WEBVTT

00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:09.120
 Hi everybody, it's good to have you with us today, online or actually live in church,

00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:13.919
 and to start by wishing you all a very happy Pentecost.

00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:21.580
 I realized that my education was incomplete when I heard one of my grandchildren say,

00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:24.039
 behind my back, hoping I wouldn't hear,

00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:26.780
 Granddad's got bingo wings.

00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:35.260
 I had no idea what bingo wings were, but slightly imagined it might have put me in the realm of Superman or something like that.

00:00:35.340 --> 00:00:47.799
 But no, apparently bingo wings are when the muscle in your upper arm starts to decay as you get older and the skin becomes a little more saggy.

00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:50.520
 That's what's called bingo wings.

00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:57.440
 As you know, if you spend any time bedridden in your life,

00:00:57.540 --> 00:01:04.100
 one of the things that happens is that your body starts to atrophy at quite a high speed.

00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:10.920
 In fact, you don't have to spend too long in bed before, when it comes your time to get out of bed,

00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:16.040
 the people in hospital have to teach you how to walk again.

00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:21.520
 But I want you to ponder a question on this Pentecost Sunday.

00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:26.900
 I wonder if you think that there's any danger whatsoever.

00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:35.320
 That given the church has not been able to express itself in its normal mode,

00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:42.100
 whether or not you fear that the church itself may have atrophied.

00:01:42.099 --> 00:01:48.640
 I wonder what you would say to the question as you reflect on this lockdown period.

00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:55.219
 I wonder what you would say if somebody were to ask you, how are you spiritually?

00:01:56.839 --> 00:02:03.739
 I guess most of you would use the language we nearly always use when somebody asks us a question like that,

00:02:03.819 --> 00:02:05.299
 and we'd say, oh, fine.

00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:07.219
 But is it?

00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:17.620
 Speaking personally, I found it really tough, despite the very best efforts of our church leaders to keep us in touch via this online content.

00:02:18.439 --> 00:02:21.300
 I found it really difficult to keep going.

00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:25.180
 I mean, one of the things I've noticed, and this may be just me,

00:02:25.340 --> 00:02:30.000
 but generally speaking, I have a high level of self-discipline.

00:02:30.079 --> 00:02:34.079
 But during lockdown, this seems to have fallen apart whatsoever.

00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:43.120
 However, I know that at the moment, much is being written and speaking to fellow ministers and people in churches.

00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:48.560
 There's a lot of fear around, and the fear can be expressed something like this.

00:02:50.000 --> 00:02:55.260
 What do you think the church will be like when we all come back?

00:02:55.259 --> 00:03:02.919
 It's an interesting question, and none of us can answer that question with any great certainty.

00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.319
 But this much we know, it won't be quite the same.

00:03:08.620 --> 00:03:12.099
 Well, I'm here this morning to tell you two things.

00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:16.219
 One is that whatever happens, the church will survive.

00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:23.500
 And secondly, I want to try and teach you this morning how it is that the church will survive.

00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:30.199
 What I want to say to you is very basic as to what will save the church.

00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:35.960
 Maybe the only thing that will save the church going forward,

00:03:36.099 --> 00:03:41.439
 and that is that we need a movement of the Holy Spirit within the church.

00:03:42.159 --> 00:03:47.639
 And surely there's no better day than we can talk about that than Pentecost Sunday.

00:03:47.639 --> 00:03:55.259
 But I hear you say to yourself, yeah, you know, yeah, the church definitely needs a move of the Holy Spirit.

00:03:55.419 --> 00:03:58.959
 But the church, of course, is people like you and me.

00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:05.339
 And I wonder if you own up to the fact that actually, in the light of this lockdown,

00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:07.519
 or maybe for the very first time,

00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:14.100
 it wouldn't be a bad thing if there was a move of the Holy Spirit inside you.

00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:21.120
 And of course, to admit that takes humility and courage,

00:04:21.259 --> 00:04:25.639
 qualities that very often we find difficult to lay hold of.

00:04:26.740 --> 00:04:32.080
 Our reading today takes us back to what has been called the birthday of the church,

00:04:32.079 --> 00:04:36.000
 the story of the church's first Pentecost.

