Hinde House School Visit

60 year 3's came to Firth Park as part of our programme of visitations from all classes over the school year. Looking at how Christians explore the nature of God in art. Once again their behaviour was excellent and really good ambassadors for their school.

After a brief look inside the worship space we moved into our Hub building to talk about and look at various representations of God from frescos to Icons, to tapestry. The youngsters expressed a variety of views of what they thought God looked like, and one boy helped to remind us all that we don't know what God looks like. That helped us then to move onto understanding that art doesn't tell us what God looks like, rather it seeks to speak about what God is like. A loving creator. One who invites us to share and who is prepared to suffer to show us how much we are loved. That God is not a man! 

Finally the two classes had the opportunity to make their own simple stain glass window. So I hope a number of childrens bedrooms now have them attached to their windows, and as the sun light from outside hits them, it will remind them of their visit and just maybe something of what we shared together.

Has the world gone mad?

I would like to think I could give everyone the opportunity to show that they are in fact okay.

Even allowing for the press taking sound bites and catching a photo and implying it says more , you can't ignore the words and actions that play on peoples fears and promote both fear and even hatred to others,  The latest action of Donald Trump to exculde refugees, and even US citizens, speaks of a paranoia  that is now driving the new American administration. 

There are amusing moments this tweet of a photo says so much ...

You have to wonder how the Queen copes with her royal duties after all she has had to sit with dictators in all their forms, even elected ones!!!

I think what really riles me is the way God is invoked to give approval for actions which are inherently un God like. You know 'look after the widow , orphan and refugee' The constant reference to God   feeds off the weird American idea that somehow their land is special in the eyes of God.  So dismantling a health care system will impact on the poor, how is that heaven blessed? Or  refusing  entry to many from certain parts of the world, many of which are the very same places where ill conceived wars have played out and produced the refugee   crisis in the first place, by the very same USA and ourselves, this is a scandal. 

What is also scary is the fact I am conscious that many of the views now being expressed by the President are echoed in our own British society. Even more worrying sometimes within church communities. The rise again of nationalism under the banner of being patrotic recalls a very dark time in european history. So we have to work even harder at walking in the footsteps of a Jewish Rabbi who challenged the nationalism of his own day. We have to stay faithful to a compassion that is for all people. We have to be generous with what we have for it is already a gift to us by a loving generous God. Such generosity calls us to share. 

I guess Jesus wasn't really concerned with how many turned up for the feeding of the five thousand! He was more concerned those that did were fed. But then he was humble and it wasn't about him . It was about people who all had needs to be be met. So Mr Trump get off your ego trip. It's not about you its about everyone but you, and how as a leader you make sure that everyone is included, welcome and accepted. But please don't evoke God as backing your plans and actions , God has his own plan and is sticking to it. God is planning to redeem the world and is doing so with Love. It's costly and tough and it most certainly is for everyone. 

Tinsley meadows Friday - Fish and shell fish cookery course at The Milestone

It was a challenging time havng been invited to talk with three year four classes at Tinsley Meadows Academy in their new school building. What makes Jesus inspirational for Christians? Yes a straightforward topic. Each class was different with challengng questions that kept me on my toes, and the need to be honest if there wasn't a simple answer or even an answer at all. But yes I really enjoyed myself having the opportunity to reflect upon my own faith and why for me Jesus the person is so life     changing. From his openness and acceptance of all, to his breaking of cultural norms, to his belief in peoples God given potential, to seeing women as equal to men, Mr Trump take note! 

I found myself touching on so many areas of life it was a brillant time and can only hope that something  will be remembered.

So Saturday came and the chance at last to take up my daughters birthday present. So down to 'The Milestone' for a cookery course. I had previoulsy taken the 'Pig in a day' so today it was 'Fish and Shell fish' . It was a very relaxed time with nine of us on the course. Coffee to start and on we got with making Salmon Gravlax after being shown how to fillet a fish properly. So a new skill learnt and how to cure. With it we made a mustard dressing and it should be ready to eat by tomorrow afternoon but will keep till Monday. 

A cossiant with raspberry puree kept us going as did constant supplies of water with cucumber. 

On we moved to a Malasian Prawn and Spinach curry.  The ingredients above look fairly normal but 

Once in the pan  with coconut milk and it was delicious and became our lunch with fresh bread

It was scrummy and a small glass of red accompanied it very well. 

Then we went on to fillet a mackerel and a sea bream, the later was much harder to do.

A pause to wash and clean the Moules for what would be the last dish to cook.

Then back to pan roasted Mackerel on a bed of Kale, Beetroot and Samphire Salad , with a wonderful dressing made from horseradish, creme fraiche, chives, dill and lemon. 

Then to the Sea Bream - 'Pan fried Sea Bream' , braised gem lettuce, peas, mustard and tarragon veloute. This served as the evening meal once home.

Finally it was time to cook a classic Moules Mariniere. So simple but so delicious .

Sadly cooking was over and how the time had flown having met some people from all over Sheffield who love to learn about cooking.

