WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.080 Hello, this is the third of our Pastral Update videos. It's Friday, the third of April, and 00:00:08.080 --> 00:00:13.320 each week we want to just take an opportunity to share with you and encourage you as we 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:19.879 work through this really strange and difficult time together. Both Derek and I just want 00:00:19.879 --> 00:00:25.100 to say how thankful we are for all that you are doing. It's been absolutely amazing to 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:31.480 see all the different ways in which you've supported and encouraged one another. We're 00:00:31.480 --> 00:00:37.039 so encouraged as to how people have been keeping in touch and all the different ways in which 00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:42.240 people have been connecting and encouraging has been brilliant. And above all that, we're 00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:48.280 both so conscious of your prayerful support as well. In many ways, it's hard to believe 00:00:48.280 --> 00:00:54.480 all that's happened over the past couple of weeks. But one thing that's been so clear 00:00:54.479 --> 00:01:00.659 is that God has been upholding us all and helping us, and we're so grateful for the 00:01:00.659 --> 00:01:08.840 support that you give us through your prayers. As usual, we are trying to just keep things 00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:15.039 in many ways as normal as possible, remembering the fact that at the heart of our lives is 00:01:15.039 --> 00:01:21.599 worshiping together at the beginning of every new week on a Sunday. So we look forward to 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:28.199 welcoming you to our live stream on Sunday morning. Again, it'll be at 11 o'clock and 00:01:28.199 --> 00:01:33.839 at half past five. I'll be preaching in the morning, and Derek will be preaching in the 00:01:33.839 --> 00:01:39.039 evening. Just a couple of things to note for the morning service. During the service, we're 00:01:39.039 --> 00:01:44.000 going to have a spotlight about the work of the Charity Safe Families. It's a charity 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:51.319 based here in Edinburgh that works to provide support for vulnerable families and children. 00:01:51.319 --> 00:01:57.279 They'll be taking an offering to support their work, and payment will be made online through 00:01:57.279 --> 00:02:02.799 Stripe. So if you're able to make a donation with your credit or debit card, that money 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:09.159 will come to us at St Columbus, and we'll then distribute it to Safe Families, just as we 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:15.359 would with a collection that we would take here at church. Also, just to note that in 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:21.400 a half hour before the service, from half past 10 until 11, there will be just some information 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:27.400 slides playing on the live feed. So feel free to tune in early, and it's a chance just to 00:02:27.400 --> 00:02:33.960 catch up with some of the other pieces of news that are taking place. We had City Groups 00:02:33.960 --> 00:02:39.480 earlier this week, and we were really encouraged at the ways in which City Groups are connecting 00:02:39.480 --> 00:02:44.760 online. That means next week it'll be Engine Room on Wednesday evening, and we really look 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:51.159 forward to John Watson speaking and opening God's Word up for us as we gather together, 00:02:51.159 --> 00:02:55.959 just to study God's Word and to pray. So if you're able to join us for Engine Room next 00:02:55.959 --> 00:03:01.959 Wednesday, that would be absolutely brilliant. Last thing I want to say is just I want to 00:03:01.959 --> 00:03:09.879 share a couple of my favourite verses at the very end of Romans chapter 8, verses 38 and 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:14.879 39, which I'm sure are really familiar verses, but they're just so brilliant and encouraging 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.919 at a time like this where Paul writes, but I'm sure that neither death nor life, nor 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:25.159 angels nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:30.199 depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:36.599 of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And I was really especially struck by just the phrase, 00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:45.159 things present, nor things to come. The present circumstances are ones that we never expected, 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:51.280 and in many ways it makes us even more apprehensive about what might come, not just to do with 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.959 the coronavirus, but just to do with life in general. We've kind of been really reminded 00:03:54.959 --> 00:04:02.919 powerfully that we don't know what a day, or a week, or a month, or a year might bring. 00:04:02.919 --> 00:04:08.319 Just the things that are present and the things that are to come can cause us to worry and 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:14.879 be afraid. But these verses are an amazing reminder that there's absolutely nothing 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:20.120 in what's present and absolutely nothing in what's to come that can separate you from 00:04:20.120 --> 00:04:27.599 God's love for you in Jesus Christ. And these are amazing words for us to hold on to. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:34.600 Thanks.