00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:41.839
 A group of just 120 believers are gathered together.

00:04:43.359 --> 00:04:44.860
 They're in Jerusalem.

00:04:45.719 --> 00:04:52.079
 And after Jesus' ascension, I imagine there's a little fear and anxiety around.

00:04:53.620 --> 00:05:00.159
 Certainly, life had not been easy for Jesus in the immediate run-up to his crucifixion.

00:05:00.160 --> 00:05:07.640
 There's always the danger that the authorities in Jerusalem might take a dim view of these Christians

00:05:07.640 --> 00:05:10.020
 and do what they could to wipe them out.

00:05:10.700 --> 00:05:14.640
 I imagine this was a time of great uncertainty and fear.

00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:21.700
 I imagine the early disciples saying to themselves, now what?

00:05:23.720 --> 00:05:27.660
 Well, look, they were told certain things by Jesus.

00:05:27.660 --> 00:05:30.680
 And the amazing thing is, they just did them.

00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:35.580
 The first thing they were told was that they needed to stay in Jerusalem,

00:05:35.800 --> 00:05:38.640
 with all the attendant anxiety that went with that.

00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:45.160
 Second, they were told in chapter 1 of the Acts to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:48.900
 But they weren't told how long that wait would be.

00:05:49.760 --> 00:05:53.060
 They were told that they would receive power from on high.

00:05:53.060 --> 00:06:00.079
 And then they're told that they would be Jesus' witnesses to the end of the earth.

00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:07.019
 Their response, of course, was to do exactly what Jesus had asked of them.

00:06:07.780 --> 00:06:09.639
 They did stay in Jerusalem.

00:06:10.519 --> 00:06:17.120
 And significantly, they prayed together, prayed constantly, says chapter 1 of Acts.

00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:22.079
 They waited as they'd been directed for that power on high.

00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:23.980
 And they did receive that power.

00:06:25.079 --> 00:06:28.600
 And they became multicultural witnesses.

00:06:29.100 --> 00:06:34.699
 In verse 11 of chapter 2, we read that people heard about the amazing works of God

00:06:34.699 --> 00:06:36.360
 in their own language.

00:06:36.360 --> 00:06:42.780
 I guess you come to an end of a reading like our reading today.

00:06:43.540 --> 00:06:49.340
 And maybe think to yourself, why is the church not what the church could be?

00:06:50.340 --> 00:06:56.420
 Or to bring it a little closer to home, why is my life with God not what it could be?

00:06:56.420 --> 00:07:02.140
 Why do I end up like St. Paul, doing the things that I want to avoid

00:07:02.140 --> 00:07:07.379
 and not doing the things that I really ought to do?

00:07:08.280 --> 00:07:11.220
 There's a simple answer to all those questions.

00:07:11.640 --> 00:07:14.360
 But simple doesn't mean superficial.

00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:23.080
 It's because we find it very difficult to believe that we can have a life in the Spirit.

00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:29.300
 That in the end, many of us in our modern society,

00:07:29.859 --> 00:07:31.519
 and maybe throughout the ages,

00:07:31.939 --> 00:07:36.180
 we do not live lives of supernatural empowerment.

00:07:37.919 --> 00:07:42.360
 Of course, big question there as to why that might be.

00:07:42.459 --> 00:07:45.479
 There are a whole number of factors that come into play.

00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:46.000
 Fear.

00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:50.699
 Maybe frightened that if I live life in the Spirit,

00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:54.879
 that people would write me off as some kind of weird religious fundamentalist.

00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:57.099
 Or unworthiness.

00:07:57.219 --> 00:08:02.539
 I imagine there'll be some people listening to this message at home or in church

00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:05.139
 who kind of think to themselves,

00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:08.759
 all this talk of the Spirit is not for people like me.

00:08:09.740 --> 00:08:10.740
 I'm too sinful.

00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:14.699
 I'm too unworthy.

00:08:15.919 --> 00:08:17.719
 Or it may be ignorance.

