the arms of comfort and compassion, overwhelm the arms of war.
We come to you as the source of all peace
asking that you send your Spirit to
strengthen and uphold those pursuing an end to violence,
embolden those with a heart for truth and justice,
and amplify voices of wisdom and restraint.
May the light of peace and reconciliation, overwhelm the darkness of destruction.
We come to you as the source of all hope,
asking that you send your Spirit to bring about a future,
where neighbours embrace despite their differences,
where love conquers hate,
humility surpasses pride,
and where forgiveness is treasured as a fundamental strength.
May the hope of a day when weapons of conflict will be transformed into tools of reconciliation be realised soon,
so there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. Amen
There are so many things to pray for, but one thing that has struck me this week was to pray for the Al-Alhi Baptist Hospital, reported to be the only functioning hospital in the north if Gaza and already hit by bombs during the current conflict. It is a Christian led hospital, supported by the Diocese of Jerusalem. If you would like to find out more about the hospital and ways if helping, have a look at the link below.
www.dioceseofnorwich.org/news/bishop-of-norwichs-ahli-hospital-appeal/
The Amos Trust also support the hospital and they are visiting different locations in the UK. They come to Leeds on the 5th December. Follow the link below Amos Trust Christmas Tour 2023
A couple of thoughts on Advent…
Find some helpful prayer resources for Advent at Advent Prayer 2023 – 24-7 Prayer International
Or find some Advent reflections/devotional to journey with at Advent Devotionals | Eden Advent Gifts | Eden.co.uk
Finally, it’s a tradition in Sweden that at the start of Advent, a star is placed to hang in a window representing the star of Bethlehem. It’s a symbol of light and hope in the darkness. Maybe we can all try and put one in our windows this advent to help us and those passing by too. We’ll have some paper out at out café church service in case you want to make your own.
In Christ
Shelley
Minister – Moortown Baptist Church
Shelley, 19th November and the weeks ahead
Next Sunday we finish our current series and look to Advent.
Helpful dates..
Monday 20th November – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 midday
Tuesday 21st November – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30pm
Tuesday 21stNovember afternoon housegroup – see Rod/Howard
Tuesday 21st November – 7.30pm in the building Church Meeting and AGM. Opportunity to hear what is being shared on zoom for those who cant make it in the building. Agenda’s and minutes were sent out by Lesley. We are stil have some problems with some gmail emails so if you haven’t received yours can you email/call Lesley. She will pick it up when she is in the office on Monday.
Wednesday 22nd November– lunch club – see Rachel Beadle for more information
Wednesday 22nd November – Wednesday Worship, starting at 1 o clock if you want a drink, 1.30pm start until about 2/2.10pm
Wednesday 22nd November – 7.30pm housegroup in the building and online on zoom. See Ruth /Andy Berry or Shelley
Thursday 23rd November – 2-4pm warm space and craft group – all welcome
Thursday 23rd November 7- 9pm The Thursday night bible study in the building – see Gareth Gadd
Friday 24th November -No bible study this week with Carol and Robert Owen
Friday 24th November – House group – see Hilary and Jonathan Darling or Helen Olijnyk
Sunday 26th November 11am service in the building
Sunday 26th November – 7-8pm Rock Solid groups for youth in the building
Thank you to those who came yesterday to do some gardening..
Getting ready for Christmas…
…our first Christmassy event will be on the 2nd December 1.30-3.30pm when we welcome Steel Crazy Steel pan band to help us sing some carols and Christmas songs, eat a mince pie and kick off Advent and Christmas in our community.
Our ever-popular wreath making workshop will take place on the 16th December 1-3pm in church, make a note in your diary and we’ll let you know about booking over the next week.
We’ll be joining together and inviting our community into an all-age Christingle service in candlelight on Christmas Eve afternoon.
Do pray about all these events and feel free to bring your friends, family, neighbours..
We are putting together some cards for Advent and Christmas so that you can know whats happening and give them out to invite others. These should be ready this week. If there is something at this stage you want to do over that time that you have mentioned or offered to help with already do let us know, otherwise we’ll make sure we let you know whats happening on Tuesday night and over the week!
Yours
Shelley
Minister – Moortown Baptist Church.
Shelley – 12 November
Dear friends
“What a lovely evening last night was. I have not experienced anything quite like it. It was sensitive, poignant, where grief and pain are acknowledged but wrapped in hope”. This was just one comment from Thursday night’s ‘When there are no words’ event. Thank you to all those who came along. If you want to get hold of the album you can order it online at Shop – Michael J Tinker. If you have any thoughts or want to pray about anything following the evening, then do let me know. We also have a prayer team with yellow badges on available at the service tomorrow morning if you would like to pray about any part of the journey you may be on. Also a pastoral team who are available to chat to and pray with. There are many things we may experience and see at the moment where words seem inadequate, thinking about the events around the world and coming up to Remembrance Sunday. Let’s continue to express our prayers, concerns with God and each other in whatever way we feel helpful and remember that the God of grace walks alongside us.
