News

Howard Dews, one of the leaders of MBC’s Romania Support Group has just received this wonderful message from Florin Fodor who works for Campus Crusade and is a deacon at Manastur church in Cluj.

Dear Howard, 2020 brought a lot of uncertainty and stress in our lives and ministries, requiring many adaptations along the way. In a changing culture, we are grateful that God is the same Sovereign Lord, and He is never taken by surprise.

In the beginning of September, while we were planning our ministry projects for the Teachers’ ministry, we asked ourselves: How can we reach out to teachers and students during the Covid-19 pandemic?

That was when a thought crossed our minds: How about donating masks and sanitizers for the schools in Cluj county, Romania? It was just a small idea. But we immediately embraced it, as we realized it will meet the felt needs of the people we were considering reaching out to.

This small idea gave birth to a project through which:

– $7,000 have been raised

– 1,650 “Coronavirus survival kits” have been distributed to teachers and students

– 7 schools benefited from this project

– 3.000 people were exposed to our ministry project

– 10 Christian teachers stepped up in faith, reaching out to their nonbelieving colleagues and students.

On masks, we printed our name and logo, along with an encouragement (For teachers: Your work matters. For students: Keep Smiling).

The “coronavirus survival kits” contained: masks, sanitizer, and chocolate (for students); sanitizer, masks, pens, encouraging bookmarks, and chocolate (for teachers).

Reactions we got:

– Crina, teacher: The packages were very very appreciated. Now, a lot of people are asking me if I have more masks, because they really loved them.

– Maria, mother of a non-believing student: Your project is great. Can I have your bank account? I want to make a donation for this project.

– Teofil, Area Baptist Union president: I saw your post on FB. Can you add schools in our city to your project?

– Manuela, teacher: All my fellow teachers were very impressed with our project! One of them, who is not a Christian, even asked me if she can join our organization. I told her: Of course you can!

We are so glad we were able to make a small contribution to protect the health of students and teachers!

Please continue to pray for us. We are not able to do a face to face follow up after the project, as the schools are now closed in Romania, due to the pandemic. In the next period, much of our ministry will be moved online. We created a Facebook page and we are working on a website for the teachers’ ministry. Going online and offering professional and spiritual webinars to teachers and parents, are ways in which we adapt to the new context. They will also allow us to multiply and reach out to people living in other cities.

Need. Considering the financial needs we have at the end of this year, we want to finish well financially. As we will spend even more time online in the coming year, we see the need for a new laptop, that will serve us better in the new context. Also, despite the restrictions, we are planning to continue The Christmas Shoebox Project. Through this project, last year we gave 300 gifts to children from poor families. We trust the Lord to help us raise $4,500 for these needs. If this pandemic did not affect you financially and you are in a position to give, would you consider a one time gift, to cover part of the above amount? Thank you.

(You can donate online, using Cru secure site http://give.cru.org/2430189)

May God bless you! Merry Christmas! Florin and Dana Fodor

Hi everyone. Quite what Christmas at MBC will look like this year is anything but clear but even if our building does stay closed the one thing you can count on is music. So get your Christmas jumper out of the drawer, dust off your reindeer ears and sign up to join our virtual Christmas Choir.

Now the fact that our choir is virtual means that for Christmas 2020, unlike any other year you’ve no excuse for not joining in. Why? Because this time round rather than being in church, up front and lit you can not only join in from the comfort of your own front room but you can take part in as much as or as little as you like. 

So, whilst I admit they are hard to come by one benefit of moving our Christmas Choir online that I have thought of is that no matter how we broadcast our voices (Facebook, YouTube or for that matter any other platform) it actually blows away our walls which not only enables us to take the reason for the season out into our local community but quite literally to the world beyond.

So come on, jumper or no jumper, message Sam & Abi Tilley via this link and together let’s make a joyful noise. 

 

 

MBC’s Health and Safety committee are meeting very regularly, even twice weekly due to the changes taking place nationally. They are consulting the Gov.uk guidelines and also information given by the Baptist Union. With the recent news of the imminent lockdown the following decisions have been made:1) The Monday morning prayer and Friday bible study can still take place within the present guidelines and precautions, However, there will be no other services or events in the church building at present. Sadly, there can be no pastoral visiting by volunteers but we would urge you to keep in contact with one another by text, email and telephone. 