Thursday night at city hall

Always a delight to take time out and attend a concert at Sheffield City Hall.

It was the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra with their conductor Edward Gardner.

We were treated to Grieg's Lyric Suite Op. 54 and then onto Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor Op 85 with a wonderful performance by Truls Mark on the Cello, very intense throughout. How did he keep playing all the way through. I'm sure they were all ready for the interval , we were, having rushed from work to get there for 7pm so a much needed cup of coffee. 

Then we had Sir William Walton's Symphony No 1 in B flat Minor. The audience clearly appreciated the performance and we had an encore as a reward for our applause.  

Once more I get to appreciate what this amazing city has to offer and unlike London we were soon home reflecting on a great evening.

Tomorrow beckons and its a series of talks to three four year classes at Tinsley Meadows Academy about what makes Jesus inspirational for Christians. So an easy one then!

Christmas services and beyond

One of my favourite services has always been midnight communion Christmas eve. As a student returning home I would go along to a local Anglican church as very few of the local methodist churches held one. In my early days of ministry I would drive out to my Hilton chapel in Cambridgeshire , the roads very empty and a sense of expectation in the air. Again it always seemed very special and the focus very different from a Christmas morning service. It's not about presents or food , just a moment to reflect on a God loving the world and all very vulnerable.

This year again worship down at out Pitsmoor church had that lovely feeling of expectation as we passed from christmas eve to christmas day , and bread broken and wine poured, and the mystery continues.

Christmas day at Firth Park was great as well with our two congregations gathering, and as the service progressed, and more joined us over 120, it felt to me like the gathering of the nations. Now thats an image to hold onto, peoples of the world  coming together because of Jesus.  

Then it was time to travel to London to spend the rest of  the day with family especially our grand daughter. Though she had lots of presents she didnt need any , 

Time for a cuddle out on a walk what more does a granddad need?

Well the holiday time soon moves on and back to routine and life in Sheffield.

The battle to save trees is an ongoing issue and good to see the protest outside the town hall.

The council really have misjudged this one. It can only be hoped that sense will prevail. Yet its good to see that the city of Sheffield that has always been a place of protest against injustice is alive and kicking. Especially in these uncertain times.

It was good in our staff meeting to worship and think ahead and symbolically express our thoughts, dreams and concerns. Laying them before both cross and candle.

  In sharing what they meant we learnt so much about one another. Being in community is of course about that willingness to  be open to another so we can grow closer together. Its not about agreeing. Its  about in love holding the tensions and not falling out. In a world of uncertainity when language used is so designed to divide. The Jesus community needs to be a cause of hope that walls do not have to be built because wallking and living Jesus life people can with justice live together. 

So a Christmas day service with people from around the world becomes the reality of what God is doing.

Nativity and Christingles

The nativity set has come in very useful this year.

At Firth Park we sought to make the link between Christmas and Easter with our nativity communion. Building up the scene with various members of the congregation and holding onto the fact our shared faith story does not stop at the manger.

No need for fancy  clothes / costumes just ordinary people for whom God comes and believes in. Well ordinary people do extraordinary things every day especially when they know their creator believes in their potential.

Then at St Peters from the nativity we moved into our christingles being shared but not before the young children showed they knew what following Jesus really means. Forget fancy talk of what we believe, rather how do you show love? Well without prompt they moved to hug people , family, friends and strangers . Yes Jesus did say 'unless you become as little children.....' Did he not mean they get it. To follow is to do rather than talking about doing, 

So already for me some special services to prepare afresh for  the news that God comes to be one with us.

The hard working team just chilling at the deep car band evening. 

A variety of experiences

Well the scene was all set for the visit of year 1 from Hinde House school.

They were coming to find out why christians celebrate Christmas. So one class in the morning and one in the afternoon. Extremely well behaved and fun to be with. Of course at their young age the building itself had a wow factor , plus the usual off the wall questions ' how many lights are there?  Just normal inquistive minds. We explored the advent ring and then the christingle and they all went home with a christingle kit less the orange.

So what a delight to be in school today Monday leading assemblies for key stage one and key stage  two. In came year one with hello Mark and three of the many christingles they had made.

So we played a pass the parcel  game to talk about christmas and had Jesus Christmas party story.

Then it was onto key stage 2 and again lots of familiar faces , not least year four who had visited the church earlier in the year.

Its a wonderful diverse school and I Look forward to going in next week for the key stage 1 nativity which the children had been keen to tell me all about.

In between these events we took the opportunity to visit the victorian market on Saturday down on Kelham Island.

It was a really busy event and amazing we had never been before. We even managed a couple of christmas presents .....

Set within and around the industrial museum the atmosphere was great. Next year we will have to go along early evening to gain a different  perspective and perhaps then a glass of mull wine will seem appropriate 11am was just a bit too early.

Well tonight we  held our BB Christmas informal service. Great turn out filling our hall with the  youngsters and parents. With a couple of carols, the making of advent dice telling the story, and an improvised nativity a good time was had followed of course with food.