Dear friends
A lot can happen in a week. As we approach holy week, we have the opportunity again to journey through the events leading up to the empty tomb. It’s a week of community and wilderness, promise and protesting, violence and forgiveness, grief and joy. You may want to pray this short prayer this week, “Holy Spirit, clear my cluttered soul. Let my life and my plans and the place I rest my head speak of your love, Amen”.
On Palm Sunday we will be giving out some ways to journey with Jesus this week, things for all ages (for our younger ones there are stickers involved!) Do come along and pick something up to take home.
More about Sundays
Sunday 13th April 11am is Palm Sunday all age café church (café church is on the 2nd Sunday just this month) looking at Luke 19:28-40
Sunday 20th April 11am Easter Sunday celebration with baptisms, cake and refreshments and Easter egg hunt after the service.
Sunday 27th April 11am Easter Communion.. on the Emmaus Road Luke 24:13-35 with a group for younger ones.
Sunday May 4th all age Café church
70 years of MBC
Saturday 12th April (Tonight!) is the Birthday barn dance for all ages in church at 7pm with live music and a meal. All ages welcome! Thanks to those who have taken a ticket and those who have helped so far with the preparations. It’s a great opportunity to come together, eat, say hello, dance if you want to and celebrate. The event is free.
The nearest Sunday to the official ‘beginning’ of MBC is Easter Sunday so we will have extra cake on that day and will thank God for all He has done, what He is doing and what He wants to do as well as for the family of God here in Moortown.
If you have anything that relates to when the church began do pass it on and we’ll share them over Easter.
Have a look on the website to find out the first 50 years here… thanks John S for putting this up.. https://moortownbaptistchurch.org.uk/with-a-barn-dance-beckoning-and-with-mbc-approaching-its-70th-anniversary-we-invite-you-to-step-back-in-time-and-relive-our-first-50-years/
Holy Week
Please pick up your Easter cards this Sunday to hand out and keep.
No youth group meeting on Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday
Sunday 13th April after the service, there will be a get together for the group who originally did the prayer course with Krys but also ANYONE who wants to go along. The group are now called ‘Discovering prayer’ and continue to meet to look at different ways of exploring prayer. This Sunday Krys is running a session called ‘Mining for Gold’ an opportunity to dig deeper into the gifts you have or may discover. Feel free to bring your lunch. Meet in the music room after the service
Monday 14th April A special Easter beacon café 10-12midday with Easter crafts and snacks! All ages welcome.
Tuesday 15th April Stepping Stones for under 5’s are not having a group but the volunteers are meeting for a sort out and social at church. See Diane S or Hilary.
Wednesday 16th April Lunchclub has a break today
Wednesday 16th April ‘Easter worship and prayer’ in church 7.30-9pm. Some songs to start with, time to pray, draw, write, fill in your thoughts in a book you can take away.
Thursday 17th April 2-4pm in church ‘Warm welcome craft group’. All welcome, no previous experience necessary, there’s things to make or just come for a drink and a snack or bring your own projects to do or share.
Friday 18th April 10-11am Good Friday service and reflection in church
Friday 18th April 2.30pm Join with other churches on Alwoodley Green on King Lane for a Good Friday outdoor service (opposite the little Tesco). Feel free to bring a chair and grab a drink. The craft group have kindly been making ‘seed crosses’ that we can give out on the afternoon to help people remember the story of new life in Jesus at Easter.
Sunday 20th April 11am All Age Easter Sunday celebration with baptisms, refreshments, and Easter egg hunt after the service. Please pray for Anne and Wei Wei who will be baptised on Easter Day.
A look ahead
Monday 21st April Beacon café has a break today.
Tuesday 22nd April 7.30pm in church Deacons meeting
Wednesday 23rd April Lunch club is back on, see Rachel B
Wednesday 23rd April 1.30pm Easter Wednesday worship with communion, everyone welcome.
The next church meeting is Tuesday 13th May 7.30pm including deacons elections.
The garden and carpark continue to be improved, thanks so much! We now have more space to park in too. A reminder that the well-loved community plant sale takes place at MBC on Saturday 10th May! Talk to Jenny D or Lesley in the office for more information.
Note a date change! Now on 9th June. If you are aged around 11 to 35, have a heart for young people, parent/grandparent/carer, a group leader or want to pray and support them to be encouraged to live a life for Jesus then come along with us to the Send worship night at North church 7-9.30pm. Get Tickets – SEND Experience Night Leeds – North Church Get your free ticket here, we’ll hope to sort a group visit.
You might want to have a look at this article too from the Bible Society…
Part time Safeguarding role at the YBA
Debbie Gamble at the Yorkshire Baptist Association has been in touch with me to pass on information about a Part-time safeguarding Lead to join the YBA team. The full information pack is available on the YBA website at https://www.yba.org.uk/work-with-us . If anyone wants to ask me or Debbie about the role then get in touch with myself or Debbie Gamble in the YBA office on 0113 278 4954.
King of Kings is a film based on the novel by Charles Dickens and starring Kenneth Branagh, Pierce Brosnan and Uma Therman. This animated film comes to the cinema this Easter. See the trailer here https://youtu.be/HkGZ4ykhYPg
In Christ
Shelley
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church