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So, how many did you recognise? MBC Youth Club circa 1966

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For all those of you who have been racking your brains all week to identify who’s on the picture, allow me to put you out of your misery. 

Left to right: Madeline Stobbs, Gwynneth Sherbourne (nee Smith), Rod Russell and his sister Jean, Roger Robson and his brother Richard. As for those sitting at the back we’re not so sure. Certainly (we think) Monica Carpenter is there, as for the other three ? – ? – ? whilst behind the camera was of course John Sherbourne.

If, however, you’re wondering what on earth I’m talking about, here’s the original story we posted last week. 

Please excuse the quality of this picture but it’s been copied from an old image that we believe was shot around 1965/6. It shows some of MBC’s Youth Club, a group of about a dozen of us that met every Tuesday evening in Stonegate House and under its more sophisticated name of Crossroads on a Sunday.

It was taken on one of what became a regular feature… a Bank Holiday hike. These took us into the Dales, to the likes of Kettlewell, Pateley Bridge and Bolton Abbey. However, one particular trip which I believe we repeated a number of times was a camping weekend on the cliffs above Whitby. The one I recall most clearly coincided with the England football team’s World Cup win at Wembley which we listened to on a transister radio. 

Anyway, the reason we’ve decidied to post this picture is because of the people in it three are still active here at MBC. See if you can spot them.

There’s no prizes for guessing who they are, just the satisfaction of knowing that the old phrase “my, you haven’t changed a bit” is as daft today as it always has been. Oh and just for added excitment you might like to have a go at guessing who took the picture. 

Friends reunited. Jean and Paul Hicks meet up with Zsuzsi and Andor Ferko as MBC celebrates its historic links to Romania

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In 1972 two of our young students, Paul Hicks and Jean Macintosh (later to become Jean Hicks) travelled by road from Oxford to Romania. At twenty and nineteen respectively Paul and Jean’s main objective was to deliver theological books to Romanian Baptist pastor Josef Ton who like them had been at Oxford. They also took, although in a slightly more clandestine fashion a stash of much needed Romanian Bibles. 

Their mission, I’m glad to say was a complete sucess and while it wasn’t until 1990, after the fall of the Ceausescu regime, that the couple would return to Romania, when they did they lapped up the opportunity to rekindle and revive friendships made almost two decades earlier. 

By chance, although some will no doubt question my choice of the word chance, Jean, on the outbound flight, found herself sitting next to a Romanian lady called Noemi Soos, who like Josef Ton was also a Pastor and who had been attending an ecumenical conference in Bath. 

As they chatted Noemi told Jean all about the Hungarian Reformed Church she worked at in a little village called Stejeris. And it was from that serendipitous encounter that Moortown Baptist Church’s relationship with Romania came about.

Fired on their return by the Hick’s enthusiasm MBC set up MRS G (The Moortown Romania Support Group) which over the years has seen many two way visits between Romania and Leeds. But not only that, now, almost fifty five years since Paul and Jean’s inititial “book run” MBC also supports a number of Romanian churches by (among other things) raising funds through craft sales, helping pay Pastor’s salaries,  donating money for children from poorer families to attend Christian schools and by sending book grants for Christian university students. 

One of the ongoing ventures we’ve mentioned above is the home and away visits we enjoy, and last Sunday (April 12th) we were not only delighted to welcome back to Leeds Romanian pastors Zsuzsi and Andor Ferko, and for their first visit to the UK two of their friends Kata and Lori but to be present when for the first time in a long while they met up again with Paul and Jean.

Having studied in the UK during their ministry training Zsuzsi, who believe it or not is Noemi’s daughter told a packed church that both she and Andor thought of Leeds as their second home. Together they sang and Zsuzsi delivered a powerful message that just as Jesus, after his resurrection had addressed Mary Magdeline by her name, so too he calls us as individuals, by name. 

Since they flew in last Wednesday our visitors have so far visited Howarth, London, “down town Leeds” as Lori calls it, Whitby and York.

It really has been a joy to welcome them and catch up with all their news. 

ONLINE – The Yorkshire Baptist Association report on MBC’s build up to Easter

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Moortown Baptist Church’s Impact over Easter Weekend!

 
Easter Sunday was the culmination of a very busy time at Moortown Baptist Church.
 
On Good Friday, following on from a service in church, several members of MBC’s worship band made their way to Alwoodley Village Green, where they battled against driving rain and gale force winds to play at an open-air service which brought together more than a hundred people from churches and community groups across LS17.
 

The following day it was MBC’s Eggstravaganza, a very different sort of event but one which again saw over a hundred people, young and old, embracing the season by making Easter gardens and decorating Easter biscuits as well as joining in quizzes, competitions and games.  

