​Midweek Service 29 th April 2020 APC
Counting our blessings – “The Gift of Encouragement”
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our midweek prayer and reflection.  It’s been lovely to chat to you all on the phone over the last week and I’m really thrilled that everyone and their families seem to be doing well.  Congratulations to Richie and Lisa on the birth of their little baby girl Ella.  We look forward to meeting her in the days ahead.  Today I want to begin a new short series “Counting our Blessings” as we think about some of the gifts God gives us that we can enjoy every day, even in lockdown or while socially distancing.  It’s my hope and prayer that reflecting on these will help us maintain our spirits at a time when we’ve all been feeling them dip.  Today we will be thinking about the gift of encouragement.  But to begin as always, let’s take time to talk to God.  Let’s pray
 
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the countless blessings we have received, the innumerable good things that surround us every moment of every day- so much beauty, variety and interest to inspire us and instruct us.
Loving God, for all you have given, receive our praise.
We thank you for everything you have given to us through Jesus Christ, for everything we see of you through Him – your great love constantly reaching out to us, your care and compassion that never ceases, your mercy that is never exhausted, your eternal purpose which slowly but surely is coming to fulfilment.
Loving God, for all you have given, receive our praise.
Loving God, forgive us that we are so rarely content, that we fail to appreciate how fortunate we are, that we lose sight of what we have through dwelling on what we might have had or are currently missing.
Loving God, for all you have given, receive our praise.
Teach us to count our blessings, to recognise all that is good around us, to be truly content in all circumstances, to realise that your love will never fail us, and your grace will be sufficient for all our needs.
Loving God, for all you have given, receive our praise.
In the name of Christ, Amen.
Let’s say the Lord’s Prayer together…
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
Bible Readings      
Acts 9: 19-31   Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
 
Acts 16: 11-15         Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi
11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.
 
Reflection       “The Gift of Encouragement”
 
In 1853 a young man was born in Zundert in Holland.  His father was a Lutheran pastor and after he left school he worked for a firm of art dealers in the Hague.  In 1873 he moved to take up a position in the London branch of the firm.    He fell in love with Ursula Loyer, his landlady’s daughter.  She was already engaged and simply laughed at his affections for her. 
 
For consolation the young man turned to Jesus.  He found such blessing in this, that soon he was taking meetings for the local Methodist minister.  In 1877 he returned to Holland to train for the ministry.  Finding the academic study too strenuous, he moved to a newly opened school for evangelists in Brussels.  He soon found great success in preaching to the poor by dressing like a peasant and living in their company.  He was concerned for their needs, he washed their clothes, he cared for their sick, consoled their dying and led them to Christ. 
 
Despite following Christ’s example and despite the success of his efforts, the church leaders of his day would have nothing to do with him and forced him to leave the ministry.  Eventually he even lost his faith.  He returned to the world of art dealing and even tried his hands at painting.  One of his paintings depicts a bible open at Isaiah 53.  Nearby is a candle that has gone out.  In front of the unused bible is a well-read novel by Emile Zola entitled “La Joie de Vivre”. 
 
That young man was Vincent van Gough. If he could paint as he did, just think of what a preacher he would have been, if only someone had got alongside him and offered him encouragement.
 
That’s what I want to speak on this morning- the gift of encouragement.  I want to stress upon you the importance of being encouraged and of being an encourager.  I want to encourage you to give thanks to God for the people in your life who have been an encouragement to you.  And if you haven’t already done so, let them know how much their support has meant to you.
 
When we read down St Paul’s list of gifts that the Holy Spirit gives his people, it’s easy for us to miss the gift of encouragement.  This is not the gift you find theologians arguing over.  It’s not the gift people are writing books about.  It’s not spectacular and it doesn’t receive much headline news.  For that reason it’s a gift that gets forgotten or isn’t desired as much as some of the others.  But I want to remind you this morning that encouragement is one of the most precious gifts we can give and it is one of the most blessed gifts that we can receive.  In order to appreciate its importance we need to take a few moments just to think about its potential.  So let me share with you another true story…
 
A college professor had his sociology class go into the Baltimore slums to get case histories of 200 young boys.  The sociology students were asked to write an evaluation of each boy’s future.  In every case the students wrote, “He hasn’t got a chance.”
 
Twenty- five years later another sociology professor came across the earlier study.  She had her students follow up on the project to see what had happened to these boys.  With the exception of 20 boys who had moved away or died, the students learned that 176 of the remaining 180 had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors and businessmen.
The professor was astounded and decided to pursue the matter further.  Fortunately, all the men were in the area and she was able to ask each one, “How do you account for your success?”  In each case the reply came with feeling, “There was this teacher…” 
 
The teacher was still alive, so the professor sought her ought and asked the old, but still alert, lady what magic formula she had used to pull these boys out of the slums into successful achievement.  The teacher’s eyes sparkled and her lips broke into a gentle smile.  “It’s really very simple,” she said, “I loved those boys.”
 
The bible also gives us a number of wonderful examples of people who were encouragers and how their efforts made a huge difference in the lives of others.
 
In the Old Testament we read how King Saul knew that David, who had killed Goliath and was popular among the people, would be a future threat to His Kingdom.  He tried to kill David on more than one occasion and forced him to become a fugitive.  But in the midst of this, Saul’s son Jonathan became a faithful friend to David and offered him the support and encouragement that he needed during this very difficult period.
 
In the book of Acts, we hear about two other amazing encouragers- Lydia and Barnabus. 
 
Lydia was a business woman who worked in the fashion industry selling specially dyed purple cloth.  One day at an open-air prayer meeting she met St Paul.  After listening to his message she became a Christian.  One of her first responses was to encourage these visiting preachers.  She invited them to come and stay at her home.  The significance of this simple act was that from this base, Paul and Silas were able to preach the gospel throughout the region of Philippi.  As a result new churches were started in Philippi and from these churches the gospel eventually spread throughout the whole of Europe.  Through her willingness to encourage and show hospitality, Lydia became God’s highway to a whole continent!
 
Barnabus whose very name means- ‘the son of encouragement’ blessed the church by selling land that he owned and giving the money to the apostles for the work of spreading the good news of Jesus.  He was the one who stood up and vouched for Paul when he became a Christian.  This took courage.  After all, Paul, or Saul as he had been known, had been the arch enemy of the Church.  He had ordered the imprisonment and deaths of many believers.  It was no wonder that many in the church thought that Paul’s request to become a Christian was simply a way to sneak in and have more of them arrested or put to death.  But Barnabus was willing to stand up before the apostles and give evidence of how he had personally witnessed the change in Paul’s life following his spiritual experience of meeting Christ on the road to Damascus.  It’s interesting to wonder what would have happened if there had been no Barnabus.  Would we ever have had all of Paul’s letters to the different churches in the NT with all their teaching, encouragement and advice?  Barnabus didn’t have the writing gifts of St Paul but through his ministry of encouragement he ministered to Paul when no-one else wanted to know him and Oh how the letters came!
 
We never know where a word or act of encouragement will end!  Barnabus never knew that millions of copies of Paul’s letters would  be found in the 21st century in hotel rooms, family homes, doctor’s surgeries, army barracks, ships at sea, prison cells and children’s schoolbags!  He didn’t know that through these letters billions of people would find new life in the risen Christ. 
 
But it’s the same for us, we never know just how important that gift of encouragement will be.  I know a teacher who a few years ago found an envelope in his pigeon hole in school.  His name was hand-written on the front which was strange.  He got an even bigger surprise when he opened it.  It was a letter from a former pupil.  It read something like this,
 
“Dear Sir, You may not remember me.  I was very shy and a bit awkward looking.  My time at school was not a happy one because the other boys bullied me.  In fact, because of this I became depressed and considered taking my own life.   I knew you were a Christian and because of the way you treated me I decided to become a Christian too.  That is the only thing that helped me through and stopped me from attempting suicide.  I just wanted to say thank you and to let you know that I am still following Christ.  Yours sincerely, Alan.
 
This morning I want to encourage you again to be an encourager.  All of us need encouragement.  All of us can be encouragers.  This is what Christ was and this is what he wants us to be.  What’s more God will amaze us by what he will do through a few simple acts. 
 
