WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.439 Hi, it's Friday the 10th of April 2020. Good Friday today, Easter weekend. And this is 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:19.179 the fourth of the pastoral updates that we're doing from St Sears Free Church. I'm full 00:00:19.179 --> 00:00:27.620 of good phrases today, great phrases actually. I feel inspired, kind of dad-like inspiration 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:37.120 I think. But before I get on to the good phrases for you today, just one big thank you from 00:00:37.120 --> 00:00:44.480 us, from the leadership team to the congregation for the offering that we had last Sunday morning 00:00:44.480 --> 00:00:49.600 online, which was the first time we tried it for safe families. And we've taken in over 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:54.439 £1,200, which is really tremendous in the current situation and we're so grateful for 00:00:54.439 --> 00:01:00.679 that and I know that the guys at Safe Families are ecstatic as well. So thank you so much 00:01:00.679 --> 00:01:07.719 for that tremendous support. A couple of things I want to say in this pastoral update. The 00:01:07.719 --> 00:01:16.700 first thing is look up in the lockdown. Okay, from a week on Sunday, the 19th, that is, 00:01:16.700 --> 00:01:23.000 you heard it first here, seven days of prayer. Okay, we do seven days of prayer twice a year 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:29.159 and this is our April seven days of prayer every morning and you're getting an extra hour 00:01:29.159 --> 00:01:38.359 in bed from 8am. We'll be praying online. Extraordinary times require extraordinary 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:45.200 prayer. So I don't think you'll look back from heaven and say, well, I think I prayed 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:51.319 too much for my friends who don't know Jesus. I don't think any of us will think that and 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:55.559 there's lots and lots of things, apart from just praying for our friends, there's lots 00:01:55.559 --> 00:02:05.079 of things to be praying about. So look up in the lockdown, but also dare to share. Okay, 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:09.400 remember that this is Easter weekend and it's Easter Sunday coming up. In fact, if you're 00:02:09.400 --> 00:02:16.280 watching this and the run up to the service because we put the pastoral video on, then 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:25.240 it is Easter Sunday and it's a great opportunity to ask your friends to join us for our Easter 00:02:25.240 --> 00:02:32.159 Sunday morning service. Great opportunity to ask them to come and see why the events 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:40.680 of the first Easter remain so crucial for today. Encourage them to click the link, dare 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:46.520 to share, get them to click the link and they can do so in the comfort of their own home. 00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:51.800 And we'll pray that they can sneak a watch of the service and then be overwhelmed by 00:02:51.800 --> 00:03:00.080 the message and the truth of Jesus Christ for today. Then also, keep on keeping on. 00:03:00.080 --> 00:03:05.439 Can I encourage you that way? Keep learning to use the online platforms. I know they're 00:03:05.439 --> 00:03:11.719 not ideal and it's not the best way to move forward, but do please keep using them with 00:03:11.719 --> 00:03:18.599 City Group, make connections, watch the services, but also keep in contact with people. Phone 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:27.400 people, phone is good. Take events one day at a time. Keep asking for God's help. Reach 00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:34.560 out to others and offer to help them, but also ask for help. Please, I beg of you, ask 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:40.680 for help if you need help at this time. This lockdown is a long road that we're on and 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.560 we need to keep on keeping on. 00:03:43.560 --> 00:03:52.680 So I just want to finish taking up my big pulpit Bible, Luke 23, verses 44 to 46. It 00:03:52.680 --> 00:03:58.159 was now about the sixth hour. This is the crucifixion and darkness came over the land 00:03:58.159 --> 00:04:02.439 until the ninth hour, for the sun had stopped shining and the curtains of the temple was 00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:07.919 torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:13.400 spirit. When he had said this, he breathed his last. There's no doubt we were going 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:19.759 through a dark time just now, absolutely, but there has never been a darkness like that 00:04:19.759 --> 00:04:25.240 on the cross. It wasn't just a physical darkness, it was a spiritual darkness where Jesus was 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:31.920 taking on the wrath and the cost. The wrath of God and the cost for our sins, it was hell 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:38.759 for him on the cross and that darkness shrouded Jesus. That is so that we can know and continue 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:45.920 to know his light in our darkness, his presence, his love, his purpose, his victory through 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:53.920 and ultimately its destruction, the destruction of darkness entirely, sin, darkness, evil 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.160 and death. 00:04:55.160 --> 00:05:00.400 So we remember that as we come into Easter weekend and may God bless you and may God 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:05.560 bless us all as we continue to work through these difficult times.