00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:25.860
 I was interested that when Paul wrote in Corinthians about the gifts of the Spirit,

00:08:25.960 --> 00:08:26.300
 he said,

00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:29.700
 we don't want you to remain in ignorance, brethren.

00:08:30.940 --> 00:08:33.960
 Maybe we just don't know enough about the Spirit.

00:08:34.820 --> 00:08:35.960
 Or indifference.

00:08:37.420 --> 00:08:42.100
 Somebody said that the attitude of a lot of Christians in the Western church

00:08:42.100 --> 00:08:44.660
 is simply whatever.

00:08:44.659 --> 00:08:47.659
 that kind of indifference.

00:08:48.939 --> 00:08:49.939
 Or faithlessness.

00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:52.759
 Or maybe we've had a damaging experience

00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:57.759
 at the hands of people who claim that they have been touched by the Holy Spirit.

00:08:59.199 --> 00:09:00.219
 Or maybe

00:09:00.219 --> 00:09:05.219
 we're growing a root of something destructive within ourselves,

00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:07.740
 like unforgiveness or bitterness.

00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:09.960
 I tried it before,

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:11.659
 and it didn't work.

00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:14.480
 Somebody said that should be written

00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:17.919
 outside every Church of England church in the country.

00:09:19.659 --> 00:09:22.060
 And all this stuff, of course,

00:09:22.720 --> 00:09:23.960
 is highly damaging

00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:25.279
 because it means

00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:27.539
 that we will never be

00:09:27.539 --> 00:09:29.500
 what God wants us to be.

00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:32.539
 And I want to ask you today

00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:36.059
 whether or not you can rise above those things

00:09:36.059 --> 00:09:37.179
 that pull you down.

00:09:38.220 --> 00:09:39.179
 Are you willing

00:09:39.179 --> 00:09:41.240
 to do what's necessary?

00:09:42.679 --> 00:09:43.840
 And I want to

00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.759
 end by suggesting

00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:47.799
 what might be helpful

00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:49.919
 based on this reading

00:09:49.919 --> 00:09:52.000
 that we had in Acts chapter 2.

00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:53.940
 Firstly,

00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:56.080
 I wonder if today

00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:58.539
 you would be prepared to commit

00:09:58.539 --> 00:10:01.980
 maybe just for two minutes a day

00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:04.080
 to pray intentionally

00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.299
 for the Holy Spirit to fill you.

00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:09.159
 Just two minutes.

00:10:10.539 --> 00:10:12.500
 Do you think you could spare that

00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:13.279
 and maybe

00:10:13.279 --> 00:10:15.940
 in your heart covenant with God

00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:17.600
 to do that?

00:10:18.340 --> 00:10:20.679
 Pray that God would fill you with the Spirit.

00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:22.019
 Second,

00:10:22.839 --> 00:10:24.299
 ask God to show you

00:10:24.299 --> 00:10:25.219
 the one thing

00:10:25.219 --> 00:10:26.599
 that holds you back.

00:10:27.819 --> 00:10:29.959
 Maybe an obsession with sex

00:10:29.959 --> 00:10:32.139
 very current

00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.719
 in our present society.

00:10:34.239 --> 00:10:35.439
 An obsession with sex

00:10:35.439 --> 00:10:36.919
 that traps you into lust

00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:39.459
 and a pornography addiction.

00:10:40.919 --> 00:10:42.719
 It may be that root of bitterness

00:10:42.719 --> 00:10:43.919
 or envy

00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:45.099
 or unforgiveness.

00:10:47.219 --> 00:10:48.359
 And maybe it is

00:10:48.360 --> 00:10:50.240
 that you need to start

00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:50.980
 to believe

00:10:50.980 --> 00:10:52.919
 that if you embrace

00:10:52.919 --> 00:10:54.519
 what God has for you

00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.300
 that your life

00:10:56.300 --> 00:10:57.600
 would be different.

00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.700
 God sent his Holy Spirit

00:11:00.700 --> 00:11:01.460
 to the church

00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:02.300
 interestingly.