So let’s pray that God will open our eyes to the needs of those around us.  Let’s ask God to give us the wisdom to know how best to be an encourager.  Let’s pray that through our efforts that people will be encouraged.  Let’s pray that through our encouragement people will be attracted to God.
 
Who is God asking you to encourage today?
 
How might you do that?
 
Who has encouraged you over the years?
 
Have you told them?
 
Prayer
 
The suffering and bereaved

• Pray for those who are suffering the effects of the coronavirus, whether self-isolating at home or patients in hospital, asking that God would bring a sense of his presence, healing and strength.
• Pray for families who have been bereaved in recent days, whether through coronavirus or in other circumstances, asking that God would bring comfort, strength and peace in these days especially when funeral services have been interrupted by wider events.

 
Vulnerable in society

• Pray for the most vulnerable in society who are significantly impacted by the effects of the lockdown - struggling to make ends meet, experiencing cramped living conditions, under threat by the economic downturn. Ask God to be their comfort and strength and that the church will continue to find ways to offer practical support through foodbanks and other initiatives.

 
Residential facilities

• Pray for residents and tenants, that they may find a calmness in their new routine and be protected.
• Pray for staff as they come on shift, not knowing what lies ahead, and that they will find a personal reserve and resilience in all that they do, that they may rest during time off, stay healthy and safe.
• Pray for families and friends who are separated from their loved ones at a time when a visit and a hug would make such a difference.

 
Wellbeing of society

• Pray for those who suffer from mental health difficulties asking that God would enable them to cope with the anxiety that arises from present circumstances and that he would equip family and friends to care in sensitive and constructive ways.
• Pray for society at large as the stresses and strains of uncertainty, fear and restrictions on normal life take an increasing toll on patience and relationships, asking that God would bring calm, peace, patience and hope.

 
 
Business and the economy

• Pray for those who lead in the business world, whether large corporations or small concerns, asking that God would give them peace, wisdom, a sense of his provision and the ability to balance financial responsibility with care for treatment of staff.
• Pray for those in government charged with taking difficult decisions balancing public health and economic concerns as they consider easing lockdown restrictions. Ask God that they would receive good advice, gain clarity of all the issues involved and make the right decisions at the right time.

 
 
Closing Remarks
 
Thank you for logging on again.  I hope you have found today to be an encouragement.  Do join me again on Sunday morning when we will be reflecting on the gift of friendship.
Don’t forget to look at our church website or on Facebook for latest information.  Keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  So let me close with a benediction after which, as always, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
 
Benediction
 
As you leave this place
may the Living Lord go with you;
May he go behind you, to encourage you,
beside you, to befriend you,
above you, to watch over you,
beneath you, to lift you from your sorrows,
within you, to give you the gifts of faith, hope, and love,
and always before you, to show you the way.
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore, Amen.
 

FUN FOR THE YOUNG ONES
Here is a maze for the younger folk to try and find their way through. 
Download the file, print it and let them see who get to Emmaus the quickest

Due to a server error we are unable to publish the video here but you can see it by clicking  on the link below . we are trying to resolve the matter !

 Michael challenged us to find a deliberate mistake he had made in his presentation:

​Today he contacted me to say that the deliberate mistake in last weeks video was when I talked about Moses praying for his nephew Lot to be rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah. It was Abraham who prayed!

Congratulations to Valerie Carson who was the first correct answer through the door!

APC Wednesday 22nd April 2020
Midweek Reflection – The Emmaus Road (Part 1)
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everybody and welcome to our midweek time of prayer and reflection.  Thank you for all the encouraging feedback you’ve given me over the last few weeks.  I do put a lot of work into these recordings, so it’s just brilliant to know that they’ve been a help and inspiration to so many of you.
Like many of us I have found the last week particularly difficult.  Initially when our lives changed and we entered a period of lockdown it was a relief to feel like we were safer at home.  The novelty of having time to do different jobs or to spend quality time with our families kept us motivated for a few weeks.  But as the lockdown continues, the novelty is beginning to wear off.  I know that many of us are beginning to feel our anxiety increase over what exactly the future is going to look like or when life will ever return to some sort of normality.  Like you I’ve found that difficult and stressful.  So where can we find practical help to keep our heads?
Well one of the things that has re-emerged in recent years has been the value of the practice of meditation in helping people to manage stress and anxiety and to maintain our emotional health. The current buzz word for this is ‘mindfulness’.  But interestingly, it’s an ancient discipline that has been practiced by Christians for centuries.
Over the last couple of days I have been reading the story of Jesus’ conversation with two of his followers on the Road to Emmaus.  Inside I’ve been praying the whole time, ‘Lord what can I share with people from this passage that’s really going to help them at this time, when there are no easy answers and no promise of a change in the immediate future?’ 
As I was reading this story, I was struck by how in order to try and help these despondent travellers, Jesus reminded them of all that was written in the Old Testament scriptures about his death and resurrection.  It was there in the opening up of the scriptures and as they talked with Jesus that they felt their hearts strangely warmed and encouraged.  It was only later that the pilgrims realised who they’d been chatting to when he broke bread at the dinner table.  When I read this, it was a light-bulb moment.  It was as if God was saying to me – remind everyone that as they read and meditate on scripture that my presence will be with them to warm their hearts and sustain them.
So that’s what I want to do this morning.  I want to use this story in Luke’s gospel to teach you how to engage in one of the oldest Christian spiritual practices.  I believe that if you make time regularly to do this, it will go a very long way to sustaining your emotional health in the Covid Days that lie ahead…It’s called ‘Lectio Divina’ which simply means ‘Divine reading’.
Lectio Divina is a contemplative way of reading the Bible. It dates back to the early centuries of the Christian Church and was established as a monastic practice by Benedict in the 6th century. It is a way of praying the scriptures that leads us deeper into God’s word. We slow down. We read a short passage more than once. We chew it over slowly and carefully. We savour it. Scripture begins to speak to us in a new way. It speaks to us personally, and aids that union we have with God through Christ who is himself the Living Word.  So, lectio divina is not Bible study or even an alternative to Bible study but something radically different. Like the disciples on the Emmaus Road, the practice understands Scripture as a meeting place for a personal encounter with the Living God. It is a practice we come to with the desire to be changed at all sorts of levels. It operates very much on the emotional rather than the purely cerebral level. It is perhaps hearty rather than heady. Through it we allow ourselves to be formed in the likeness of Christ; it is about formation rather than instruction.
Elizabeth Manneh is a freelance writer who has written for many publications including the Huffington Post, Readers Digest and the Good Men Project.  In describing how this ancient spiritual discipline has helped her in finding ways of bringing God into her everyday life she says this.. “I’ve always wanted to be a good Christian.  I’ve read stacks of books about God and the Christian life, but I only ever occasionally felt closer to Him.  That all changed when I read Trappist Monk Father Tom Keating’s “Open Mind, Open heart” and learned about the practice of “Lectio Divina”.
There are a variety of ways you can enter into Lectio Divina but this morning I’m going to show you one very simple one.  I’m going to explain it to you first and then I will lead you through a short time of Lectio Divina using the Road to Emmaus story as our bible reading.  So how do you do, Lectio Divina?
 
1      Ask God to speak to you and sit in silence
First, make sure you are sitting comfortably. Breathe slowly and deeply. Some people find it helpful to light a candle, not because it is necessary but because the flame and fragrance help to calm the mind and collect our thoughts. Ask God to speak to you through the passage that you are about to read. You might like to pray something like, “God let me hear from you.”  Then spend a few moments in silence so our mind is open to hearing from God.
This is a way of praying that starts with our silence. We often make the mistake of thinking prayer is about what we say to God. It is actually the other way round. God wants to speak to us. He will do this through the Scriptures. So don’t worry about what to say. Don’t worry if nothing jumps out at you at first. God is patient. He will wait for the opportunity to get in. He will give you a word and lead you to understand its meaning for you today.
 
