News items for public viewing
This coming Sunday, September 18th, after our Service at aroundabout 12 noon we are holding an informal church meeting.
This is designed to give you a chance to ask any questions you may have and to hear from your leadership team about whats going on at MBC right now and in the future.
All welcome.
One of the series of ‘I Am’ studies at church was ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life’ and as I was working with the children on that Sunday, I chose to link the story of Lazarus with the fictional story of Water Bugs and Dragonflies, a book written by Doris Stickney. Water Bugs and Dragonflies is a beautiful modern parable about transformation, that explores the challenging topic of death and loss that even young children can access and may find helpful.
The story begins with a colony of water bugs who spend their lives at the bottom of the pond, although occasionally one of the colony of these strange looking creatures, would climb out of the pond, up the stalk of a water lily, disappear, and never come back. The water bugs are curious to know what happens to each friend, why they leave and where they go. So, the water bugs promise each other that the next water bug that climbs out of the pond must return and tell the others what happens to them above the surface of the pond.
The next water bug to leave the pond, discovers that a startling change has occurred to his body, that he has grown four beautiful wings and a tail, and that he is able to fly freely in the air and the sunshine. He has become a dragonfly. Moving his beautiful silver wings, he finds himself flying above the pond where his friends the water bugs live. Then he remembers the promise that he made while he was still a water bug at the bottom of the pond.
The dragonfly attempts to return through the water surface of the pond but realises that with his changed body he cannot return to the pond, the water, and his friends. The beautiful dragonfly also realizes that even if he could go back, not one of the water bugs would recognize him and know him in this new, changed body. He would have to wait until they become dragonflies too and join him beyond the water of the pond.
After listening to the story on that first Sunday morning, the children and young people prepared their cut outs of leaves using real leaves, and their drawings of dragonflies, that were to be transferred to a piece of silk, ready for them to add the silk paint into their shapes on the silk fabric.
The dragonfly and leaves banner, with Jesus’s statement, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” is the result.
Dear friends
In the light of the last few days I wanted to keep in touch. I knew when I was writing my last message on Thursday that things were not good in relation to the Queen’s health. As I sat in church amongst the bustle of craft group and set up for Space that evening we knew that there was something happening that would affect the nation. Everyone is different so will have reacted to the news in different ways. We do know that for many in our country and across the world, the news will have brought sadness and uncertainty, especially with all the other changes that seem to be happening. It may have brought up feelings of loss in our own lives from people we miss who have died. I know I have been talking to my children a lot more over the last few days about death and heaven as they link the death of the Queen to the loss of their two Grandads last year. It reminds me again that however we feel, there is an opportunity to acknowledge those things but also to stand with others in their loss and confusion as well as speak about the hope we have in the storm. We have an opportunity to pray for our nation, our leaders, our neighbours, our families and friends.
Tomorrow the service will reflect some of the things that have been going on this week as well as looking forward in hope. It’s designed for all and I want to thank all who are leading. There will be an opportunity for people to share tomorrow too if you have a prayer or thought. We have a book that people can write in with their thoughts about the Queen and prayers for others. It will be available in the foyer all week. The church building was open on Thursday evening and Friday evening last week and we have met some of our community who wanted a space to think. Next week the building will be open Monday 10-12, Tuesday 10-12 and Wednesday 6.30-7.30 for anyone to come and be and pray. If you want to come yourself, come with others or be around for any of our local community who may want to come in then it would be great to see you. We want to be a church without walls and this is one way we can be there for people at this time.
“The Christmas message shows us that this love is for everyone. There is no one beyond its reach.” (Queen Elizabeth II, 2013).
Keep in touch
Shelley, Rachel and the Leadership Team
Stepping Stones, our fun session for 0’s to under 5’s is back next Tuesday the 13th September from 10am till 11.30.
No need to book. If you’re a mum, dad, grandparent, child minder, carer just turn up.
You’ll be most welcome.
By chance it less than an hour after the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II was announced that MBC’s doors were open for SPACE, an evening set aside for anything and everything: singing, dancing, drawing, crafting, flag waving, doodling, playing a musical instrument, reading the bible or simply praying.
In total about a dozen of our regulars joined us, plus a man we didn’t know who was passing by saw the doors open and the lights on and asked if he come come in to pray.
To say the news had shocked us all was an understatment. For the little ones the Queen was perhaps just a portrait that you see on a stamp, a mug or on bunting. To others she was someone they themselves might recall seeing when she visited somewhere local, whilst to some she had been a constant throughout their entire lives.
