[0:00] Hi, this is Friday the 1st of May. This is our pastoral video number seven from St Columbus.
[0:11] You'll be glad to know that today's video is going to be completely orthodox. There will be no tongue speaking whatsoever because I can't compete with Thomas on that particular scene. However, I want to make a note, give you a reminder and also a challenge very quickly.
[0:36] The note is that this coming Sunday is a Sunday where we will take up an online offering. We want to keep on monthly taking up an offering and this Sunday we'll be taking up an offering for launching a hardship fund in the congregation. The deacons in the church have decided that it's going to be important and good to have a hardship fund. There's details of it on the Wednesday email that came out during the week. We want to help support anyone during this difficult time who is in financial crisis as much as we can, even if it's only a little bit we want to help. There'll be details about how best to go about that and how best to contribute to it, not only by doing so on Sunday but at any other time if you look back at the email. Also, if you are in great need, please speak to someone in your pastoral team, speak to Thomas or myself and as low-key and confidential as we can and as we're able, we will seek to help you. The reminder, that was the reminder, is to think about two of the themes that we've had in the church over the past little while. Both are very relevant. There's the discipleship, rooted in living in Christ. Isn't it great and important to remember that as we focus our lives on Jesus Christ even in a time of drought, we needn't be anxious and we needn't cease to bear fruit. Please remember to focus the heart and life and soul in Jesus Christ in these times for yourself and for each other. Also, our theme for this year, which was 2020, a year of encouragement, who would have thought at the beginning of the year that we would be plunged into this Covid-19 lockdown and pandemic and how much we need encouragement. Please remember, and you're talking, you're walking and you're sharing, to be an encouragement, we have never needed it quite so much. The third thing I wanted just to mention is kind of a challenge or a suggestion. I don't think there's going to be any quick route out of this lockdown. I think it will be quite long and quite arduous in many ways.
[3:04] While the Zoom platforms and other online platforms have been really great and we've been blessed by them, they're tough and tiring. I would like to encourage you to think about taking one day a week free from social media, from the various platforms that you can speak to other people on, and maybe even a Netflix lockdown just for a day. Take time away, go out for walks, do things that are physical activity, rest and spend time with the Lord, refreshing time with the Lord. Seven days of prayer has been fantastic and it was great to be able to continue that this morning because that's what we're going to do one day a week. Friday at 8am, we're going to meet together to pray. So maybe these times will help us to enjoy each other's company, but also maybe think about taking time out from these platforms and spending time with the Lord. So I hope you think about that challenge. You know you've heard a lot of people have said that the size of someone's Bible sees how big a Christian they are. Of course I don't believe that at all.
[4:34] It's absolutely bunking them to think that's too big for the video. You can't see it. No, of course it's not about the size of our Bible that makes us a great Christian. If that were the case we'd probably have to all have a tiny Bible and we'd hardly be able to read it. It's not like that at all, is it? Of course it's not. I'll just use my preacher's Bible. It's not about how big and how important we are. It's how big and how important Jesus is in our lives. He alone gives us the grace and the forgiveness that allows us to love Him and to love one another. And I just want to finish by reading a verse which I hope will remind you of the hardship fund and how you can help in it. Hebrews 13 or 16, through Jesus therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
[5:32] May God have all the glory in our lives. Thanks.