2      Read the bible passage and Listen
Next read the passage slowly and thoughtfully.  Try to imagine yourself into the story, use all your senses.  As you do so, listen for thoughts or phrases that attract you or seem to jump out at you. For example, when I read the story of the Emmaus Rd yesterday the bit where Jesus opened the scriptures to the travelers seemed to jump out at me, as did the phrase “Didn’t our hearts warm within us when he opened the scriptures to us?” Allow the particular thoughts or phrases to arise naturally from the passage as if it is God’s word for you today. Sit in silence repeating the thoughts or phrases in your head. Then say the thoughts or phrases aloud.
 
3      Read the passage and Ponder
Read the passage for a second time.  Ponder As you read the passage again.  Ask yourself, how the thoughts or phrases speak to your life and why it has connected with you. Ponder it carefully. Don’t worry if you get distracted – it may be part of your response to offer it to God. Sit in silence and then frame a single sentence that begins to say aloud what the thoughts or phrase says to you. When I pondered yesterday, I really felt God was saying to me “as you reflect on scripture I will make my presence felt and that will encourage you.  Share that with your people this week!”  
 
4      Read the passage and Respond
Now read the passage for a third time.  As you read the passage for the last time ask yourself- what is Christ asking from me? What is it that you need to do or consider or relinquish or take on as a result of what God is saying to you in your thoughts or the phrases that have jumped out? You might like to write these thoughts down in a journal so you don’t forget what you’ve learned or what God is saying.  You can also respond by praying for the grace of the Holy Spirit to plant this word in your heart.
 
5      Read the passage and be silent
Finally read the passage one last time.  Then end with the same silence before God with which you began.  When your mind starts to wander just bring it gently back to stillness again and allow God to work.
 
Now that I’ve explained the process of Lectio Divina let me lead you through the practice using the Emmaus Rd story as our bible passage.
1      Ask God to speak to you and sit in silence
Let’s begin with a prayer and a few moments of silence… “Lord we love you.  We come to you at this stressful time and ask that you will speak to us and meet with us as we read your word together…”
PAUSE FOR SILENCE
 
2      Read the bible passage and Listen
Now let’s read the passage.  As I do so listen carefully for thoughts and phrases that seem to stand out for you.
Luke 24 v 13-35     ‘On the Road to Emmaus’
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
 
3      Read the passage and Ponder
Now let me read the passage for a second time.  Again, listen for thoughts and phrases that are beginning to feel drawn towards.  Begin to ask yourself how that might be connected to you in your life.
 
4      Read the passage and Respond
As I read the passage for a third time, listen carefully and ask yourself if there is something God might be asking you to do or is there something he is trying to say to encourage you?  You might find that there is something you want to say to Him, go ahead…You might like to jot something down and think about it more during the rest of the week.
5      Read the passage and be silent
As I read the passage for the last time, continue to listen for God and then just take a few moments to sit in silence.
 
Let me conclude our time by leading us in a short prayer…
 
Prayer
Lord thank you that in their time of crisis and deep discouragement you walked alongside these two disciples in the story.  Thank you that it’s the same for us.  Thank you that as you explained the scriptures to them their hearts were strangely encouraged.  Teach us to love and read scripture.  Help us to hear you.  May we find our hearts encouraged and our minds kept emotionally strong as we do that.  Please come and walk alongside everyone who is finding the way particularly difficult and discouraging at the moment.  For it’s in your name that we pray.  Amen.
 
Closing Words
Thanks for tuning in again today.  I hope if Lectio Dvina is new to you that you give it a try.  Above all I pray that as you open Scripture you will find Christ to be with you.  We’ll be back again on Sunday morning when I will share a few more thoughts about the Emmaus Road and we hope to have some more special music from our growing church choir!  In the meantime, don’t forget to look at our church website or on our Facebook page for latest information.  If you’d like to record a little message of encouragement or a fun clip of something you’ve been doing, please don’t hesitate to send it on to Dave Hendry or myself.  Do keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  So let me close with a benediction after which, as always, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
Benediction
Go now as witnesses of God’s eternal presence.
The risen Christ has made himself known to you
in the reading of scripture and in the breaking of bread,
so set your faith and hope on God,
fulfilling your promises and living in genuine mutual love.

And may God hear and respond whenever you call;
may Christ Jesus make himself known to you in all things;
and may the Holy Spirit open your eyes and set your hearts on fire with love.
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more.  Amen
 

Sunday 19th April 2020 APC 

“Thomas meets the risen Jesus”
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  Today is known as Low Sunday.  Although the origin of this name is uncertain, it has perhaps been called this to contrast it with the high festival of Easter which we celebrated last week.  Having said that, the good news is, every day is an Easter day because Jesus is alive and He is with us always and everywhere.
Today is also known as Thomas Sunday and it’s the Sunday in the Christian year set aside particularly to think about the disciple who had the courage to be honest and to ask difficult questions.
Earlier in the week we witnessed the bravery of Thomas as he encouraged the other hesitating disciples to follow Jesus to Jerusalem even if that meant death.  Today we will see his honesty in questioning the reality of the resurrection and only believing when he saw the evidence for Himself…But before we read about that, let’s take a moment to bow our heads and pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Sovereign God, we thank you for the realities of Easter which we continue to celebrate today, realities that make such a difference to life – the victory of good over evil, love over hate, life over death; the turning of weakness into strength, fear into courage, doubt into faith; a new beginning where it had seemed like the end, new hope where there had seemed despair new confidence where there had been confusion.
Teach us to live each day as your Easter people.
Sovereign God, we thank you that Easter is not just about events long ago, but about life now, not just about others but about us not just about one thing but everything!
Teach us to live each day as your Easter people.
Help us, we pray, to live each day in the light of Easter, with its joy bubbling up in our hearts, its laughter shining from our eyes and its message always on our lips.  So may others seeing the difference it has made to us discover the difference it can make for them.
Teach us to live each day as your Easter people, to the glory of your name, Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
 
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
Bible Readings              
John 11 v 16 “Then Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, let us also go that we may die with Him.”
John 14 v 1-6 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 
2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 
4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 20 v 24-29   “Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
 