00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:04.259
 Not that we might sing

00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:05.440
 a little more lustily

00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:06.800
 or wave our arms

00:11:06.800 --> 00:11:08.379
 or jig around in worship

00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:10.620
 or metaphorically swing

00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:11.960
 from the chandeliers.

00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:14.240
 Not that I have any problem

00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.139
 with any of that.

00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:17.720
 But God sent the Spirit

00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:18.659
 to empower

00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.699
 to empower you

00:11:20.699 --> 00:11:22.500
 in your Christian life

00:11:22.500 --> 00:11:23.819
 in your walk with God

00:11:23.819 --> 00:11:24.699
 to do what?

00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:28.840
 Well, the Bible teaches us

00:11:28.840 --> 00:11:29.799
 Romans 5

00:11:29.799 --> 00:11:30.199
 that

00:11:30.199 --> 00:11:33.699
 when the Spirit fills us

00:11:33.699 --> 00:11:36.120
 God's love is shed abroad

00:11:36.120 --> 00:11:37.379
 in our hearts.

00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:39.899
 It helps us to know

00:11:39.899 --> 00:11:42.039
 that we're never alone

00:11:42.039 --> 00:11:44.679
 that God is always present

00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:45.299
 with us.

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.439
 It convicts us

00:11:47.439 --> 00:11:48.799
 of right and wrong

00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:50.620
 so that our Christian mind

00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:51.980
 is working well

00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:54.500
 and thus we can walk

00:11:54.500 --> 00:11:55.919
 more closely with Jesus.

00:11:58.320 --> 00:11:59.759
 And it gives us

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:01.220
 a new confidence

00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:02.100
 with God

00:12:02.100 --> 00:12:04.059
 to believe that

00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:04.580
 with him

00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:05.080
 maybe

00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:06.940
 all things are possible.

00:12:08.580 --> 00:12:09.960
 And it fires up

00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:10.560
 our hearts

00:12:10.560 --> 00:12:11.320
 for witness.

00:12:14.820 --> 00:12:15.879
 I wonder

00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:17.660
 if today

00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:19.700
 you might be willing

00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:21.120
 to be open

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.300
 for what God

00:12:22.300 --> 00:12:23.220
 wants to do

00:12:23.220 --> 00:12:24.620
 in your life.

00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:28.040
 I watch those

00:12:28.040 --> 00:12:28.720
 programs

00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.940
 on television

00:12:29.940 --> 00:12:31.040
 or those

00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:31.780
 card games

00:12:31.780 --> 00:12:32.600
 when there comes

00:12:32.600 --> 00:12:34.120
 a moment of decision.

00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:36.160
 Will you stick

00:12:36.160 --> 00:12:38.020
 or will you twist?

00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:39.900
 Will you take

00:12:39.900 --> 00:12:41.180
 the £64,000

00:12:41.180 --> 00:12:42.720
 home that you've won

00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.400
 or do you want

00:12:43.400 --> 00:12:44.340
 to answer

00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.620
 some more questions

00:12:45.620 --> 00:12:46.660
 and get

00:12:46.660 --> 00:12:48.100
 £128,000?

00:12:49.100 --> 00:12:49.700
 Do you want

00:12:49.700 --> 00:12:50.020
 to stick

00:12:50.020 --> 00:12:50.620
 with the hand

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:51.120
 you've got

00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.700
 or do you want

00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:52.300
 to twist

00:12:52.300 --> 00:12:53.160
 and add

00:12:53.160 --> 00:12:54.160
 some more cards?

00:12:57.660 --> 00:12:58.580
 Will you stick

00:12:58.580 --> 00:12:59.259
 or twist?

00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:00.940
 Means do you want

00:13:00.940 --> 00:13:01.780
 to go further

00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:03.620
 or do you want

00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:04.199
 to stick

00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:04.959
 with what you

00:13:04.959 --> 00:13:05.379
 have?

00:13:06.959 --> 00:13:08.179
 I think that's

00:13:08.179 --> 00:13:09.600
 a very critical

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:10.319
 question

00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:11.779
 for people

00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:12.379
 like me

00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.799
 and for people

00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:14.459
 like you.