However, the high spot of the weekend had to be Easter Day when for the second year running MBC’s minister Shelley Dring and her husband Nathan baptised two people, Isabella and Rachel before welcoming four regular attenders into membership. 

The pictures were taken at Saturday’s Eggstravaganza and during the Alwoodley Village Green Service. 

A timely coincidence – a new Engage magazine and a visit to MBC by Helen Harris the BMS’s Director or Fundraising and Communications

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Purely by chance the 65th Issue of ENGAGE the BMS World Mission magazine, together with a Prayer Guide,  dropped through my letter box this morning just four days before Helen Harris the BMS Director of Fundraising and Communications is due to speak at MBC. 

The magazine as it always does mixes stories from across the globe with some hard hitting facts: there are features from Mongolia, Gaza and Ghana alongside a list of stats that tell of life-changing projects particularaly across Asia and North Africa. 

As we always say, you can and completely free of charge receive the magazine either through the post or online by emailing BMS World Mission at http://www.bmsworldmission.org

In the meantime we look forward to listening to Helen this coming Sunday as she shares with us how God is at work worldwide.

Shelley’s news – 10th April

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Dear friends

On the cross, Jesus said ‘it is finished’, the hour had come.  Yet there are some things that are not finished.  We know the work, the grace, the love continues.  We continue to pray for peace and to work for peace in our world.  Lord have mercy, we pray.  Help us to follow in the way of Christ.

It was so good to be with Rachel and Isabella as they were baptised last week and to welcome Graham, Carol, John and Michaela too.  Do keep praying for them and share your stories.  If you are interested in membership or baptism or both then just get in touch.  More information on last Sunday here What a wonderful day at MBC – two baptisms and a warm welcome for four new members – Moortown Baptist Church

On Sunday, we welcome Andor and Zsuzsi, and Lori and Kata pastors of churches in Romania.  They’ll be sharing with us in word and worship.   Andor, Zsuzsi and Lori are also part of a band who travel around Romania sharing music and song. We start at 11am as usual and there will be a bring and share lunch after the service.  Everyone is invited!

There will be no Rock Solid youth group this week but Beacon café is back on Monday 13th April.  Craft group warm welcome space is on Thursday 16th April 2-4pm. Lunch club and Stepping Stones are back the week beginning 20th April.  Stepping Stones team will be having a tidy up this week, talk to Diane or Hilary if you want to help. Housegroups are back on this week too. 

Next week…

Thursday 16th April Women and girls self-defence class funded as part of the mayor of West Yorkshire’s Safer Communities Fund and Leeds City Council Inner North Community Committee with Leeds Jewish Housing Association, 1pm-5pm in the sports hall. No cost.  

See the link here on Instagram. To book please email enquiries@blossom-uk.co.uk. You can also look at our website to read about a previous workshop.. Be Well and Be Strong… self defence for women and girls. – Moortown Baptist Church  Thursday 16th April Bible Study in the Music Room 7.00pm – 9.00pm Speak to Gareth, John C or Lesley

Friday 17th April Bible Study in the Music Room 10.00 – 11.00am exploring Ephesians. Speak to Shelley for more information.

Sunday 19th April 11-12 Church service with a small group for our younger friends to explore the theme together. ‘Jesus through the eyes of John:  Jesus appears to.. the disciples’ John 20:19-23 We welcome Helen Harris, Director of Fundraising and Communications for the Baptist Missionary Society who is looking forward to sharing stories of God at work worldwide in our service and linking into our Sunday theme.  We will share communion.

Rock Solid youth meet tonight in the building, 7-8pm

Coming up…

Monday April 20th Deacons meeting at 7,30 in the building.

Wednesday April 22nd The ‘Create your own psalm group’ (usually last Wednesday of the month but it’s the third Sunday this month) meet in the music room at 7pm.  All welcome even if you haven’t been before, materials provided, come and have a go in a relaxing space.  Be guided with ideas and then have freedom to explore.  No experience needed. Speak to Krys or Cas.

Sunday 26th April 11-12 Church Service with a small group for our younger friends to explore the theme together. ‘Jesus through the eyes of John:  Jesus appears to.. Thomas’ John 20:24-31 

Sunday 3rd May 11am Cafe church with breakfast snacks and refreshments ‘Jesus through the eyes of John:  Jesus appears on the beach’ John 21:1-14

Sunday 10th May 11am Church Service with a small group for our younger friends to explore the theme together. ‘Jesus through the eyes of John:  Jesus restores’   John 21:15-25

Sunday 24th May Pentecost Sunday service at 11am.