Reflection
A few years ago, I met a man who I’d never met before.  He was a very pleasant individual.  In the course of our conversation I discovered that he used to be a Catholic Priest.  He had given up being a priest years ago and in fact had given up on religion altogether.  He was now an atheist, fully convinced in his own mind that God did not exist.  When I asked him why he no longer believed in God, he explained that when he saw some of the suffering in this world he could not accept that if God was real that he could allow those things to happen.
If we are honest, the truth is that at some stage in our lives, like this man, we will all experience doubts about God.  For some of us, those doubts begin when we witness the seemingly needless suffering of hundreds of individuals following a devastating natural disaster. For some of us, those doubts will arise when we see large scale injustice in the world or the hypocrisy of the institutional church in different spheres of life over the years.  For some of us those doubts will start when we experience intense personal suffering and God seems to feel more like a distant relative than our closest friend.
I know the global pandemic we are currently experiencing has given rise to many mixed spiritual emotions.  There have been many people who have begun to speak to God who have ignored Him for years.  There are amazing stories online of how God has answered prayers positively for people who have been close to death.  But what about the people who have died despite the prayers of family and friends?  And the longer this pandemic goes on, the more we’re tempted to become weary in praying because it doesn’t seem to be making any difference….
So let me encourage you this morning.  If you are doubting the love and care of God; if you are wondering if it’s really worth following him, if you are even questioning his very existence, you’re in good company.  You are no different from every other honest human being that has ever walked this earth.  That is why Tennyson said, “There is more faith in honest doubt than half the creeds,” and why a man who had been one of Jesus’ closest friends for 3 years turned to the other disciples at one point and said, “Unless I see the nail prints in his hands and can put my hand in the wound in his side, I will not believe that he has risen!”
I also want to encourage you to be honest about your own doubts, and to face them honestly.  I want to encourage you not to ignore them but to talk about them and wrestle with them.  You may just find that through that struggle that the muscles of your faith will be strengthened.
But why do I say all this?  Well, because that’s exactly what we discover when we look at the experience of Thomas. 
One of the things I love about Thomas is that he was the one in the class who wasn’t afraid to put up his hand and ask questions.  That’s why in John 14 when Jesus tries to explain to his disciples about his imminent departure and return to heaven, Thomas interrupts and says, “Sorry, Lord, but we don’t understand what you are trying to say.  We haven’t a clue where you are going, so how can we know how to get there?”  His use of the word ‘we’ suggests that he was bravely being the mouthpiece for the rest of the disciples. 
You see, Thomas wasn’t afraid to look stupid or to be thought of as a troublemaker.  That’s because deep down he knew he was neither, and so did the Teacher.  Thomas was genuine.  He was determined to use the mind that God had given him to understand.  If he wasn’t sure about something, he wasn’t going to pretend or just go along with it because everybody else was.  But once he knew that something was true or the right thing to do, Thomas would commit to it 100% without fear and with the determination to see it through.  That’s why I admire the faith of Thomas.
The problem was, what he’d predicted had come true.  Remember how he had courageously encouraged the hesitating disciples to go with Jesus to Jerusalem, “Let’s go so that we may die with him.”
Sure enough, Jesus had died, in a most terrible way.  Cruelly crucified as a blasphemer and common criminal.  Thomas was devastated, along with everyone else.  Everything they’d believed in and worked for over the last 3 years had evaporated overnight.  Thomas’ way of dealing with his grief was to lock himself away.  He wasn’t ready to speak to anyone.  Unfortunately that meant that he missed the first meeting in the upper room.  There, Mary told the rest about seeing Jesus in the garden.  Two of them said they had also chatted with him on the Emmaus Road.  Then suddenly without warning, the risen Christ appears among them.  It wasn’t until Jesus had left that Thomas arrived.
It’s not surprising that Thomas didn’t feel like joining the rest, but as a result he really missed out.  If he’d been there, his sorrow would have turned to joy, his questions to answers. 
You know, I can understand there are many legitimate reasons and pressures why we can miss joining our fellow travellers for worship together, whether that’s on Sunday morning or at the bible study during the week.  But the truth is, when that happens, we really miss out.  Learning about God online, praying to him on our own is good, but nothing compares with worshipping Him together.  I can’t explain it, I don’t know why it is, but God seems to ‘enter the room’ in a special way when we meet together in His name.  And if we’re not there, we’re missing out.  So when things are back to normal, let’s make it a new priority to meet together for worship and if you’re a teenager I want you to know that you are especially welcome!
When Thomas arrived, everyone was excited.  “I met him at the garden!”  “We spoke to him on the road.”  “He was with us in the room!”  It was amazing! “He’s alive!”  “Oh Thomas, everything he tried to teach us before he died is true!”
They’d all seen him, Thomas hadn’t.  He was still bewildered and defensive.  It didn’t make sense.  He just couldn’t bring himself to take their word for it.  He’d had all his hopes and dreams shattered before.  He wasn’t going to let that happen again.  “I’m sorry, whatever your experience, unless I see the nail prints in his hands and put my hand into the hole in his side, I will not believe!”
You know, like Thomas, many people need more than our words, our faith, or a sharing of our experience, in order to believe.  They need to meet the living Christ for themselves.  That can include our children, our spouse, or a colleague at work.  They may have many questions and there may be occasions when we should try our best to answer.  At other times, it will be best to listen and to honestly say, “I don’t have an answer for that.”  But the most important thing we can do for these people is to stay close to God ourselves and ask Him to help us live a transformed life.  That will be a greater witness than all the answers in the world.  The other equally important thing to do is pray- Ask the Lord to introduce Himself to them, to show them His hands and allow them to put their finger in His side.  To reveal Himself in a way that they will be left in no doubt of His reality and His love.
The truth is that even for those of us who are convinced that God is real and that Christ is who He said he was, like Thomas, there will be times in our faith journey when we too will feel bewildered and as if we’re hanging on to faith by our fingertips.  Often this is when tragedy strikes, when we encounter personal suffering or when decisions of the church seem to contradict everything we have been taught about God. It may be the death of a child.  It could be the development of a chronic illness.  It might be a hurt that has been caused by someone else in our parish or a decision of our denomination that we cannot in all conscience agree with.
For what it’s worth, if this describes how you currently feel, then  let me assure you I know exactly how you feel.  Listen, I believe that the bible is God’s word.  I believe that it is a record of how God has revealed Himself to humanity right from the beginning of our world. I have even signed documents publicly to say that and to promise to the best of my ability to share its message honestly and truthfully with everyone who will listen.  I love God and I love His church with all my heart.  But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t times, like Thomas, when I find it hard to believe.  I have questions that this side of heaven I don’t think I will ever have answers to.  Let me give you a few examples. 
I remember, watching a movie in the Queen’s Film Theatre about ISIS.  At one point in the movie the ISIS leaders are standing in a circle around a young couple whom they had obviously caught in some form of intimate embrace.  This young couple were buried up to their necks in the sand.  As the leaders lifted rocks to throw at the couple the camera quickly switched to the next scene allowing you to fill in the blanks for yourself.  I came out of that movie and as soon as I stepped out of the darkness into the brightness of the evening sunshine, I looked up to heaven and inside I said these words, “Lord, when was that ever ok?”
Yes, I know that we are people of the New Testament as well as the Old and that people are no longer punished in such a way for adultery.  I know that adultery can have very, very serious consequences and leave relationships and a lot of people damaged for the rest of their lives.  It’s not something to be taken lightly.  But at the same time, I still cannot understand why at one point in history we read that this was God’s way.  That thought still jars with me when I look at Jesus and how he treated people.
Also, I still can’t get my head around the examples of what can only be described as some form of ‘ethnic cleansing’ that we find in parts of the Old Testament.  Some have argued that the people who did this simply attached God’s name to the record to justify their actions.  But if that’s true, I’m left wondering –“well which bits of the bible can I trust?”  Others have suggested that the practices of the nations who were eliminated in this way were so evil and so barbaric that in the long term, for the greater good, it was a necessary action.  I suppose a just war theology is somewhat similar.  Even this explanation doesn’t sit comfortably with me, especially when I consider that among these nations there must have been those who were innocent of such crimes.
I have other questions and things that I hold in deep tension.
So what I’m saying is - you are not alone if you are a Christian who wrestles with many questions and who struggles with tension and doubt.
That’s why I am convinced, that as the church we need to recognise that the room is full of people like Thomas!  People who are genuine.  People who are honest.  People who have sincere questions, even doubts.  People like me!  And I believe that as a church we need to create an environment where people feel free to articulate their fears and their questions.  Eddie Askey puts it like this – “Is the church only for people who are perfect or is there a welcome for those who are struggling on the Way?”
Well, I think the next part of the story gives us the answer.
You’d expect Jesus to be cross with Thomas especially after everything that Thomas has heard from all the other disciples.  I mean, does he really think that they are all deluded or all deliberately leading him up the garden path? 
After a week of silence and no recorded appearances, Jesus again visits the disciples in the upper room.  This time, Thomas is with them. 
I can’t imagine what Thomas’ initial reaction must have been when he first sees the Lord.  I’m sure every emotion under the sun was flooding through his veins from guilt and foolishness to utter relief and excitement!
And as he looks him straight in the eye, Jesus opens his mouth and says, “Shalom!”
This is translated ‘Peace’.  We could do a whole study on this word alone but basically, using this word, Jesus was saying to Thomas, “I only wish you good and contentment in every aspect of your life!”
No mention of disloyalty or disbelief, just an affirmation of love and acceptance.
And as a physical expression of these things, Jesus reaches out his hands and says, “Go ahead Thomas.  You wanted to see my nail prints - there they are.  You want to see the scar on my side, look here it is!”
And then surprisingly, but I’m sure spoken gently, the words, “Stop doubting and believe!”
I take comfort in the knowledge that God welcomes my questions, that He’s strong enough to cope with my tensions and hesitations of faith.  What I’ve also discovered is that while He allows me to research, and while He listens patiently to my prayers, God doesn’t always give me the answers.  Instead I hear him softly whisper, “I’m the Way.”
And that’s what keeps me keeping on.  Until the day I die I will have unanswered questions about parts of scripture and about the church, about the events that I see happening in the world around me every day and about myself.  But in those moments I do two things.  I turn to the world around me – the sunsets and mountains, animals and trees all remind me that there is a Creator.  The fruits, nuts, vegetables and water show me that He loves and provides.  But above all, I turn to Christ.  The one for whom there is more evidence than Julius Caesar.  The one whose books containing his life story are undeniably reliable sources of literature.  The one those reliable sources describe as- healing the sick, raising the dead, stilling the storm, casting out evil spirits, forgiving sins and the Son of God.  The one who died and who must have risen again - for what else could have changed the disciples, including Thomas, from people who had given up, into people who gave everything to tell the world the good news.  But above all, the one whose presence I can experience every day.  The one who I know makes me a better man when I talk to Him….
And in that moment like Thomas, I say again, “My Lord and my God.”
 