00:13:16.379 --> 00:13:16.799
 And so

00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.439
 as we see

00:13:17.439 --> 00:13:18.059
 the finishing

00:13:18.059 --> 00:13:19.159
 post for lockdown

00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:19.759
 in sight

00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:20.319
 I believe

00:13:20.319 --> 00:13:20.759
 that God

00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.319
 wants

00:13:21.319 --> 00:13:22.939
 to ask

00:13:22.939 --> 00:13:23.720
 his church

00:13:23.720 --> 00:13:25.159
 us

00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:26.799
 do you want

00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.379
 to stick

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:28.600
 or do you

00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:29.339
 want to twist?

00:13:29.539 --> 00:13:30.079
 Stick with

00:13:30.079 --> 00:13:30.779
 what you

00:13:30.779 --> 00:13:31.219
 have

00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:33.360
 or take

00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:34.620
 a risk

00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:35.620
 in order

00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:35.980
 that we

00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:37.319
 might experience

00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:38.199
 the abundance

00:13:38.199 --> 00:13:39.360
 that God

00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:40.360
 has for us.

00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:42.860
 there is

00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:43.820
 much talk

00:13:43.820 --> 00:13:44.399
 currently

00:13:44.399 --> 00:13:44.980
 in our

00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:45.379
 churches

00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:46.580
 about resets

00:13:46.580 --> 00:13:47.680
 and relaunches

00:13:47.680 --> 00:13:48.539
 and restarts

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:49.139
 and I don't

00:13:49.139 --> 00:13:50.320
 criticize any

00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:50.700
 of that

00:13:50.700 --> 00:13:51.519
 in any way

00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:53.919
 but I put

00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:54.740
 this to you

00:13:54.740 --> 00:13:56.519
 that unless

00:13:56.519 --> 00:13:57.399
 there's a fresh

00:13:57.399 --> 00:13:58.159
 download

00:13:58.159 --> 00:14:00.019
 a download

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:00.899
 of the Holy

00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:01.320
 Spirit

00:14:01.320 --> 00:14:02.220
 on the church

00:14:02.220 --> 00:14:03.779
 I think

00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:04.360
 much of what

00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:05.060
 we attempt

00:14:05.060 --> 00:14:06.039
 as we

00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:06.899
 so to speak

00:14:06.899 --> 00:14:07.560
 come out

00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:08.639
 of hibernation

00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.519
 or just be

00:14:10.519 --> 00:14:10.919
 flat

00:14:10.919 --> 00:14:13.360
 today

00:14:13.360 --> 00:14:14.600
 the day

00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:15.460
 of Pentecost

00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:15.899
 in our

00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:16.759
 Bible reading

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.879
 we recall

00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:18.240
 the most

00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:18.939
 amazing

00:14:18.939 --> 00:14:19.519
 download

00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:20.139
 that ever

00:14:20.139 --> 00:14:20.519
 happened

00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:21.000
 that kick

00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:21.439
 started

00:14:21.439 --> 00:14:22.120
 the church

00:14:22.120 --> 00:14:23.120
 on that

00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:23.699
 first day

00:14:23.699 --> 00:14:24.500
 of Pentecost

00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.860
 and it

00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.199
 would be

00:14:26.199 --> 00:14:26.799
 hard to

00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:27.199
 argue

00:14:27.199 --> 00:14:28.879
 that today's

00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:29.319
 church

00:14:29.319 --> 00:14:30.539
 doesn't

00:14:30.539 --> 00:14:31.100
 require

00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:31.860
 a similar

00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:32.460
 download

00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:34.980
 so I

00:14:34.980 --> 00:14:35.559
 ask you

00:14:35.559 --> 00:14:37.019
 will you

00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:37.480
 stick

00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:39.240
 or will

00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:39.440
 you

00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:39.899
 twist

00:14:39.899 --> 00:14:42.820
 that

00:14:42.820 --> 00:14:43.980
 is the

00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:44.500
 question

00:14:44.500 --> 00:14:46.740
 let's pray

00:14:46.740 --> 00:14:47.279
 together

00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.399
 Lord

00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:51.200
 we

00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.159
 realize

00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:52.700
 that

