WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.400 A consumer poll by F&C Trust found that people in Britain had collectively spent £19.2 billion 00:00:09.400 --> 00:00:18.679 in sales throughout 2018 and that £7.7 billion had been spent over the extended shopping weekend, 00:00:19.019 --> 00:00:27.600 aptly known as Black Friday. The deal comparison site Finder.com claimed consumers were set out 00:00:27.600 --> 00:00:33.600 to shell out this amount and that those keen to back a bargain that each person in this country 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:41.700 would pay anything up to £220 on Black Friday and Cyber Monday and many of this would be on credit. 00:00:42.939 --> 00:00:53.660 Yes, it's Advent. And when the church steps in to announce and says, hang on, just wait, 00:00:53.659 --> 00:01:03.079 because it's not about this commercially driven shopping frenzy that has started in October. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:09.259 The church steps in and has the opportunity to shape the culture. 00:01:11.019 --> 00:01:14.979 Sadly, it turned into something a bit like this. 00:01:14.980 --> 00:01:23.659 I know we weren't going to do presents, but here. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:26.020 Oh my God, Joe. 00:01:26.019 --> 00:01:45.340 It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life. 00:01:47.340 --> 00:01:49.679 It's absolutely amazing. 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:54.420 Evening. 00:01:55.580 --> 00:01:57.060 I heard you had a new bag. 00:01:58.140 --> 00:02:01.280 Well, yes, I literally just opened it. 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:03.780 Lordy, lordy. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:05.480 Do you mind if I... 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:05.980 Oh. 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:12.620 Oh, isn't that a picture? 00:02:14.460 --> 00:02:15.200 I know. 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:18.780 The door was open, so I thought I'd... 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:20.539 May I? 00:02:23.659 --> 00:02:25.079 There it is. 00:02:26.539 --> 00:02:30.679 I wouldn't normally go for red, but that really works, doesn't it? 00:02:31.359 --> 00:02:32.620 Someone's a very lucky girl. 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:33.419 Yes, I know. 00:02:33.519 --> 00:02:35.519 Sorry, traffic was a nightmare. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:37.120 We come bearing gifts. 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:43.560 Thank you. 00:02:43.939 --> 00:02:44.319 Love you. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:45.340 Love you. 00:02:45.340 --> 00:02:47.419 This is truly marvelous. 00:02:49.879 --> 00:02:51.180 It smells amazing. 00:02:55.019 --> 00:02:55.919 It's a thing of wonder. 00:02:56.699 --> 00:02:58.159 Quite stupendous. 00:03:01.479 --> 00:03:03.219 Guys, it's just a bag. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:08.159 Ha. 00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:08.659 Ha. 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:09.000 Ha. 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:09.180 Ha. 00:03:09.180 --> 00:03:09.240 Ha. 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:09.280 Ha. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:09.299 Ha. 00:03:09.299 --> 00:03:09.879 Ha. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:09.900 Ha. 00:03:09.900 --> 00:03:09.919 Ha. 00:03:09.919 --> 00:03:09.979 Ha. 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:10.419 Ha. 00:03:10.419 --> 00:03:10.459 Ha. 00:03:10.459 --> 00:03:10.519 Ha. 00:03:10.519 --> 00:03:10.979 Ha. 00:03:10.979 --> 00:03:11.019 Ha. 00:03:14.319 --> 00:03:15.400 Ha. 00:03:15.739 --> 00:03:16.180 Ha. 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:17.479 Ha. 00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:18.359 Ha. 00:03:20.259 --> 00:03:21.439 Is that your donkey? 00:03:21.799 --> 00:03:22.199 No. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:23.819 I thought it was yours. 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:35.459 for anybody listening on the podcast they were worshipping a handbag and we laugh but in Luke's 00:03:35.459 --> 00:03:43.819 reading the listeners like us are being challenged about what we are actually waiting for and that 00:03:43.819 --> 00:03:49.379 expectation and that sharing that we heard about this morning and the first part of this reading 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:57.699 covers the second coming and I guess we we need to know but we don't need to know when that's going 00:03:57.699 --> 00:04:04.579 to happen because nobody does and despite many fail attempts by various different cults to give us 00:04:04.579 --> 00:04:13.099 the date it hasn't happened and we are expectant which brings with it that idea of a second advent 00:04:13.099 --> 00:04:20.980 of we are living in that time of when Jesus is coming again and that brings with it vigilance 00:04:20.980 --> 00:04:30.719 faith urgency responsibility and most of all commitment because in our reading it says that 00:04:30.719 --> 00:04:37.540 there will be some significant signs and wonders that we will see and people will faint with terror 00:04:37.540 --> 00:04:45.600 they will be apprehensive they will be fearful but those who trust in God instead of falling in with 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:56.300 all that we will think my goodness I heard a reading about that and I heard a clip about a handbag and I 00:04:56.300 --> 00:05:06.300 don't need to worry because we will stand it says when these things begin to take place stand up lift up 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:15.340 your heads because