Whatever the personal memory and despite the underlying hope for the future this was, nevertheless, a sad night, a night filled – indeed for some overflowing with bittersweet memories.
I don’t think anyone bothered to look at a clock but I reckon SPACE finished somewhere just after 9pm, but that didn’t matter. Indeed by the time we were all cleared away and everything was back in its cupboard we didn’t lock up until 10.
But that was the beauty of SPACE. You see there was no running order, there was no panic when the live link went down, there were no pregnant pauses in which we figeted in our seats and looked down at our shoes. That isn’t to say there weren’t gaps – there were – plenty of them but they were filled with a mix of sadness for what we were all feeling there and then and of hope.
Ruth and Andy did a marvelous job organising SPACE – an uneviable task at best and to do it under those circumstances deserves even more credit.
As we started to tidy away we all sang the National Anthem – God save the King. For those under seventy this was a first, for those over we were reprising something we no doubt did in our own childhood.
Thank you for SPACE.
Over the course of the next four weeks our Church Lead Shelley Dring is set to face two enormous challenges; this Sunday she lines up for the Great North Run, a half marathon that leads out from Newcastle city centre to the coast and back again and then just three weeks later, on Sunday October 2nd she laces her trainers up again to tackle the daddy of them all the 26 and a bit mile London Marathon.
Obviously it goes without saying that Shelley wouldn’t have entered these two events if she didn’t love running. However, there’s more to it than that. As many of you will recall Shelley’s dad Steve died last November and it’s in his memory that she has signed up with the fund raising site Just Giving to try raise as much money as she can for the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
If you would like to help Shelley reach her £2,200 target just click on this link HERE or alternatively I’m certain she wouldn’t be too embarrassed if you were to give her your donation in person.
Thank you.
If you have ever wondered what a genuine all age event would look like here at MBC? well here’s your chance to find out. And here we’re not just talking about something in which the adults learn one thing and the children and young people learn a slightly more “age appropriate” version in another room… no this is our attempt at hosting a genuine all age, multifaceted event.
You see here and now, as near as we dare say post Covid, being a Christian and worshipping God is even more about connecting with people, it’s all about being a community that’s outward looking, that’s warm and inviting. It’s all about being people who are prepared to try out new things, to take risks and who knows possibly even unearth new gifts and talents.
So if you are free at 6.30pm on Thursday the 8th of September why not come up to church, bring something you want to share, to play, to dance to, to sing etc. etc. and enjoy the freedom of space.
At MBC we are lucky enough to have enough rooms to spread out, so forget the fact that one of them has a sign on it that says it’s a Sports Hall, and that another is called the Music Room; if a bunch of musicians find themselves in the Corner Room and a palette of painters end up setting up in the foyer so be it.
We’d like to think this is the sort of event you could invite your friends and neighbours to, and for those who have been saying “let’s do something new,” well here it is.
So, put the date in your diary now, (either digital or analogue), put your thinking caps on, chat to yur neighbours and friends and if there’s something or anything you, your children or your grandchildren might enjoy come along and be prepared to be church in the broadest and most loving sense of the word.
Dear friends
Just a reminder that we are back in the church building tomorrow at 11-12midday for café church where breakfast, drinks, fruit will be available alongside an informal style of service around tables and chairs. There will be an art area in the main hall (known as the Sanctuary) for those who want to be creative through art and explore the themes they are hearing in the service.
Tomorrow the theme will be ‘Unfinished masterpiece’ from the first chapter of Philippians and we’ll be finding out how God sees us, how this affects how we see the world and how we are all amazing works in progress whether we feel like it or not.
The service will be online on our YouTube channel at 11am although you’ll need to provide your own breakfast if you are watching on your own screen!
Other things to look out for…
Beacon café is back on Monday 10-12midday in the church building. All welcome!
‘Space’ takes place on Thursday 8th September in the building at 6.30pm. Bring an instrument or feel free to sing if you want to join with others to play music, sing songs or draw/dance to what you can hear. All are welcome, just join in with what you want to do. More questions then talk to Andy or Ruth Berry or myself.