00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:54.820
 the life

00:14:54.820 --> 00:14:55.200
 of your

00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:55.779
 church

00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:57.000
 has been

00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.420
 to some

00:14:58.420 --> 00:14:58.920
 extent

00:14:58.920 --> 00:14:59.980
 impeded

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:01.180
 in these

00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:01.800
 recent

00:15:01.800 --> 00:15:02.360
 months

00:15:02.360 --> 00:15:04.539
 Lord we

00:15:04.539 --> 00:15:04.920
 want to

00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.539
 say that

00:15:05.539 --> 00:15:06.200
 we've missed

00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.820
 meeting

00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:07.360
 together

00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.040
 we've

00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:09.300
 missed

00:15:09.300 --> 00:15:09.879
 being able

00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:10.680
 to open

00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.500
 our mouths

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.560
 in worship

00:15:12.560 --> 00:15:14.160
 and sing

00:15:14.160 --> 00:15:14.920
 praise to

00:15:14.920 --> 00:15:15.160
 you

00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:17.160
 we've

00:15:17.160 --> 00:15:17.440
 missed

00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:17.960
 coffee

00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:18.300
 with

00:15:18.300 --> 00:15:18.680
 friends

00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:19.240
 before

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:19.980
 and after

00:15:19.980 --> 00:15:20.780
 the service

00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:23.100
 we've

00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:23.300
 missed

00:15:23.300 --> 00:15:23.920
 each other

00:15:23.920 --> 00:15:27.080
 and

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:27.400
 Lord

00:15:27.400 --> 00:15:28.200
 we

00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:29.200
 understand

00:15:29.200 --> 00:15:29.760
 this

00:15:29.760 --> 00:15:30.140
 that

00:15:30.140 --> 00:15:31.520
 very

00:15:31.520 --> 00:15:32.040
 likely

00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:33.840
 coming

00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:34.200
 back

00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:34.440
 to

00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:34.800
 church

00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:35.139
 will

00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:35.500
 never

00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:35.840
 be

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.259
 quite

00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.500
 the

00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:36.780
 same

00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:37.060
 as it

00:15:37.060 --> 00:15:37.300
 was

00:15:37.300 --> 00:15:37.759
 but Lord

00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:38.100
 we want

00:15:38.100 --> 00:15:38.680
 to pray

00:15:38.680 --> 00:15:40.120
 on this

00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:40.720
 Pentecost

00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.160
 Sunday

00:15:41.160 --> 00:15:41.580
 that it

00:15:41.580 --> 00:15:41.960
 might be

00:15:41.960 --> 00:15:42.399
 better

00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:45.080
 that we

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.720
 might have

00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.420
 more of you

00:15:46.420 --> 00:15:46.820
 in our

00:15:46.820 --> 00:15:47.360
 lives

00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:50.580
 and you

00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:50.960
 might

00:15:50.960 --> 00:15:52.360
 have more

00:15:52.360 --> 00:15:52.919
 of us

00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:55.379
 and so

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.000
 we pray

00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.080
 come down

00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:59.000
 O love

00:15:59.000 --> 00:15:59.560
 divine

00:15:59.560 --> 00:16:01.279
 fill thou

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:01.960
 this soul

00:16:01.960 --> 00:16:02.379
 of mine

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:02.940
 and visit

00:16:02.940 --> 00:16:03.399
 it with

00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:03.779
 thine

00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:04.180
 own

00:16:04.180 --> 00:16:04.539
 ardor

00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.019
 glowing

00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:07.480
 O

00:16:07.480 --> 00:16:08.240
 comforter

00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:09.200
 draw near

00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:10.780
 within

00:16:10.780 --> 00:16:11.200
 my

00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:11.740
 heart

00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:12.500
 appear

00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:14.120
 and

00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.620
 kindle

00:16:14.620 --> 00:16:14.900
 it

00:16:14.900 --> 00:16:16.140
 thy

00:16:16.140 --> 00:16:16.620
 holy

00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:17.080
 flame

00:16:17.080 --> 00:16:17.800
 bestowing

00:16:17.800 --> 00:16:20.040
 Amen