your redemption is drawing near isn't that worth looking forward to if we pray long and 00:05:15.340 --> 00:05:22.500 hard for this world for the things that we see that we are concerned about as Christians and we will I hope 00:05:22.500 --> 00:05:30.120 be ready in our hearts and live that on a daily basis instead of having this gear change of oh hang on 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:37.000 we're into this now and then it's suddenly gone we live this life this Christian life because 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:47.459 it's what we've been told to do what are we like with active watching because that's what we've been 00:05:47.459 --> 00:05:55.199 concerned to about active watching be always on watch it's in a biblical imperative and we pray that 00:05:55.199 --> 00:06:09.500 you may be able to stand before the son of man that you will be able to stand not fearful that you will 00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:16.919 be able to stand it's an interesting one isn't it because when this was written people were expecting 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:25.120 Jesus to return fairly imminently they were expecting it to happen very very soon and hence there was an 00:06:25.120 --> 00:06:29.780 urgency around in the early church and all of a sudden people were coming to faith whole households 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:36.540 were coming to faith it was an exciting time to be around and there was this explosion of growth 00:06:36.540 --> 00:06:43.960 and it's great to be living your life as a Christian in the workplace isn't it but sometimes 00:06:43.959 --> 00:06:50.139 people like to play jokes on you if they know that you're a Christian I had a great one when I was in 00:06:50.139 --> 00:06:59.060 the police I came back to my desk one day and I found this emblazoned across my desk look busy Jesus is 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:06.740 watching and I thought yeah it's broke my sides because it was so funny and I pretended that I hadn't 00:07:06.740 --> 00:07:17.819 heard it before ha ha ha yet do you think we need to turn that around that actually we should be watching 00:07:17.819 --> 00:07:25.860 as to what Jesus is doing and joining in because sometimes I don't think we're watching enough 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:33.000 at the amazing things that Jesus is doing in us and amongst us and encourage us to join in with that 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:40.740 and be part of it because he is so amazingly at work and here we are 2,000 years later and frankly I 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:45.439 don't know what what you are like at waiting you know even the disciples were sat around you know 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:50.959 couldn't you wait with me for one hour you know 2,000 years I mean you know the church has got pretty 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:59.259 frankly lazy in many areas in waiting and expecting that Jesus is coming again and doesn't exude that 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:05.599 excitement and fervor that we ought to have to see people come to Christ 00:08:05.599 --> 00:08:13.300 we've forgotten often to keep watch and perhaps that's why the church has lost its grip on shaping 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:20.599 the culture maybe because why Black Friday is so big and Advent fell into insignificance for many 00:08:20.599 --> 00:08:25.579 people who were asking and we can reclaim that I don't know about you whether you're with me on this 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:32.079 but I want to see my community saved I want to see the people that I know and I love and I want to 00:08:32.079 --> 00:08:40.759 see people around me come into that relationship of hope and love and expectancy that this is it so 00:08:40.759 --> 00:08:50.480 that on that great day we can stand together and we will be stood together it's so important 00:08:50.480 --> 00:09:01.639 so what's watching look like for you um I'm a great believer in sentinels sentinels people who 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:08.940 keep watch it's a specific gifting I think that we all should have in many ways to keep watch and to 00:09:08.940 --> 00:09:15.920 look out as to what as God is doing and at the ordination of priests and uh whatever your theology is 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:24.000 we'll all join in with that and um but there's great words sentinels are to watch for the signs 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:32.500 of God's new creation the things that God is doing the new thing and it goes on to search for his 00:09:32.500 --> 00:09:40.099 children in the wilderness of this world's temptations and to guide them through its confusions 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:48.480 that they may be saved through Christ forever what a wonderful piece of liturgy 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:58.899 for me that is my breath and my waking breath because it's a beautiful post profile for all of us to live with 00:09:58.899 --> 00:10:09.180 and when we talk about God's kingdom I value alongside me those who are actively seeing and watching 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:15.859 many years ago we went to a conference it was down in minehead and it was called bringing home the 00:10:15.859 --> 00:10:23.239 prodigals it was by Rob Parsons and it defined my ministry and I think it defined my heart for the 00:10:23.239 --> 00:10:30.399 lost and I know Heather and Jim Richards here together with a larger team here last Sunday afternoon 