Dear friends
As we continue to ponder and pray and act on the theme ‘Hope in the ruins’ and think what it might look like I am reminded of the words from the U2 song ‘Beautiful Day’.
See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light and
See the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood, all the colours came out
It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
Beautiful day
Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I’m not a hopeless case
We live in the tension of beautiful and painful, united and divided. We see it as we walk through the ruins…and yet we see the possibilities of what is and can be built if we only look…
I was sent a picture of Whitby Abbey (see below) by one of you this week (thank you)… the drones complete the rest of the building. We know we aren’t building something purely physical but you see the idea… the light makes up the rest…it’s a good week to talk about light..
As we were reminded last week in Ezra’s prayer, he had his eyes ‘enlightened’ and said “He has granted us new life to rebuild the House of our God and repair it’s ruins” (Ezra 9:8)
This week we move onto Nehemiah’s prayer at the start of the book of Nehemiah and find some similarities… we start at 11am tomorrow and there will be a group for our younger members. You can also join in on our youtube channel.
Here are a few more things coming up…
Wednesday Worship on Wednesday 22nd November at 1.30 and Wednesday 13th December at 1.30pm. Come at 1pm for a coffee or tea.
Please be aware that the creche can’t be used at the moment due to the building work.
Sunday 29th October 7pm-8pm Rock Solid for youth
Monday 30th October 10-12midday Beacon café. All welcome.
Tuesday 31st October – No Stepping Stones as its half term and the windows project has started in the creche
Wednesday 1st November – No lunchclub
House group at 7.30pm in church and on zoom
Thursday 2nd November – funeral of Raymond Newton at midday followed by food and drink in the church. You are all invited by the family to come along.
- 2-4pm craft group and welcome space in the building
Friday 3rd November 10-11.30am bible study in church (please note an electrician will be working in the building on this day on the heating)
House group at 8pm in Adel. Talk to Hilary or Jonathan Darling or Steve or Helen Olijnyk
Sunday 5th November 11-12 Café church, do come along as welcome three new members.
Thursday 9th November we’ll be hosting a musical evening with Michael Tinker and friends at 7,30pm (doors open at 7pm). Click on the link here About the Live Show on Vimeo. Michael will be focusing on hope and grief in this creative musical evening designed to give a space to think about loss and grief as a journey and what might hope look like in this…through live original songs, music and video. For those with faith or none. Do come along and bring others. Tickets are available online at this link here .Moortown Baptist Church event tickets from TicketSource. Paper tickets are available from Lesley in the office from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning or ask Shelley or Nathan. £10 each. There are more details here on our website…When there are no words…. – Moortown Baptist Church There will be a table out this Sunday selling tickets if you want to buy them tomorrow and bring your £10 in cash
On the 11th November we are holding a table top sale.. see link below (and talk to Krys Gadd if you have any questions)
Table Top Sale – to help a Women’s Development Centre in Sri Lanka – Moortown Baptist Church
Sunday 12th November – 11am in the building and online – Remembrance Sunday and continuing with Nehemiah
4pm in church I’ll be leading a short quiet service to remember those people we have lost and allow some time to thank God for them. All welcome
Church meeting and AGM 21st of November
Other things in Leeds you may be interested in..
Open Doors Standing Strong Event on November 4th. The conference is for the whole of the North East of England to come together to learn and pray for the worldwide persecuted church. Anyone is encouraged to attend who is a supporter of Open Doors or the persecuted church. Its held at Bridge Community Church. Sign up to attend, its free
Standing Strong Northern England Tickets, Sat 4 Nov 2023 at 10:00 | Eventbrite
Sunday 26th November ‘ An evening hosted by Cruciform, to explore together what it means to follow Jesus in a world of climate breakdown. The event will include prayer, discussion and a talk by Rev John Swales. St James Church Horsforth, 6.30-8pm. All welcome
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
In Christ
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