2) Next Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, and as you will see from our website we were planning a special act of remembrance. This will still go ahead but under strict conditions. In order for you to bring your poppies to church you MUST book in with Kate in the church office before 3pm Thursday and she will allocate you a 5 minute slot for next Sunday afternoon when you can drop them off. Please DO NOT just turn up – we need to know who is on the premises and at what time. Kate can be contacted by email admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com or by phone 0113 2693750. 

3) The Health and Safety team which I say is meeting up to twice a week are at present reviewing all the information available to churches. They are aware that people really want to meet and they know the importance of this for so many of us in the church community. From Thursday November 5th we will be in lockdown and will be unable to plan anything until the 2nd December at the earliest – however, if you have a plan or idea to meet up at MBC (but only of course as and when government guidelines permit) please submit a plan and a risk assessment to the Health and safety committee at least 2 weeks in advance. The committee will then assess your plan in line with current guidelines, and as long as everyone appreciates that regulations can change very suddenly, as this weekend has proved, they may be happy to support your plan and offer advice. Again Kate Slater in the office can help with any risk assessment templates and their completion.

The Health and Safety committee’s prior concern is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the church community during these unprecedented times, that is why it is vital that we all follow the guidelines issued by both the government and Baptist Union at all times.

To read the BU’s guidance on Coronavirus Cod-19 legal issues click HERE

God bless you and stay safe.

This message has been forwarded by Graham. Through the pandemic there have been various times when we have been called to prayer. Indeed moving in prayer has been an important and powerful part of our experience.

In Lockdown 2, church buildings have been restricted to quite prayer. But maybe prayer is at the heart of what we do and it not a limiting factor.

Jesus said of the busy temple in the heart of the city of Jerusalem: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations”? Mark 11: 17, looking back to Isaiah 56: 7

We can pray in church  twice a week, on Monday and Friday mornings between 10 and 12. And we can pray wherever we are in our households, homegroups and personal prayer.

Here are a couple of resources that may help us (you may have some of your own that you could share, if so please send them to mbcnewspics@gmail.com:

Baptists Together have a series of weekly prayer broadcasts

https://baptist.org.uk/Groups/338268/Prayer_broadcasts.aspx

The Evangelical Alliance have produced this helpful guide for praying through the day:

Weave listening and sharing into the daily routine of life.

Lord, today direct my thoughts, inhabit the stillness, give power to my words. In Jesus’ name, amen 

Breakfast

• Pray for those in the caring and emergency services, often tired, discouraged and weary.
• Those in hospital, and those in intensive care.

Mid-morning

• Pray for the bereaved, anxious and fearful.

Midday

Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, 
but deliver us from the evil one.

In Jesus’ name, amen

Matthew 6:9 – 13, NIV

Lunchtime

• If possible, go out and move around and pray for your community, streets and local businesses.
• Those shielding or in isolation. 

Early afternoon

• Pray for the church in the UK, that we would carry the gospel, be salt and light.

Mid-afternoon

• Pray for the poor, unemployed, homeless.
• Those with addictions.
• Those struggling with mental health issues. 

Late afternoon

• Pray for the vulnerable, children, those with disability and their carers.
• Those who are lonely.
• Those who are fearful in their home situation.

Evening

• Pray for those in positions of power and leadership and decision makers.

Night time

Pray:

Lord of grace, 

may your goodness fall in our nations.

Father of love, 

pour out your love on, in and through us.

Spirit of fellowship, 

build and strengthen communities across the UK. 

Have mercy,

heal our land,

extend your kingdom in our day.

In Jesus’ name, amen

As part of our advent journey this year, I am inviting midweek groups to spend an evening with me reflecting upon the themes of advent.

This is a one-off session that I hope will give each group space to receive the message of Advent, through reflection and prayer using the bible, images and music.

I’m gradually getting round homegroups, but if I haven’t been in touch yet please do share this with your group and let me know if you would like to book a date with me.

You don’t need to do anything to prepare for the session, just make sure you have received the zoom link from your group co-ordinator once the date is agreed.

This session is being offered to individual groups on zoom and I am also offering a session on Sunday 29^th November for anyone who is not in a group but would like to take part in this.

If you are not in a group and would like to join the Sunday session on 29^th Nov, please email or call Kate at the church office: admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com

0113 269 3750

Blessings to you and yours as you await His coming…

Shona Shaw

Dear MBC Family,

I will hold the Christlight for you, in the night time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

We are writing to you on the eve of another national lockdown, but this time one that will occur during the darkest months of the year.

The hardship of further isolation weighs heavy on our hearts. We know the hardship, socially, emotionally and physically it can bring to homes, relationships, communities.

