Tapton Church Blog

Leader :  Julia Hodgson  (Hamden View Church)                                                                                                   Julia spoke of her connections to Tapon through the West Branch,  the Whit sings, and knowing various members of the congregation.                                                                                                                      Her talk was based on a set of Russian dolls    Reading : John 1   1-5  “In the beginning”   It is good to be able to set your heart on something and to achieve it.   Nice to receive surprises and gifts.     Jesus is the greatest gift anyone could have    I we accept Him we will be content, we will not have envy  and we will have concerns for others.   Our aim is to make someone happy and brighten their day.   The Russian dolls     tell us who we are                   1.    The largest one  reminds  us of our relationship with God   God the Father who created the world.    2.  The next size doll   reminds us of Christ Jesus  who is next to God and who did marvellous things in his 30 years of ministry.     3. The next one is the Holy Spirit who came down to the disciples to enable them to spread the word   and the smallest doll 4  is human beings,  formed by God  we are in Him and He is in us.

Leader : Dr. Walter Reggans

Readings :  Kings 17 v7       Mark 2 v 1-12

Question – on a normal day how many conversations do you have?     An average person has              about 7,500 in three years.   Jesus’s ministry lasted for 3 years  how many conversations do you think Jesus had in that period?  At times there were so many he was overwhelmed by them.

The reading in Mark is headed  “Jesus heals a paralysed man”  to give the reader an idea what the passage is about    was this heading the real reason for this passage?         Jesus was back home where everyone knew him and when word got round he was there they flocked to see him   so many that the house was full to overflowing.  Four men brought their paralysed friend to see Jesus and because there was no room inside they made a hole in the roof and lowered his stretcher type bed  down.       Jesus looked at the man and said “son your sins are forgiven”  this caused worry for some of the lookers on  “only God is allowed to forgive sins.”  but they did not know who Jesus was    He said I will prove to you that I do have authority to cast out sin     How would you know if your sins were forgiven ?    The man knew and believed   he got up and walked.     The point of this passage is Jesus’s authority to heal    and forgive sins.   This is one of the conversations Jesus had  that proved his authority that he WAS the son of God.

Led by Rev Suzanne Nockels

Reading: Colossians 1:13-14 & Luke 10:25-37

Theme Sea Sunday

Sea Sunday is usually second Sunday in July and a day set aside by some Christian churches to remember and pray for seafarers and their families. Suzanne referred to the life and work of people who risk their lives staffing lifeboats, in particular the cost and risk associated with rescuing people in peril.

When Jesus Christ came to rescue us he paid a high price with his life on the cross.

One famous rescue story is the parable of the Good Samaritan told by Jesus. It is about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead.  Jesus picked out this particular road the traveller was on because it was renowned for being dangerous.

It would not surprise people that the traveller was attacked and as we quite often do today, locals would pass judgement by saying it serves him right for attempting the journey alone.

This is not only a practical story but a spiritual one showing the downward journey in our spiritual lives.

Do we judge others and how would we be judged on the way we live our lives by others? We don’t always know the reasons behind decisions taken by others. We don’t know why this traveller chose to be on this dangerous road at this time, but it resulted in him being assaulted and robbed.

We don’t need our errors highlighting by others we need love and understanding. The Samaritan came to the aid of the traveller and Jesus comes to our aid in times of need.

God judges, being a good neighbour is our role.

Led by Rev. Suzanne Nockels

Readings 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 & Luke 10:1-12 & 14-16

Having returned from Glastonbury Music Festival in Somerset, Suzanne explained how she had spent her time in the Iona Community ‘space’ in company with Tapton Church Secretary Darryl Lomas. The Iona Community is a dispersed Christian ecumenical community working for peace and social justice, rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship who are provided with a space at the Festival each year.

During their time there, they mingled and chatted with about 250 people from all walks of life.  This was not just about religion but touched on amongst other things; relationships, abuse and grief amongst party goers.

Having informed us of what little she had taken to the Festival, Suzanne asked if we pack light to go on our travels or prepare for all eventualities? In the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy it states all you need is a towel.  Jesus in Luke sends his disciples out with nothing. WHY?

1. They have to rely on others for everything. In fact Jesus commands they accept hospitality and by doing so it offers an opportunity to receive.  In addition being empty handed meant they were not posing a threat to the communities they visited.  Jesus had harsh words for communities who rejected his disciples. The real sin of Sodom in Genesis is not about same-sex acts but mob rule and refusing hospitality to strangers and the needy within their midst.  When we host someone, do we expect to offer them a gift or are we open to receiving a gift from them?
2. Jesus instructs the disciples to offer greetings to those they meet; ‘Peace to this house’ and ‘The Kingdom of God has come near’ whilst  not making any  judgements. In our pessimistic world we are called to shout out ‘joy’ and highlight the good things provided for us by God. We should share our faith and the awareness of God’s presence.  Disciples went out in pairs and we are not alone, church can provide a comfort, share burdens and comfort others.  We may be accepted or rejected as was Jesus Christ.

How do we build opportunities around these statements?

Led by Mr Keith Nockels

Readings: 1 Kings 19:15-21,  2 Kings 2:1-15,  Luke 9:51-62

Keith opened the service with a quiz to identify a character in the bible who turned out to be Elijah.

Clues: Didn’t die, appears in the Koran, fed by Ravens, present at the transfiguration, God spoke to him

He followed this by asking who or what we might follow?  eg a map/football/advice/Jesus

Keith summarised the story of Elijah and his relationship with Elisha and the many references to Elijah in both the Old and New Testament.

He considered if Elisha, out ploughing, had time to inform his family of his calling

When we receive the call:

• Do we need to change?
• Do we need to give up other things?
• Do we need to put things off and not rush into something?

Jesus in Luke 9:62 appears to refer to not looking back stating our focus should be on the Kingdom of God.

Elijah passed the mantel of his work onto Elisha and we must recognise we cannot always finish what we start and we should be prepared to pass on the work for someone else to finish or just continue.

Who do you follow, when do you follow them and what does it mean?

Follow Jesus.