Sermon for Sunday 19th April 2020

Part One - By Keith Finch, Nelmes URC

A Gathering Prayer
We are the people of God.
We are the people of God.
Risen Lord, as we gather today, 
may we see you and hear you, 
may we feel you and touch you, 
may we know your presence with us now.
Amen

My next sermon would have been on the 26th April 2020, we are all aware that our lives in some respects have been put on hold, we are all having to settle into new routines. Some of us are finding that hard some are finding it much easier, I fall into the first category, and I am adjusting to this new way of living. So for the next few weeks I will be posting elements from Roots along with some of my own thoughts, I have no idea if anybody reads my offerings but as Claire says about Blue Sky Mondays and I holy concur if one person finds something of interest or another way of viewing Church in its broadest sense then it is all worthwhile!
 
During these torrid times some will find comfort in our Lords embrace, some will not understand in fact I imagine there are many doubting Thomas’s out there, I have been empowered by the work and dedication of all those frontline people that work so hard right across the work spectrum, especially our NHS staff. I think at this stage in the Pandemic we all know someone who has been affected by Covid-19, I lost an ex work Colleague last week, we are faced every day with information overload, but I thought the ninety year old gentleman interviewed today on the BBC ( he had recovered from Coronavirus ) he thanked all the NHS staff that had helped him, but he wondered if it might be an idea to while having to identify how many people who had sadly passed away from the virus, to balance that with positive news of how many had recovered.

These empowering stories are being broadcast every day, most lift our spirits, acts of kindness of ingenuity ( the use of 3D Printers comes to mind) So I reflect on how the disciples felt at their lowest and how things changed as they came face to face with the risen Lord. I have placed the Bible Notes for the 19thyou will see these in part 3 of this blog. The reading is from the New Testament Acts 2:14a, 22-32, I myself had a closer look at verse 25 “ For David said about him: ‘ I saw the Lord before me at all times; he is near me, and I will not be troubled’ These are words we have to take to our hearts in these times of trouble.