Prayers for others
Living God, we pray for those wrestling with difficult and demanding questions – those facing complex matters of conscience, those struggling with confusing moral decisions, those wrestling with controversial social issues, those coping with challenging theological concerns.  Grant to all in such situations your wisdom, and help them to find the right way forward.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for those who are faced with awkward yet important choices, between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and falsehood, love and hate, between the way of the world and the way of Christ, the way of self and the way of service.  Give to all faced with such choices the courage to take your way.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for your church.  Save her from naïve fundamentalism, from judgemental attitudes, from dogmatically believing it has the answers to every situation.  Grant to your people everywhere the humility to recognise that asking questions is part of faith.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Living God we pray for ourselves as day by day we are confronted with the need to choose.  Sometimes the choice is clear, sometimes confusing, sometimes easy, sometimes hard, sometimes mattering little, sometimes much.  But help us whatever the case, to gladly accept the responsibility for choosing, recognising that it is a privilege of being human.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Help us to decide wisely, seeking your will and responding to your guidance.  Help us to admit our error when we choose wrongly and be ready to change our decisions when necessary.  And help us remember when we go astray that you are always there to help us start again.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
In the name of Christ, Amen.
 
Closing Words
Again it’s been my joy and privilege to serve you by leading you in worship this morning.  Thanks for logging on.  I hope you’ve found this time to be encouraging.  Please remember to tune in again during the week when I hope to post another midweek reflection.  Next Sunday we’ll be walking the Emmaus road and eavesdropping on an amazing conversation between the risen Jesus and two of his unsuspecting followers. Don’t forget to look at our church website or on Facebook for latest information.  Keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  So let me close with a benediction after which, as always, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
Benediction
Gracious God, shed your light on this day: may the things we touch become your gifts to us, the people we meet brothers and sisters; may work be service and what we suffer turn to offering; and, dear God, may love keep breaking through until your Kingdom comes. 
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore, Amen.
 
 

Midweek reflection APC Thursday 16th April 2020
 
Introduction and Welcome
Good morning everybody.  Thanks for tuning in for today’s midweek prayers and reflection.  This Sunday we will be reflecting on the encounter between the resurrected Jesus and the disciple who history has nicknamed “Doubting Thomas” because he said he wouldn’t believe Christ had risen unless he met him in the flesh.
Over the last few days I’ve been doing some background reading on Thomas in preparation for next Sunday and the more I’ve read, the more I’ve realised that to do this man justice on Sunday, I needed to share a few more thoughts with you in between.
What I’ve discovered, is that the label ‘doubting Thomas’ is, as most labels are, grossly unfair, when his encounter with Christ is viewed within the wider context of all the events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection, including the reactions of the other disciples.
To understand Thomas more accurately, and to discover the gems of truth contained within his experience, we need to go back to the beginning of Holy Week.  There we find Jesus and his disciples discussing about what their next move should be.  But before we read the passage that describes this event let’s take a moment to pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you call us as you called your first disciples, to follow you- not simply to believe, not merely to declare our faith and confess you as Lord, but to keep on following wherever you lead.
Help us to follow you eagerly, faithfully, devotedly, seeing where you are at work and staying close to you.
Help us to follow in your footsteps, pursuing the way of love and accepting the road of sacrifice and learning the lessons you want to teach us.
Help us to follow after you, letting your presence fill our hearts and trusting you so completely that your love shines through us.
Help us to follow through the life of discipleship, not allowing ourselves to become distracted, or to lose heart so that we wander away from you, but keeping faith to the end
Lord Jesus, you call us, as you call all your people, to follow you.  Teach us what that means and by your grace help us to respond and be followers of your way.
Lord Jesus, help us, for we ask it in your name, Amen.

Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
Reading John 11 v 1-16 
“The Courage of Thomas”

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”
12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”
 
Reflection  
“Thomas, a second look…”
​
Not long before this conversation, Jesus and his disciples had to leave Jerusalem because through his teaching, Jesus had frequently challenged the power of the Jewish leaders.  This had caused such a stir that he and the disciples had only just escaped with their lives.
But the sad news had reached them that their great friend Lazarus was gravely ill.  He lived with his sisters Mary and Martha in Bethany which was near Jerusalem.  Jesus new that the time of his planned death in Jerusalem was fast approaching and it would be important to pay their respects to the family of their friend.  So he turns to his disciples and says, “Let’s go to Jerusalem.”
Despite the fact that their good friend was so sick, from a human perspective all of the disciples knew that to go to Jerusalem was foolish and reckless.  They were wanted men.  To return now to Jerusalem would mean almost certain arrest and possible death.
So naturally they tried to dissuade Jesus.
“Rabbi, don’t you remember that only recently the Jews tried to stone you to death?”
After reminding them that time is precious, Jesus tells them that Lazarus has fallen asleep and that he needs to visit to make him well.
“Don’t worry Lord, if he’s sleeping he’ll get better.” His disciples reply.
Jesus turns to them and says,
“Look, I don’t mean he’s just resting, I’m trying to break it gently to you - Lazarus is dead!”
Even though they now knew that their friend was dead and that they ought to pay their respects, there is more than a hint in the dialogue that the disciples are still more concerned about their own welfare than they are about their grieving friends and the safety of their Master.
We can just hear them.…“Don’t go Lord, it’s for your own good!  You know it makes sense..”
 
The truth is so often we’re just like the disciples.  We’re quick to decide what’s best for other people and to tell them.  On the face of it, it looks like we’re being helpful.  But so often, deep down we’re really only saying that because it happens to coincide with what’s best for us…
 
So can I ask you, as I’ve asked myself….
Who are the people in your life that you are trying to advise about what’s best for them?
Now take a deeper look at your own motives.  Is your advice really for them or because it suits you?
In what situations currently would you be better taking a step back and allowing others to make their own choices?
 
REFLECT
 
To be fair to the disciples, knowing the dangers, this is a big ask from Jesus.  Earlier in John Chapter 6 (v 66-68) we read how many other people had stopped following Jesus because his teachings had become too difficult for them to accept.  It was then that he’d turned to his disciples and said, “What about you, would you like to leave as well?”  Peter had responded with the famous reply, “To whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life.”
Now again they are faced with a hard decision, should they go with Him knowing what that could mean?  Their first reaction is to try to change his mind.
Again, we see ourselves in the reaction of the disciples.  So often we pray for God to change our situations rather than accepting His plans and asking Him for the wisdom and grace to learn the lessons where we are.
Of course it’s not wrong to ask God to change circumstances.  Abraham famously asked God to spare the city of Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of his nephew Lot.  St Paul asked God on several occasions to remove his thorn in the flesh.  It’s right for us to cry out for God to remove the threat of Corona virus and to do all we can to make people well again.
But in life and as His disciples we never get our L plates down.  There is always something for us to learn, areas where we can develop and grow.  There is an old Arabian Proverb which says, “All sunshine brings a desert”.  It’s a poetic way of saying that sometimes the greatest fruits of character and attitude only develop in our lives during the most difficult times of life.
Like you, I’m finding this a difficult time.  Being a priest doesn’t make you a super hero.  I’m just as human as you are.  I found myself taking a bit of an emotional dip when the latest lockdown extension was announced.  But reading this interaction between Jesus and his disciples has given me fresh inspiration to see that however difficult this time, there is an opportunity in it to learn the deepest of lessons and to grow in my attitudes and character.  Lessons that no amount of good days and happy times would ever help me to consider…
So let me ask you,
However difficult you are finding the current circumstances, what lessons do you feel God is trying to teach you?
Are you allowing yourself to grow?
 
