Dear friends
This week we continue to explore the Holy Spirit as we start a series about Fruit of the Spirit, taking us through the summer months. We hope that it is something that you can explore afresh or for the first time over the Summer wherever you are and whatever age. John 15:16 reminds us that Jesus said,
“You did not choose me, I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit, fruit that will last”. Some of you may know that I always carry a banana around with me. I call it my emergency banana and its helpful for those moments I suddenly feel hungry. I realise as I look around the world how grateful I am to have an emergency banana. However, as many of you know, a banana doesn’t last for long. It soon starts to go brown and mushy. The fruit that God wants us to produce is intended to not have a shelf life, it’s intended to go on long after the seed was planted and the fruit has grown. The bible talks about the fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians chapter 5 and as we discover the fruit in practice in the bible and in our world, one thing to ponder and pray about is how this fruit might last and develop, how will it go beyond us and the immediate that we see? How can we plan for this? What difference does it make? We start tomorrow at 11am in church and in Sunday school as on our YouTube channel. We’ll also share communion together.
Every year the Royal Academy in London hosts a summer exhibition based on a different theme each year to encourage people to think about a topic in a new way. This year we would like to host our own summer exhibition by exploring the theme of the Holy Spirit. This may be through painting, writing, music, photography, doodling, crafts, reading, words and more. Please hand anything to me, Lesley or Linsey and we will put them up or can be incorporated in what we do. Don’t feel you have to have a perfect ‘thing’, half an explored idea is good too, all ages and experiences welcome. You may want to do it on your own or with others in a group. Let’s pray that we have open eyes and hearts as we respond to Him! This one way we can all share ministry together.
As the school’s finish and the summer starts, there is a temporary change in what we do as a church, but we wanted to be intentional about the change of pace providing opportunities to pray and worship, allowing time for holiday and creating new ways to connect and explore. Thankyou to all those who are contributing to this. Below you will find a list of all the summer activities including regular groups and one-off events. This is also available on the MBC website and reminders will be posted on social media throughout the summer. Paper copies will be in church from next week.
Monday 21st July Health and Safety meeting at 3pm in church building (do get in touch with John C or myself if you think you would like to help with any aspect of health and safety in the building)
Tuesday 22nd July Toddler tidy up and social at 10am starting in the church building
Sunday 27 July 11am service with children’s group Fruit of the Spirit ‘love’ Acts 2:38-47
Sunday 3rd August 11am café church Fruit of the Spirit ‘Joy’
5th August 7.30pm Deacons meeting in the church building.
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard…”Gal 5:22 (The message version)
Blessings
Shelley
Shelley Dring
Minister
Moortown Baptist Church