Thanks to all those who came to the tabletop sale today, also to Krys Gadd for arranging the stalls and for members of her team who supported. Krys will give us an update tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning we are encouraging people to come a little bit early so that we can observe the 11am silence on Remembrance Sunday. There will be a group for our younger friends. We will also be online on our youtube channel. We will be continuing our journey through Ezra/Nehemiah with Nehemiah 4 tomorrow if you want to have a read before then.
Then we’ll have a service at 4.00pm to remember those we miss who have died, to pray about our feelings of loss and to thank God for those we love and have loved. It will be about 30/40 minutes in church. All welcome.
Rock Solid groups meet 7-8pm in the building tomorrow night. See Martyn Gray, Val Boyd, Nathan Dring or Adam Argyle.
Other dates….
Monday 13th November – Beacon warm welcome café 10-12 midday
Tuesday 14th November – Stepping stones group for under 5’s and their parents and carers 10-11.30pm
Tuesday 14th afternoon housegroup – see Rod/Howard
Wednesday 15th November – lunch club – see Rachel Beadle for more information
Wednesday 15th November – 7.30pm housegroup in the building and online on zoom. See Ruth /Andy Berry or Shelley
Thursday 16th November – 2-4pm warm space and craft group – all welcome
Thursday 16th November 7- 9pm The Thursday night bible study in the building – see Gareth Gadd
Friday 17th November -10pm bible study, see Carol and Robert Owen
Friday 17th November – House group – see Hilary and Jonathan Darling or Helen Olijnyk
Saturday 18th November – Jenny Dixon has arranged a gardening day at church! Starting at 10am and going on until at least 1.00pm (maybe a bit more into the afternoon) and Jenny is asking people to help with the gardening around the church grounds – if you can bring some tools that would be great – there will be a few available at church but not enough for everyone if a fair few people turn up. Thank you.
Sunday 19th November 11am service in the building with communion.
Sunday 19th November – 7-8pm Rock Solid groups for youth in the building
Church meeting and AGM 21st of November at 7.30pm
Can any other business be sent to Lesley a week before the meeting please. The agenda went out this week, if you haven’t seen it do ask Lesley, Shelley or a deacon for a copy.
Getting ready for Christmas…
…our first Christmassy event will be on the 2nd December 1.30-3.30pm when we welcome Steel Crazy Steel pan band to help us sing some carols, eat a mince pie and kick off Advent and Christmas in our community.
Our ever-popular wreath making workshop will take place on the 16th December 1-3pm in church, make a note in your diary and we’ll let you know about booking over the next week.
We’ll be joining together and inviting our community into an all-age Christingle service in candlelight on Christmas Eve afternoon.
Do pray about all these events and feel free to bring your friends, family, neighbours..
“So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart”. (Nehemiah 4:6)
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
Krystyna Gadd’s Table Top Sale tops £750
Krystyna Gadd led a merry bunch of Table Top vendors in the first sale MBC has hosted for some years. If it was a Christmas present you were looking for you could buy almost anything – from a doggy shaped draught excluder, some exquisite needlework through to a whole raft of equally “crafty” crafts.
All money raised will go towards a trip Krys is making to Sri Lanka in the new year to support a Women’s Development Centre in Kandy.
There was coffee and cake in the Sports Hall and a brilliant raffle in the Sanctuary what more could you want during the warm up to Christmas.
In song and in readings “When there are no words” Michael J Tinker explores the acute grief, the poignancy and the joy that in Christ there is an assurance of seeing again someone you have loved and lost.
Remembering Dad.
In just under an hour Michael J Tinker and his band touched on just about every emotion the human body possesses: a sadness that untimately leads to grief, fond memories of a trip to the seaside to buy the “best candy floss in the world”, the passing of an old year to the new and then finally seeing the Father’s smile, and feeling his warm embrace… these are just random samples, the list is almost endless.
Ten songs that I can almost guarantee each of the sixty or seventy people watching would have felt or experienced in a different way – depending of course in what was happening in their own head.
It really was one of those rare moments in time when one man and his band filled the room with such rich and raw emotions but left each and every one of us touched.
Andrea and Mark share some environmental concerns
In Mark and Andrea Hotchkin’s most recent prayer letter they share some news about environmental issues, and how even though living in Chad thay are thousands of miles away this blight on one community is very similar to that of another.
You can download their newslettser from the link above.