REFLECT
One way that I have grown through reading this passage is in my understanding and appreciation for the disciple we call doubting Thomas.
Jesus has made up his mind.  “I’m going to Jerusalem.”  The disciples are hesitating undoubtedly as much out of concern for their own safety as anything else.
And in the midst of the conversation who steps forward?
It’s Thomas, also known as Didymus which translated means “The Twin.”
“Let’s go too.  So we may die with him.”
Hacksaw Ridge is a movie which tells the true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa.
The courage that Thomas shows here is right up there with the actions of men and women like Desmond Doss.  If this was the only snapshot of his life we had he might well be remembered as “Fighting Thomas” or “Courageous Didymus.”
When all the other disciples hesitated and even contemplated turning back, Thomas was the one who stepped forward and said, “Either we stay here and let him go it alone or we go with him.  I’m going to Jerusalem!”  It was Thomas’ bravery that encouraged the others to follow and the rest is history.
Reading this story about Thomas coincided with me also reading a chapter from Rob Parson’s book called Parenting Teenagers What every Parent needs to Know.
In that Chapter Rob Parson’s was advising the wisdom of taking a step back and taking a second look if and when you are faced with challenging teen behaviour.  Instead of only seeing the things that are problems or that might need to change, including the floor-drobe, he encourages parents to see the positive things in their teenager’s life.  That might be a loyalty to their friends, a deep concern for the environment or a generosity of spirit to the homeless.
As I read Thomas’ words, “I’m going with him!” I was immediately reminded of Rob Parson’s advice to take a step back and take another look!
When we first think of Thomas we only see the man who refused to believe…the doubter.  But when we take a closer look we see so much else.  So much that is positive and good.  So much to be admired and emulated.  Not least because he was a man of deep courage and complete commitment.
Whether it’s your teenager, your parent, a work colleague, a neighbour or even someone that you’ve read about in the newspaper or who you’ve heard others talk about, let me encourage you to take a step back and take another look….
Remember, every person, however marred, is made in the image of God.
So let me ask you,
Who are you judging and feeling deeply negative about?
As you take a step back and take a second look, what good, what hope do you see in that person?
 
REFLECT
 
Prayers for Young people
Lord God, especially today we pray for the young people of our church, our country and our world.  Young people with so much to offer, so many gifts, so many fresh ideas, so much vigour and enthusiasm, yet faced today as never before by all kinds of pressures and demands and temptations.
We pray for the young people of our church families and whom we know. Help us to appreciate them, to be open to their insights, to use their gifts, to nurture their faith and to care about their welfare.  Guide them in their work and studies, protect them from all that may harm them or lead them astray, encourage them in all they are doing among us and show them your way for the future.
We pray for the young people of our town, our country and our wider world, so often maligned on account of the few.  We pray for those in our schools and universities, those from broken or needy homes, those whose gifts lie wasted through unemployment, those faced by the temptations of alcohol or drug abuse, those burdened by the problem of debt, those coming to terms with the complex world of human relationships, those who are denied the resources they need to realise their full potential and those who because of hunger and disease will almost certainly never reach adulthood.
Lord, please help each young person to find the support that they need from family and friends during this season of lockdown.  Through that support may they maintain their emotional and physical health.  Give them comfort and courage and help them to learn lessons which will stand to them in later life.
We pray especially for those who are experiencing uncertainty about important exams.  Calm their fears and motivate them to continue with their studies.  Help those who are sitting online exams to have technology which will be reliable.  Lord, despite the current difficulties enable each person to still achieve their fullest potential.
 
Lord of all, give guidance to all who work with young people, those in our own church, in youth organisations, in schools and colleges, in organisations dedicated to childcare.  We pray especially for teachers and university staff trying to help students through their normal lessons and in preparation for exams.  Give them wisdom, renewed enthusiasm and may they know that everything they do is greatly appreciated.  Please help all parents at this difficult time, especially those who are having to care for children while working from home without their normal facilities of childcare.  We think especially of those parents who have just welcomed new babies into the world in these anxious times.  Grant them all the support they need and keep their children well.  We pray that there will continue to be plenty of money for organisations that seek to care for young people after the Covid Lockdown ends.
Loving Lord, we thank you for young people. Through our giving to and receiving for them, help us to make that gratitude real.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
 
Closing Remarks
Thanks for tuning in again today.  There’s plenty of food for thought here to keep you going for a few days.  It’s been great having time to talk to you all on the phone as well.  I hope to do more of that over the next couple of days as well as putting some thoughts together for Sunday.  In the meantime, don’t forget to look at our church website or on our Facebook page for latest information.  If you’d like to record a little message of encouragement or a fun clip of something you’ve been doing, please don’t hesitate to send it on to Dave Hendry or myself.  Do keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  So let me close with a benediction after which, as always, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
Benediction
God, go with us on our journey of faith- revive us when we grow weary, direct us when we go astray, inspire us when we lose heart, reprove us when we turn back.  Keep us travelling ever onwards, a pilgrim people, looking to Jesus Christ who has run the race before us and who waits to welcome us home.
 
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more.  Amen
 
 
 
 
 

Easter Sunday 
APC 12th April 2020
 
Introduction and Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our Easter Sunday Celebration.  On Friday we left in silence and darkness as we felt the disillusionment and dejection of the disciples as they watched their master die.  Today we will follow the ladies to the tomb as they faithfully pay their respects and put spices on their beloved friend’s body…They are in for a huge surprise.  You might be too…Let us pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Living God we thank you for this day of praise and celebration - a day of hope after despair, joy after sorrow, life after death.  A day to lift up our hearts and offer you our praise.
Loving God, we remember today all you have done for us and for all the world – your great victory over sin and death, your triumph over everything that keeps us from you and prevents us living the life that you want us to live.
Saving God, we join this day with your church in every age to bring our Easter worship- to acknowledge you as a God of love and power, to welcome Christ as our living Lord.
Sovereign God, breathe new life into our hearts this day.  Fire us with renewed confidence and enthusiasm.  Fill us with resurrection power, and grant that we might meet and walk with Christ, offering him our joyful faithful service this and every day, for His name’s sake.  Amen.
Let us say the Lord’s Prayer together…
 
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
Bible Reading   Luke 24 v 1-12     “Jesus Has Risen”
 
