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With all our usual children, family, youth and senior’s groups physically grounded it will be great this coming Sunday for the whole church, via Youtube, to be able to come together for an online Christingle Service. As far as children, youth and seniors are concerned, like so much else these days organising this Service has involved an enormous amount of extra work for Shelley, Kate, Diane and Karen who over the last few days have been busy putting together over 100 individual bags each containing everything required to make your very own Christingle. And then of course for a dozen or so delivery drivers to make doorstep deliveries in and around north Leeds.  

In addition, early next week and fully aware that not everyone is hooked up to the internet Carole and some members of her Senior’s Team will then make sure that all their Lunch Club regulars, and a few more besides are also able to get involved by again hand delivering bespoke packs to everyone on their register. 

The history of the Christingle is really interesting and can be traced back to Moravian Bishop Johannes de Watteville, who started the tradition in Germany in 1747. At that time it was just a red ruff wrapped around a candle. In the intervening years, the Moravian Church spread the tradition of Christingle through their early role in the Protestant missionary movement. It was popularized in the United Kingdom by John Pensom in 1968. He was raising funds for the charity . In the 2000s over 5,000 Christingle services were being held in the UK every year. In 2018, over 6,000 services were held for The Children’s society. Each year Christingle raises over £1.2million to help vulnerable young people.

In 2018, The Children’s Society launched its #Christingle50 campaign, which included festive services in schools and churches for the 50th year.

A Christingle usually consists of: An orange, representing the world. A candle pushed into the centre of the orange, then lit, representing Jesus Christ as Light of the World. A red ribbon wrapped around the orange or a paper frill around the candle, representing the blood of Christ. Dried fruits and/or sweets skewered on cocktail sticks pushed into the orange, representing the fruits of the earth and the four seasons.

We were hoping that each of our packs would also contain an envelope in which you could make a donation to the Children’s Society. Sadly these haven’t arrived yet but all is not lost because if you follow this link https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/how-you-can-help/donate you can arrange to make a donation to this amazing organisation either by post or online. 

And don’t forget that this year our Christingle is just one of our many family focused pre – Christmas events. Already Shelley has hosted an After School Christmas Special, next Thursday at 11am we have our Santa zoom and Christmas party (incl. a nativity scavenger hunt) for our under 5’s, and then at 9.30am on Sunday 20^th and ahead of our evening Carol Service we have courtesy of Zoom a breakfast Nativity.

The direct link to our Christingle Service is here 

If you would like to join us for any (or all) of these events please leave a message for Shelley or Kate on 0113 2693750 (email: Admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com) and we’ll make sure you receive the Zoom invitation. 

I make no apologies for using the picture above, quite possibly one of the least attractive I have have ever taken, as the lead image in this post. And that’s because what at first glance appears to be a motley mix of Sainsburys, Co-op and Home Bargains bags is in it’s most simplistic form what MBC’s Mission Statement: loving God, living generously and following Christ is all about.   Planned, co-ordinated and with strict social distancing in place deftly choreographed by Kate Slater Sunday afternoon’s Drive-Thru Gift Drop-Off was, I believe Church just as Jesus envisaged it: His followers being practically compassionate, (i.e. gifting such as nappies and the like) inclusive and most importantly outward looking. Naturally there were still many festive trimmings: a cheery banner, a nativity tableau, fairy lights adding some much needed sparkle to a rooftop cross, mince pies and of course an impressive display of Santa hats. But besides the restrictions brought about by Covid-19 the main reason MBC took on the look of a branch of the now defunct Mothercare was that unlike in previous years this time we had been asked by Home-Start Leeds to suggest that we might like to take a more practical approach to Christmas 2020. In other words to focus less on pop guns, selection boxes, yo-yo’s and colouring books and concentrate directly on some essential items that in these extra tough times will save their clients money. By three thirty, with Home-Start staff already on site and packing away our gifts there was now time to look at another innovation; our sheep and star bush. On it Kate, Howard and co had hung dozens of home crafted stars and extra cute woolly sheep. Alongside them they had secured several notices which invited passers by to take anything they wanted from our tree, take it home and put it on there’s: again outward looking, and underling a message to our neighbours that even though our building is closed the church’s commitment to the community in which it sits is still very much alive. 

With a creditable collection of items for The Leeds North & West Foodbank taking up another corner of the MBC sanctuary 3.30 came and went, and it was time for the team to pack away, lock up and go home. I guess we’ll never know who actually receives our gifts, but isn’t that the way it should be for as the apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35 “And remember the words of the Lord Jesus; ‘It is better to give than to receive’.” 

There’s also a link here to a short video that we shot during the Gift Drop. It’s nothing special and the sound is all over the place but hey ho such is life. Enjoy.

https://fb.watch/2dPeciUJAJ/

John Sherbourne

 

 

The images you see above are electronic scans of John and Sue’s original message. To read or download a clearer version please click HERE

Arthur Barr’s funeral Service will take place here at Moortown on Tuesday December 15th. Sadly, owing to Covid-19 restrictions only a small number of people will be able to attend. However, we are hopeful of being able to stream the Service live via Facebook, exactly as we do Church at Home.