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:38.439 with partnering with funeral directors we gathered people gathered here to remember their loved ones 00:10:38.440 --> 00:10:48.980 we were all bereaved in many ways and we shared that commonality of love for one another it was a 00:10:48.980 --> 00:10:56.680 beautiful time as candles were lit memories were shared and we all captured maybe the fragility 00:10:56.680 --> 00:11:06.360 of life in the presence of God's love which was tangible here absolutely tangible as people were prayed 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:14.940 and people spoke people shared people smiled and people wept we're often sometimes tempted to skirt over 00:11:14.940 --> 00:11:22.940 scripture that sometimes isn't easy and this is one such reading today because like you I feel in this 00:11:22.940 --> 00:11:29.259 scripture there is a sense of urgency to bring our friends and our neighbors and those who we know 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:44.539 into that saving power of Jesus to embrace that power of his resurrection and to bring hope to bring that hope I believe that we are called to be sentinels 00:11:44.539 --> 00:11:59.120 to actively seek the lost warmly welcome them celebrate encourage do the all that we can to engage with the community that we are called to reach 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:10.500 why do we do that because it's love love came down love gave love shared loves costs God love for us 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:26.379 love endures forever until the end of time but love endures from the manger to the cross to the cross to the tomb to the resurrection to the Holy Spirit empowering his people 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:56.360 love endures from the Holy Spirit 00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:06.480 inspired by a John Lewis advert but I read I watched this it was sent to me and I watched it and I thought albeit a story 00:13:06.480 --> 00:13:20.180 when I watched this something broke within me and I thought I hope this bloke in this video and his mum knew Jesus 00:13:20.179 --> 00:13:29.179 I watched this because that was important and where are the opportunities watch the clip and weep along with me 00:13:29.179 --> 00:13:59.159 Thank you. 00:13:59.179 --> 00:14:29.159 Thank you. 00:14:29.179 --> 00:14:31.179 Thank you. 00:14:40.319 --> 00:14:41.779 Hi Chris, it's mum. 00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:44.279 Merry Christmas, Poppet. 00:14:45.819 --> 00:14:47.199 Another year has passed. 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:53.200 I wanted to start this one by saying something I haven't said yet, which is... 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:54.720 Thank you. 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:58.300 Thank you for taking the time to remember me. 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:01.040 After all these years. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.000 I can't believe you're going to be 30 soon. 00:15:05.299 --> 00:15:07.419 I wish I could be there to see how you've grown. 00:15:08.059 --> 00:15:09.679 To see what kind of man you've become. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:13.059 I know I would be so proud of you. 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.480 So this is it. 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:17.719 My last tape. 00:15:18.519 --> 00:15:21.980 I wish I could keep talking to you every Christmas, but... 00:15:21.980 --> 00:15:24.259 It's time to say goodbye. 00:15:25.460 --> 00:15:28.120 Just remember how much I love you. 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:30.840 Never forget that, okay? 00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:33.980 I will always be your mum. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:41.500 Before I go, let me tell you a story about the happiest day of my life. 00:15:42.440 --> 00:15:43.759 The day you were born. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:48.899 I don't know whether you sense that urgency in Scripture. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.319 And this event is our opportunity. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:55.240 As a church, as a congregation. 00:15:56.080 --> 00:15:57.720 To invite people. 00:15:58.159 --> 00:15:59.100 To pray with them. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.000 To share. 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:03.519 To come into that relationship of love. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.980 Not just for today. 00:16:06.759 --> 00:16:08.759 But to share that with them in eternity. 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:12.600 Will you invite someone into that relationship? 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.620 Will you search them out? 00:16:15.960 --> 00:16:17.139 Will you be a sentinel? 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.059 Will you watch? 00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:19.139 Will you be bold? 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:20.259 Will we be courageous? 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.059 Will we speak about Jesus? 00:16:22.439 --> 00:16:23.519 Will we show them love? 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:27.059 And most importantly, in sharing that hope. 00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:31.139 Will we give them the greatest gift that we can ever give? 00:16:32.360 --> 00:16:33.500 Which is Jesus. 00:16:34.439 --> 00:16:36.159 And life in eternity. 00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:39.600 Amen. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:39.759 Amen.