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
 
Reflection                       Surprised by Easter
 
To be completely honest with you this morning – I love Easter and I also find it difficult.  I love the themes of the cross and the resurrection.  I love the fact that people are on holidays and have more time to come to special services.  I love the opportunity that holy week gives us to slow down and be more reflective and creative in our worship.  I love the dramatic way the week moves from sadness to great celebration.  I love chocolate eggs and the fact that the kids are on holidays at a time when I can be off as well.  But I also find it difficult because year on year it becomes progressively more challenging to say the same thing in ways that you hope will be inspiring for your congregation.
So as I sat in my office reading through Luke’s account of the resurrection this week, I wasn’t really expecting to find anything new. 
Maybe you are listening in this morning and that’s exactly how you feel.  Perhaps you’ve heard the Easter story a hundred times already.  Perhaps your expectation of this morning’s service isn’t particularly high.  Well, if it’s any consolation, you are in good company.  For you see, it wasn’t any different for most of the main players in the original story. 
None of Jesus’ followers had high expectations that first Easter Sunday.  If truth be told, they were all depressed.  The exciting adventure they had experienced with Jesus over these last few years had come to an abrupt and cruel end.  Their great leader crucified naked like a common criminal on a Roman cross.  It was all over - no more miraculous healings, no more inspirational teaching, no more hope of freedom from the rod of Rome. 
As was the custom, the women had the courtesy to pay their respects and care for the deceased remains of Jesus.  Nothing Jesus had previously talked about seems to have resonated with any of them.  And why would it?  Jewish resurrection teaching at that time was solely focused on the end of history when God would give all his faithful followers a new body.  Never in a million years did it cross the minds of the disciples that when Jesus’ talked about resurrection he was referring to his own personal bodily resurrection in the here and now. 
These women were simply doing their duty, paying their respects as they walked to the cave where Jesus body had been placed.  They must have been expecting the armed guard of Roman soldiers to give them access to the tomb.  Instead they were greeted by the biggest surprise of their lives.  The guards were nowhere to be seen and the large round stone protecting the entrance had been rolled to the side.  Had there been a break in?  Was the body stolen?  Had the authorities come and taken it away?  As they struggled to make sense of what they saw, their lives were to be turned upside down in an even more remarkable way.  Two angelic beings from the unseen spiritual realm were momentarily allowed to be visible.  The women were terrified so they fell to the ground and covered their faces.  The question the angels asked remains among the most important questions any human being can ever consider – “Why do you seek someone who is alive among the dead?  He is not here, He is risen.”
The truth is, most of society remains unmoved and unsurprised by the Easter story.  That’s because like the disciples at this point in the drama, most people still think that Jesus is dead.  They regard Jesus as one of the greatest men who ever lived, one who lived one of the loveliest lives ever seen on earth. 
But you see, that simply will not do.  For Jesus is not dead.  He is alive.  He is not simply a hero of the past.  He is a living reality of the present.
Then there are those of us who simply think of Jesus as the greatest teacher.  Our tendency is to think of Christianity and Christ as simply something to be studied.  And so we are happy to read scripture and to discuss it with other Christians but we are less comfortable with joining with others to pray. 
As I read (red) these words in my study this week that was a resurrection moment for me.  I realised again how frequently I’ve fallen into the ministerial trap of seeing Jesus as someone to be studied rather than to be encountered in a relationship every day.
We must never forget that Jesus is not just the lead figure in a book, even if that book is the greatest story ever told.  He is the living presence of the Creator of the universe.
Then there are those who simply see in Jesus the perfect example to follow.  He is that, but that in itself is also never enough.  That’s because we’re all still sinners. 
One of the most frustrating realities of being human is that there are things about our actions, our speech and our attitudes that we would love to change but if we’re honest, we discover that no amount of education, no amount of understanding and no amount of New Year’s resolutions actually makes any difference. When the Times asked a number of writers for essays on the topic, “What’s wrong with the world?” the famous author GK Chesterton sent in the reply shortest and most to the point.  He wrote,
Dear Sirs:
I am,
Sincerely yours,
G.K. Chesterton.
So people worry themselves sick, they drink more than they know is wise, they watch pornography, they gossip, they are impatient, they are angry, they are often harmfully critical and so the list goes on.  For me this is the biggest reason why at the age of 18 I asked God to come into my life.  I knew there were things about myself that weren’t good but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t change.  I knew I needed God’s help to change. 
That’s why the truth that Jesus is alive is so important.  Not only does Jesus provide us with a perfect example of how we should live, even more importantly, if we ask Him, He will guide us and strengthen us to follow that example.  Jesus Christ gives us the power to change.  He is not simply a model for life.  He is a living presence to help us to live life well.
Perhaps you have tuned in this morning with a very low expectation.  Perhaps that’s because like the disciples you too are searching for someone who is alive among the dead.
It is my prayer that God would grant you the miracle of faith to be surprised by the reality that Jesus is not just a great example and a profound teacher.  He is who He said He was, the Son of the Living God. He is not just an historical figure of the past.  He is the Living Lord who wants to live within you by His Spirit and give you the help and the power that you need to live a life of which you can be pleased.
And at this time of crisis, He is the one who is really and truly present with you every day.  So let me encourage you, even though you can’t see Him, to talk to him.  Have the courage to be completely honest with him and share your life experience with him.  Tell him your fears, unload your frustrations and your anger at His feet.  Quiz him about any issue you want.  Ask him for wisdom, patience and strength.  Pour out your sadness and grief in his presence.  Whether it’s at home with your family, in the car as you drive to work or the tractor as you plough the field, in your room in a nursing home or on a chaotic hospital ward, at the side of a grave or at a desk studying for important exams.  Christ is there with you. The God of the universe, right there with you.  So please, invite him constantly into your situation.  You may be surprised at what happens when you do….
And we thank God for His word.  Amen.
Let us pray…
 
Prayer of Easter Assurance
Living God, we come to you on this day of celebration, conscious that there is so much in our lives that is uncertain, so much we cannot predict, so much we neither know nor understand. 
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.
Remind us once more through this season that in all the changes and chances of this world you are an unchanging rock, an unfailing deliverer, an everlasting hope.
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.
Remind us as we continue to celebrate Easter in the days ahead, that your love continues through all things, your power is supreme over all things, and your presence is with us in all things.
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.
Give us this day, a sense of your greatness, a recognition of all you have done and a confidence in all you shall do.
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.
Living God be among us now we pray through the risen Christ.  Help us to hear His voice, to offer him our service and to offer you our praise.
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.
We know that our hope is in you and in you alone.  Help us to accept that, to live in that assurance and so to follow wherever you might lead us.
Assure us of the victory you have won in Christ.  For it’s in His name that we ask it.  Amen.
 
Closing Words
I want to wish you and your families a very happy Easter.  I want to say a big thank you to Dave Hendry for all the extra work he has put in this week downloading and uploading the services every day.  Please do tune in again next Sunday when we will reflecting on the post-resurrection encounter between Jesus and Thomas!  To finish today, I’m going to do something a little different.  In a moment I will lead us in a benediction and the words of the grace after which I want to play you a beautiful piece of music entitled ‘Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place’.  You’ll recognise the angelic voice as our very own Sharon O’Sullivan.  I know you’ll enjoy it. So please stay logged on after we’ve said the grace together…
Benediction
May the loving power of God,
which raised Jesus to new life,
strengthen you in hope,
enrich you with his love,
and fill you with joy in the faith
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more.  Amen.
 

Good Friday                   
APC 10th April 2020
 
Introduction and Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our Good Friday reflection.  We’ve been following Jesus through Holy week using our 5 senses. Today is entitled the ‘sound of holy week’ as we listen in to a locker room conversation between the Roman centurion and a soldier in the Roman guard…
But before we eavesdrop on this fascinating conversation let us take a moment to speak to God.  Let us pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, on this day we marvel again at the extent of your love, and especially the pain you were ready to face so that we might receive a life in all its fullness; a pain that goes far beyond anything we can ever imagine or understand.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
We remember the pain of body as thorns were twisted into your head, as the lash tore into your body, as you staggered under the weight of the cross, as nails were hammered into your hands and feet, as you writhed in agony, waiting for the blissful release of death.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
We remember the pain of mind as you came to terms with the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the faithlessness of your followers and the shouts of “Crucify!” from those who just days before had welcomed you as their King.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
We remember the pain of Spirit as you bore the sins of the world on your shoulders, as you experienced that dreadful sense of isolation from the Father, as you felt yourself to be abandoned, left there to face the awfulness of your fate, alone.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
Lord Jesus Christ, we can never begin to grasp what you went through, me even fully appreciate the scale of the suffering you endured.  But we know that yours was a love greater than we can ever show, and a sacrifice more costly than we can ever offer.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
Open our eyes to the wonder of this day, and help us to respond in the only way we can – with heartfelt gratitude, with joyful praise, and with loving service, offered in your name and for your glory.
Gracious Lord, for all you willingly endured we thank you.
Amen.
Let us say the Lord’s Prayer together…
 
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us,
And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, AMEN.
 
Bible Reading   Mark 16 v 33-39    ‘The Death of Jesus’
 
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
 
Monologue – “The Testimony of a Roman Centurion”
Picture a scene where the Roman Centurion who watched Jesus die returns to barracks and after bathing, begins to share his experience with another soldier….
 