To join us you will need to go to Facebook.com/moortownbaptistchurch or simply click HERE

The live stream will begin at 10.55am. 

Arthur Barr, who died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday 18^th November aged 92 lived a life of outstanding service to his Lord and to Moortown Baptist Church.

In 1967 Arthur, Margaret and their three children, Alison, David and Neil moved from Huddersfield to a new house on King Lane as a result of Arthur starting a job as an engineer in the Leeds City Planning Department. Prior to this they had been active in Salendine Nook Baptist Church where Arthur had been a Deacon and, in looking for a new church, they soon found MBC. Within scarcely a year of joining Moortown as members Arthur was elected to the Diaconate and was persuaded by the new Minister, Ralph Drake, (who himself was only a year into his ministry) to take on the role of Church Secretary on the retirement of John Smith. This decision probably slowed down the process of creating his lovely garden at the new house, and was the start of fifteen years loyal and loving service working with Ralph Drake and later Michael Caddick as Ministers.

Arthur was a great Church Secretary and pastorally-minded Deacon. His great commitment to the life of the church was shown each year at the AGM in his annual Secretary’s Reports – beautifully summing up, with humour and positivity, the ups and downs of a church year with emphasis on the blessings of God in the church… something which Margaret and Arthur were famous for passing on to others!

The Barr home was always welcoming and many of us remember house-groups there, the prayer chains, the listening groups they ran, and well into old age their faithful involvement in many other aspects of Church life.

Physical weakening was frustrating for Arthur who, all his life, had been a lover of the great outdoors: the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands and Islands and especially his beloved Isle of Arran. In recent times some of us have had the privilege of sharing reminiscences with Arthur of these lovely places and of church holidays – always laced with humorous anecdotes and with a twinkle in his eye. We have also learned of his pride in his Scots ancestry, his belonging to the Moffat Clan and his ambition to own a kilt!

Arthur’s passing at a difficult moment in the Church’s life reminds us of how the love of Jesus is demonstrated and passed on by acts of kindness, faithfulness and love of others which his life demonstrated. He will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.

Roger Robson

We remember Alison, David and Neil and their families in our prayers.

And a word from Graham

Arthur was a compassionate man, a loyal friend, an assured Christian and a committed church member. Whenever I visited him (and Margaret) he never dwelt upon himself but asked after me and all in church. Arthur (and Margaret) had a deep care and connection for their children and grandchildren, there was a photo of the whole family in their lounge and we would talk and pray for those in the picture. At the end of each time we often listen to his recording of the ‘Fishermen’s Choir ‘– especially “Will your anchor hold” and we would always pray.

A few years ago Arthur and Margaret came to us for Christmas dinner, we had a wonderful day.

It is difficult to sum all this up. But maybe Arthur does this best. Every time I called he would greet me saying “Bless you!” Arthur was a blessing in his words and the way he was. I am so grateful for having known him.

As many of you will know Arthur served as a deacon and church secretary for many years. As his family will tell you – in those days that involved going up to church every weekend to stoke the church boiler with coal before the Sunday services!

Our thoughts and prayers are with Arthur’s children, David, Alison and Neil and with their families. We also pray for those here at MBC who have known Arthur a long time and will share their sadness.

It brings such sadness to lose Arthur, but we haven’t lost him for although he has died we know that he is not lost but safe in the Lord’s arms. We also know that Arthur is an ongoing blessing to us in who he was and the times he shared with us.

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23: 5b, 6

Our pictures (top to bottom) show Arthur c.1970, not long after being appointed MBC Church Secretary.

A picture of Arthur and Margaret taken by the late John Ritchie (just one of a set of wonderful portraits John took of church members in the 8o’s).

Arthur (3rd from left) pictured with his fellow deacons and MBC Minister Rev Ralph Drake.

Arthur assisting Ralph at a Communion Service.

Margaret and Arthur relaxing during a stay in Keswick in 1983. 

Arthur’s funeral will take place on Tuesday 15th of December. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 restrictions no more than 30 people can be present which means that only his family and a few invited friends can attend. 

Our next special church meeting is scheduled for 8pm on Tuesday December 1 via Zoom.

If you are a Church Member all the information you will need to join this meeting and the Zoom links will be sent to you in advance by email. 

If, however, you don’t receive this information before the date of the meeting please email admin@moortownbaptistchurch.onmicrosoft.com or ring the church office on 0113 2693750

Thank you. 

Huge thanks to Rod, Kate, Karen and Shelley for all their hard work trimming up MBC. Although Covid restrictions prevent us marking the lead up to Christmas anything remotely like we have in the passed the team have tried their level best to ensure that the banner and all the decorations and lights have been strategically positioned in order to give anyone driving, cycling or walking past a much needed festive boost.