Tapton Church Blog

Leaders : Rev.Bill and Mrs Betty Bentham  (from Scunthorpe)                                                                                   Betty’s talk :  at this time of year many students are worried about examinations and results and parents are worried s to how they will get on    so we think of them all.  She told us a true story  of a class of 92 students in Canada  who were told, muc to their dismay,  that the school had decided that in future no religion or the name of God would be mentioned.     At their graduation day there were a lot of speeches and then it was time for the head boy to speak   he started and then all 91 of the students sneezed at the same time  –  “God bless you all” he said.

Reading :Mark1  v29  Jesus had been preaching in the synagogue and was tired so he went home with Simon  – when they got there Simons Mother in law was ill  – Jesus healed her  and word soon spread round the village and any turned up at the house wanting to see Jesus  so he left the house to be on his own – but his disciples found him and told him there were a lot of people wanting to see him but he said he wanted to move on.          There are many dramatic events in the bible    all need to be interpreted.   In the old testament some dramatic events are :   Creation  and there are more than one version of this.  Abraham going to sacrifice his son Isaac but was stopped by God.    Joshua stormed Jericho.  All these and others  need interpretation    Its not what happens its how you interpret it.    The Church must be prepared for when Jesus comes again.

Leader :  Suzanne Nockels   Psalm  68   “God is father to the fatherless and defender of the vulnerable”

COPYING  How would you copy a picture   – photocopier?  carbon paper? tracing paper ? pantagraph? take a photo of it?     Copying  people   woukd you copy someone you admire   or be an individual and stay as you are ?   If you are copying someone it has to be worthwhile.    The Disciples lived with Jesus   he was their role model     Perhaps there is someone you know who has copied Jesus   Are you worth copying?

Readings :   Proverbs 8 1-11 22-35    Romans 5 1-5        What is wise ?   what do we associate with   wisdom ?  Families have sayings shar are passed down through generations  and there are many sayings regarding wisdom in the bible      If we have a deep and profound awe of God it will put everything in perspective.

All  the men were given a Fathers Day bag

As part of the ‘Season of Joy’ programme put together for the Sheffield Congregational Churches by our Minister, Suzanne, a number of us gathered in Rivelin Valley and enjoyed a walk through Rivelin Valley enjoying good company and taking in the beauty on our doorstep.

This valley was at the centre of Sheffield cutlery Industry in the 18th & 19th century when it was noisy, dirty and dangerous but with  new innovations the old water driven mills closed down and nature has reclaimed much of the valley.

As one member commented ‘Fresh air and company is always good’ and so say all of us.

Led by Keith Bradley

Theme ‘Emotions’

Reading: John 9

Following John 8 where the Pharisees and Jewish people continually question Jesus in Chapter 9 he again faces questions, this time initially from his own disciples.  Why is the man blind? Is it he or his parents who have sinned?  Given those two options Jesus gives them an alternative.

We considered the frustrations of being continually asked the same or similar questions, in the case of Jesus usually to trap him but Jesus is only too aware and is able to turn the questions around.  Had Jesus deliberately healed the man on the Sabbath to show it is ok to care for people on the Sabbath?

The blind man healed by Jesus also faced a barrage of questions from people who knew him, certainly from the Jewish authorities but he also asked questions of Jesus.

Here we read of a blind beggar, in a fairly lowly place, probably elated that he could see, frustrated that no one believed he was that beggar, even more frustrated at the questioning and then to cap it all he is excluded from the synagogue and therefore the community.  Elation through frustration to despair.

He had no idea why Jesus picked him out to be healed, in fact never saw Jesus as Jesus sent him to the pool of Siloam to wash and that’s where he could see but by this time Jesus had gone. But when he was cast out Jesus came and found him and we read of the blind man’s faith.

When we are suffering don’t ask God ‘Why me’ ask him for the strength to face whatever trial you are facing and an understanding of what is happening.