In this place, we want to assure you of our commitment to stay connected and to remind you that we are here.

The church continues to offer pastoral care, support and discipleship as we work out how to get through this together.

You are not alone. But perhaps you need someone else to “hold the Christ light for you” so: We will continue to offer a space for private prayer on Mondays and Fridays, book in the usual way, by contacting the church office either by phone or email.

The pastoral team are continuing to provide care through phone calls, and visits by the ministers can be arranged in exceptional circumstances. Please get in touch with us.

Many of our midweek groups are now meeting over Zoom and if you would like to join a group or form one with others for this time please do get in touch.

Graham and Shona will also be available for a virtual cuppa on Mondays and Fridays at 12.30pm. We’d love to ‘see’ you and hear how you’re doing. You can receive a Zoom link for these meetings by emailing the office. 

People may also request a phone call with one of the ministers, please get in touch. And we will be sending out a regular update to keep us connected during this time via email/letter.

If you are in difficulty or distress please get in contact with Graham or Shona or contact the office.

Call or leave a message on the church office number: 0113 269 3750 or send an email to admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com 

And, of course, you can share in our Sunday services on line by going to our website www.moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk and clicking on the links for the services.

With love and blessings to you,

Shona and Graham, Ministers.

 

November 4th, 2020

This Sunday, 8^th November will be Remembrance Sunday. At MBC we plan to commemorate this occasion although our plans have changed in line with the latest Covid-19 guidelines. The Health and Safety team met on Wednesday night and considered guidance from the Baptist Union and the government.* (see links below). Although the original event cannot go ahead, Remembrance is not cancelled. We may not be able to gather together but we can remember together.

In the light of this, here is what we can do…

• Make a poppy, paint a poppy on a pebble, put a poppy on a stick, colour in a picture of a poppy and leave it up in the church car park by the outdoor cross at some point from this weekend over the week of the 8^th (I know many of you have your poppies ready which is great)
• Find your local cenotaph over the week of the 8^th November
• Have a ‘Remembrance walk’ (you can combine this with taking your poppy to church or finding your local cenotaph). Whilst you are on your walk…
  • Thank God that He walks with us every step
  • Ask God to walk with someone who comes to mind right now as you walk
  • Do you see something peaceful? Thank God for it
  • Do you see any conflict, pray for it
  • Look out for anything red that stands out to you on your walk…talk/listen to God about anything that comes to mind
• Colour in a poppy and put it in your window at home. We’ll have some printed off at church in a box in the car park that we have already given a donation for but you can also get hold of one on the Royal British Legion website  https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate
• Join in with church on live Facebook on the Moortown Baptist church Facebook Page at 10.45, then pause for 2 minutes at 11am on Remembrance Sunday in your home or on your doorstep.
• Join in the Church at Home playlist on YouTube on Sunday 8^th November after the 11am silence.
• Pause for 2 minutes on Remembrance Day on the 11^th
• Thank God for those past and present who gave their lives and pray for all those who work for peace in all sorts of situations.
• Give to the Poppy appeal. You can give online, by text, phone or post.

Online

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate

Text

To donate £2 text POPPY2 to 70545, To donate £5 text POPPY5 to 70545, To donate £10 text POPPY10 to 70545 (Texts cost £2, £5, or £10 plus one standard network rate message (typically 97% of the donation amount goes to the Royal British Legion).

Phone 0345 845 1945

*Useful links

https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/570475/Coronavirus_essential_advice.aspx

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday

Below are two prayers which Shona suggests you may like to use during your time of remembrance 

A prayer of petition for those affected by war. 

God of justice and peace,

we pray for those who have been injured or disabled through war.  

For those who have lost homes and security through conflict; 

for those who have lost loved relatives in wars; 

for those who face danger and take risks for peace; 

for all those, especially children, caught up in current conflicts; 

for refugees and all those in need of aid and other help.  

God of encouragement and Saviour of the despairing, comfort those who remember past sacrifices 

and guide us in building a just and peaceful community for all. 

Amen.

A prayer for peacemakers

History can inspire or trap.

Walls can protect or divide.

Words can encourage or inflame.

Power can free or destroy.

Touch can comfort or violate.

Peace can be shared or withheld.

Gracious God, on this day,

when we remember past and present conflicts,

we pray for the divided peoples of the world,

that leaders, governments and each one of us

may use our resources,

our opportunities and our lives

in the service of reconciliation,

for the sake of future generations

and to the glory of your name.

Amen.