Greetings Felix!  At ease soldier, at ease.  I suppose you’re off to the big fight tonight?  I’m sure it will be packed.  I hear this guy Maximus Aurelius is something else!...Me, no.  I was planning to go but I just can’t face it…not after today.
Didn’t you hear?  We crucified that holy man Jesus.  The big deal?!  My entire company is spooked out about the whole thing!  Well, something just wasn’t right from the start.  The streets were packed.  Women were screaming, people were shouting, the whole town was in chaos.  Whatever this guy did, a lot of people thought he was no ordinary man.
I even overheard the boss talking with some of the chief rabbis.  Apparently this guy said he was the son of God.  Yeah, I thought he was crazy too but after what I saw today…I’m not so sure.
For a start, there was something weird about the things he said.  Like, we crucified these two robbers either side of him.  One of them was giving him dog’s abuse shouting, “If you’re the son of God why don’t you save yourself?!”  But the other thief shouts back, “Shut up!  We deserve what we’re getting, but this man is innocent!”  Then he turns to Jesus and asks, “Will you remember me when you enter your Kingdom?”  I’ll never forget what Jesus replied, “I promise you that today you will be with me in paradise.” 
I mean, this guy really thought he was the son of God and that he could forgive people’s sins!
Yeah, I know that’s only his opinion, but what about the darkness?  How do you explain that?  That really freaked me out.  I’ve never experienced anything like it!  I remember looking at my sun dial thinking,  “I’ll get one of the lads to take over here so I can grab a bite of lunch,” when suddenly the lights went out and everybody started screaming and shouting, “Amos’ prophecy is coming true!  God is judging us for rejecting Israel’s King!  Jesus really is who he said he was – God’s Son!”
To be honest, it nearly got to me too, but I managed to get my men together and we tried to calm the crowd as best we could.  Some people just ran away beating their chests and crying out to God for mercy, but eventually we managed to calm those few that remained.  I think after the initial shock we were all curious to see what would happen next.  So I stood opposite Jesus and got my men to position themselves in a circle around the 3 stakes.
I was a bit worried that his followers might try to cut him loose under the cover of this darkness.  Things were pretty tense I can tell you!
I knew I was witnessing something unnatural.  It was as if the gods were trying to get our attention.  I didn’t take my eyes off him.  I strained to hear every groan He made, every word he said.  Three hours must have passed, although I can’t be sure – my sun dial had stopped.  Suddenly he cried out, “My God, why have you left me?”
I hadn’t a clue what he meant, but I overheard some of the crowd saying, “Listen. He’s calling out for Elijah the prophet.  Let’s see if Elijah comes to rescue him.”
I asked somebody about this later.  Apparently the Jews have a tradition that one of their ancient prophets- Elijah, comes down to help good people whenever they are in trouble.
My heart was pounding at this stage.  After all that I’d seen so far, I was nearly expecting the clouds to open up and some heavenly being to come down and rescue him.  “Have your swords ready!” I says to the lads, “and keep your eyes peeled.”
I stared up at Jesus.  He lifted his head.  I stepped back.  I thought he was going to speak to me directly.  “It is finished!” he shouted.  I nearly fell over with shock.
Suddenly I heard what sounded like distant thunder and my feet began to shake.  I thought I was just scared until I realised it wasn’t me that was shaking, it was the ground under my feet.  I started to run but I fell to the ground, my heart was pounding!  I clung to a rock to stop myself shaking.  I thought the end had come!  Then it stopped!  Everything was still, all was quiet.  I looked up.  All around me people were slowly getting to their feet and dusting off their clothes.  Nobody spoke.  I could see cracks in the ground where I’d been standing.  The rocks I’d been holding onto were in pieces.  “Must’ve been an earthquake!” I thought.
“Is anybody hurt?!” I shouted.  “Only minor bruises sarge!” was the reply.  “But he’s stopped breathing!”…  The soldier was pointing to the naked body on the centre cross. 
“Don’t be so foolish!” I snapped.  “He can’t be dead.  He’s only been up there a few hours.”  I knew his last cry had been said with such force, clearly the man wasn’t close to death.
“Right!” I commanded.  “Break their legs.  Let’s get this whole thing wrapped up before anything more happens.  The boss gave me strict orders to have these bodies down before the Jewish Sabbath starts.”
Three of my men approached the stakes.  They broke the legs of the two thieves, then stopped.  “What are you waiting for?” I asked.  “Your’e not afraid are you?!”  “Break the legs of Jesus too!”
“But he’s already dead sarge” came the reply.  I was getting pretty angry at this stage.  “He cant be dead!” I shouted.  “Stick a spear in his heart.”
“Yes sarge,” said the soldier, then he shoved his spear into Jesus’ side.
To my surprise the body didn’t move, Jesus didn’t flinch.
“Well?” I enquired.
“Blood and water sarge.”  “He’s already dead!”
Felix, I still can’t way it up in my mind.  It just doesn’t make sense.  Just moments before this guy Jesus had cried out, “It is finished!”  Now he was dead.  It was as if he had given up His own life when he decided it was time for it to end!
I know it doesn’t make sense, but then, the whole thing was abnormal.  Look Felix, between you and me; this was no ordinary death, this Jesus was no ordinary man.  Maybe he was who he said he was.  What if he is the Son of God?
I know I need to be careful.  I know we’re only supposed to call the emperor ‘the son of God’.  Believe me, I don’t want to blow my chances of Roman citizenship or my pension rights any more than the next centurion.  That’s why I’m asking you to keep this under your helmet.
But I was there Felix!  I saw how this man died!  Maybe he really is the son of God?
I know the implications.  If Jesus is the son of God then I should worship him, not our Roman gods or even the emperor.
If Jesus is the son of God then I need to find out what he taught.
If Jesus is the son of god, then I need to obey his orders.
Yes I know this could mean sacrificing everything.  I know it could mean death.  But if he is the son of God and I refuse to give him my allegiance, what then?
No Felix, I’m not losing my mind!
I saw the darkness.  I felt the earthquake.  I saw the people beating their breasts and crying out to God for mercy!  I heard them say this is the beginning of God’s judgement on the Jews for rejecting God’s King.  Felix, I don’t want to be judged by God for rejecting his son!  Do you?...
Above all, I remember his last words to that thief… “Today you will be with me in paradise.”  Felix, I don’t want to miss paradise.  Do you?...
 
REFLECT            Who do you believe that Jesus is?...Why?...
 
Prayer for Others-
 
Medical Staff
 
Lord, when existing plans have to be scrapped and despite things having to change on a daily basis, we pray that you will give hospital staff the courage and wisdom to make good choices.
 
Lord we pray for more PPE equipment and we ask that you will protect the skin of staff as they continually change their clothing, masks and eye protection.
 
Please give staff courage to do their best despite working in conditions that are so unfamiliar.  May they be afforded every security and protection to enable them to do their job.
 
Lord, please bring the deepest comfort to those who are feeling overwhelmed at watching people die.  May they find the people, the time and space, to be able to unburden their emotions.
 
COViD Patients
Father, we pray especially for those who are dying.  Give wisdom to staff to know what can be done to reduce the anxiety and stress of every patient, especially those who have other underlying conditions.   May each patient know that even though those around them are not family, that they are people who deeply care.  May that knowledge bring them some form of comfort and peace.
 
Management
God we pray that you will continue to provide enough staff to manage those who are sick and to allow those who are on the frontline to find some respite during the week.  Bring swift recovery to those who have fallen ill and courage to those who are anxious and stressed.
We ask that you will give supernatural strength, perseverance and understanding to all who are on the frontlines so that teams and departments may remain united.
We pray especially for those who are team leaders.  Give them clear wisdom, compassion for their colleagues and enable them to communicate as clearly as possible, despite the daily chaos of the situation.
 
Patients without COViD
We pray for patients who have serious underlying health conditions but who are currently COViD free.  Please give wisdom all those involved in our health care system to know how ways may be found to safely meet the ongoing needs of these patients in addition to those who are battling the Corona virus.
 
Closing Words
 
Thanks for logging on.  I hope you’ve been blessed by our time together.  Please remember to tune in again on Easter Sunday as we remember that discouragement, disillusionment and death will not have the final word…Christ is risen, that is something to lift our spirits!
 
Don’t forget to look at our church website or on our Facebook page for latest information.  If you’d like to record a little message of encouragement or a fun clip of something you’ve been doing, please don’t hesitate to send it on to Dave Hendry or myself.  Do keep everyone in your prayers and look out for anyone you can help.  So let me close with a benediction after which, as always, I invite you to join me in saying the grace together…
 
Benediction
 
Jesus, we wait here by your tomb
carrying our grief,
the grief of the betrayer,
the grief of the denier,
the grief of the crucifiers.
We carry the grief of the lost,
the heartbroken, the bereft, the sick and the dying
Upon you was laid the grief of us all.
It is finished.
God of endings, God of darkness,
God of the tomb, God of dark days and great loss,
be with us now as we wait with Jesus.
 
So may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more.  Amen.