Whole Church meeting dates…

Tuesday 12th May (deacons elections), Sunday 5thJuly (after church) Tuesday 22nd September (AGM), Tuesday 10th November.

Please do pray and ask people who you sense God is prompting you about in relation to being a Deacon for the next season of church.  An email went out this week.  Rod will be stepping down this time.  We will be thanking him for his time as a deacon.

Mission group meet on the 9th June 2.30-4pm in the building. 

We’ll be hosting voting in the music room on Polling Day, Thursday 7th May.  We’ll share some resources from the evangelical alliance on this soon.  You may like to pray too.  Our groups will still go ahead on that day, maybe just in a different room.

Slightly further a field…

The Baptist assembly takes place in Harrogate this year…The Baptist Union of Great Britain : Registration

Finally, an Easter poem by E Hamilton from Whispers of Grace.

The morning didn’t end yesterday. It didn’t stay in the garden, didn’t settle at the empty tomb like something finished and ready to be remembered.

It moves. Into streets and kitchens and conversations that don’t yet know they’re about to change.

We wake up again, same rooms, same routines, same lists waiting for us, and still something has shifted.

He is risen. He is risen indeed.

Not just a moment, not just a day we mark and move on from, but a life that keeps breaking in.

The God who is alive doesn’t stay where we left Him, doesn’t belong only to Sunday morning light, but walks into Monday, into the ordinary, into the places we thought were untouched by resurrection. And we might miss it if we’re not paying attention.

In the small turning of a heart, in the quiet lifting of hope, in the courage to begin again when nothing around us has changed yet.

This is how it continues. Not always loud, not always obvious, but steady, like breath returning, like light finding its way through the edges of a day.

The God who is life is not finished. Not with the world. Not with us. And so we carry it forward, not perfectly, not fully understanding, but alive to it, this resurrection that didn’t end on Sunday, that keeps unfolding right here, right now, in us.

© E Hamilton 2026

In Christ

Shelley

Shelley Dring

Minister

Moortown Baptist Church

A taste of the big city for Andor, Zsuzsi, Kata and Lori

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No sooner had our Romania visitors Andor, Zsuzsi, Kata and Lori flown in fom Bukarest than they were whisked down to London for a sightseeing tour. 

Here they are by Tower Bridge. Let’s hope they’ve recovered from all this gadding about by Sunday when they join us for our 11am service. 

What a wonderful day at MBC – two baptisms and a warm welcome for four new members

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Easter Day is always special, of course it is, it’s the day that Jesus rose and regardless of circumstance guaranteed our future. 

However, for Isabella, Rachel, Michaela, John, Graham and Carol Easter Day 2026 was extra special; the first two were baptized, and then following another Baptist tradition the others were welcomed into membership. 

Our gallery of pictures below capture, as best as still images can the sheer joy that yesterday pervaded MBC. Through Shelley’s talk based on John chapter 10, music, readings, prayer, some boisterous flag waving and even an Easter egg hunt the whole congregation demonstrated precisely what Jesus’ resurrection means to them. 

Big turn out for our Easter Eggstravaganza

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This morning’s Eggstravaganza was brilliant. Upwards of a hundred people, from babes in arms to some very senior seniors came together to celebrate Easter in a whole host of different ways. 

There were Easter gardens to be made, Easter biscuits to be decorated, Easter quizzes to be answered, an Easter bunny’s name to be guessed and even that old chestnut how many sweets in a jar – to name but a few, not to mention some fabulous home baking. 

Many thanks to Claire and her team for organising this great event, and oh if you’d like to join us tomorrow for our Easter Celebration (complete with baptisms) we start at 11am. 

To view the picture gallery above simply click on any of the images. 

Good Friday – an outdoor service of worship, witness, driving rain and gale force winds

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During last year’s Alwoodley Village Green, Good Friday Service it poured down;  this year it went one better, for not only did we have driving rain but the added bonus of gale force winds. 

This however, didn’t prevent more than 100 people from community groups and churches right across LS17 coming together to reflect, to sing and to pray on this, one of the most significant days in the Christian calendar. 

As you can see from the gallery of pictures above many came prepared, but alas some hadn’t heeded the warnings and left somewhat deshevelled. 

Hopefully, at least weather wise, Easter Day will be a little less challenging – currently the forecasters are predicting only gusty winds and light rain. But what ever the weather that won’t stop us and millions of fellow Christians across the world celebrating Jesus’ resurrection. 

If you would like to join us we start of Cafe Style Church Service, which includes baptisms at 11am and you will be very welcome.

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