Craft group is back at 2pm on Thursday in the building
Mini catch up/meeting after church on 18th September for all to share with and hear from Leadership Team and staff
News about an excellent online course from Parenting for Faith. Parenting for faith were great supporting me during the pandemic as the Family and Childrens lead and as a mum/aunty. They support anyone who is a role model to children whether they are your own children or children you look after/teach/encourage. The aim of the course is for anyone who wants to help children/young people with their two way relationship with God. (I think the five keys they share help adults too!). They are hosting the course online on zoom in September starting Monday 26 Sept, 3rd Oct 10th, Oct 17th, 7 Nov, 14 Nov, 21st and 28th Nov 7.45-9pm (no sessions in half term)
Parenting for Faith Course Online 2022 – BRFonline You can sign up as an individual or if there are a few people interested we can book in as a church. Do chat with me if sign up as we get a discount if there’s a few of us.
We’ll be putting together some ideas for the services over the next few weeks so we’ll keep in touch about this but if you want to read or pray or help with children’s teaching or sing or share from God’s word then do get in touch with me. I’d love to hear from you.
Pray for…
Those we know who are ill or struggling with life
All those going back to school this week and their teachers
Those in Pakistan affected by the floods
Those who are daring to try new things or new ways of thinking in the Autumn
The shortlisting and interviews for the church administrator taking place over the next few weeks
Thanks for those who have received refreshment and support over the school summer holidays
See you tomorrow
In Christ
Shelley
Thanks from Howard and the rest of the Romania Support Group to all who attended the Cream Tea a couple of weeks ago. As well as being a good social occasion with our visitors from Romania, Florin Dana and Irene Fodor, £323 was raised towards the support we send to churches in Romania for young people’s camps held during the summer months.
We’ve just off some more money given for the Romanian churches we are linked with to help Ukrainian refugees – £12,000 in total. As well as supporting refugees who have gone to Romania the money will be used to send aid into Ukraine for people who are internally displaced.
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And here’s a message and some pictures just in from Rei Abrudan, from Via Church, Cluj-Napoca,
If Christian nations were nations of Christians, there would be no wars. After this war, I’m afraid, there will be no victors, only losers.
After a huge refugee wave during the first two months of war, things kind of calmed down. As a result, our ministry is focusing on those who chose to stay (650 Ukrainians in our area) trying to grow their community stronger by offering social care (finding jobs, meeting basic needs for people with disabilities, integrating children in kindergarten and schools), judicial assistance (legal paperwork, political asylum, immigration status), medical assistance (surgeries, treatment for chronic conditions, etc.), community care (recreation, support groups) and spiritual care.
Also, we are offering support to other communities across Romania, where the number of refugees is larger.
Many of the refugees moved further west, others went back home. Larger and more stable communities have formed near the eastern border.
In Iași, for example, right next to the Ukrainian border, there was a Kids Festival held in June, which we sponsored. It was organised by a local church over there and other partners. Right in front of the mall, they had 1 workshop for parents, 4 workshops for kids and all kinds of fun activities for one day. Out of 3.000 participants, 400 were Ukrainians. The event ended with an evangelistic message from an Ukrainian pastor.
Another way of helping other communities across Romania, was helping a kindergarten in Arad by buying some beds, as they turned into a refugee cen
English courses
At their request, understanding the need, we are offering ESL courses bringing in English teachers. This month they are taking a short summer break, but they will resume starting on September.
Leonid and his family are doing fine. He is travelling more often to UA to visit the shop he is owning there, so that the business doesn’t die, but he is struggling thinking that things are not improving there and they can’t see a future back in UA. They are considering the idea of moving to Cluj permanently, especially for their children.
He is constantly searching for ways to help and care the Ukrainians in Cluj…and he doesn’t seem to get tired or weary of doing this for so many months now.
So this is a modest part of our joyful serving of people in need.
This war will not determine who is right, only who is left. So, we want to be there for those left.
Doing what we can, with what we have, where we are! Thank you for your support!
Rei Abrudan,
Via Church, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
It may be that up to now your diary is empty for November 22, but for our Jewish neighbours that’s a very important day; it’s the date of Mitzvah 2022 – a special day when they host a community event that seeks to make Leeds and its surrounding area a better place to live, work and play.
Drawing on the city’s rich and diverse traditions, the idea behind Mitzvah 2022 is the notion of selfless giving, giving of yourself and not just your money; a notion which of course isn’t exclusive to Jews but is a central pillar to many other traditions such as Hinduism, Sikhism and of course Christianity.
And that’s why Shelley Dring was invited to join with representatives of all these faiths, plus local councillors and Mitzvah Chief Exec Stuart Diamond at a recent get-together.
No douby Shelley will be sharing some of what was discussed nearer the time but with MBC’s links going back more than half a century isn’t it wonderful to see and hear that despite differences when it comes to selfless service we can all come together to make Leeds a more compassionate, more caring and more tolerant city.
