ROADS almost empty, no Easy Jet leaving vapour trails in the cotton wool cloud spattered blue sky, a strange world right now, very different to normal.

No school for the majority of our young people, no relaxing evenings in the pub with a pint, no social events for the lonely, no crowds singing their hearts out at sporting events, no marathons, nothing much really. How do we respond? Watch endless TV? But there is no live sport on that either Agh!

Read a good book perhaps, do a jigsaw or play patience if you’re alone, or indulge in some games on the laptop. But as an energetic family after the umpteenth game of Uno or a tiresome squabble over whether Squiz is an allowed word in Scrabble and appreciating that Monopoly really is dull, one may resort to watching some Youtube videos.

Modern technology has really come into its own during this lockdown. Many of us are keeping in touch with Facetime, Skype or Zoom or the various equivalents.  If you are one of the technophiles who finds the internet a breeze then there are an endless stream of things to occupy one’s time. Mind you out here in the “sticks” the broadband may not be that ‘broad’!

Churches are shut too, so that time set aside on a Sunday morning for spiritual refreshing is also absent.

For the third Sunday in a row, Copplestone Methodist Church has produced a video service for their church family (and anyone else logging on to the Copplestone Methodist Church website).

Thanks to modern technology and the inspiration of one of our congregation, Chris Sampson, this lively, family oriented, fellowship at Copplestone, has been producing Sunday service videos since the very start of the lockdown.

Last Sunday, Palm Sunday, when we remembered Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, one of our leaders, Shaun Stanbury, lead us through a service punctuated with modern songs; prayer from our minister, the Reverend John Wiltshire; a report by our youth worker, Mark Williams and a delightful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IaH3GACTWM by an ear nose and throat surgeon who asked for prayer for all who work in the NHS.

We were also in the privileged place of having the Reverend Paul Smith as video-linked visiting speaker.

He pointed out in his lilting Yorkshire accent that the cry “Hosanna” which we associate with Palm Sunday did not originally mean “Praise” but actually “Save”.

The Jewish people of Jesus’ time were keen to be free of the Romans who had occupied their land and they were in desperate need of someone to save them from this oppression. Sadly, for them, they had misunderstood what Jesus was really about. He had come to save them rightly enough, and us too, but not from the Romans, but instead, by recognising that there is power beyond this life, from all the concerns, worries, fears and sins that so easily beset our lives.

Paul wisely, in fatherly tone, asked everyone to think if Jesus were walking by right now what would we ask him to save us from.

Covid-19 would no doubt be at the top of most people’s list but, he said, what about the painful memories of our past which haunt us, or desperate concerns over tomorrow which causes us sleepless nights, or just those failing and fractious relationships right now, which the “lock-down” has highlighted in many families?

He reminded us that Jesus did not come to save by being a warrior but by showing that self-sacrificial love wins, for self-sacrificial love makes us complete and fulfils our destiny, following the example of Christ.

This Paul reminded us, as we can see in the wonderful acts of kindness now being done by ordinary folk as they queue to  shop for the elderly, as hundreds of thousands  (how encouraging that is) volunteer to help the NHS and as the staff within the NHS, at all levels, work to care for those struck down with the virus.

Paul asked if this nation, in this time of crisis might come to its senses and appreciate again the wonder of true love, selfless sacrificial love, exemplified in the young man in his early 30s, Jesus, and turn from our self-centredness and discover that in giving of oneself to help others fulfilment is to be found. Will the nation, he asked, turn back to Christ?

This coming Sunday is Easter Sunday when we shall celebrate the resurrection of this singularly very different young man, Jesus, the one event that has most changed the history of the world. Once again, but now in a very different way to usual, we shall be celebrating.

Another video service will be constructed but this time it will be much more aimed at the younger generation and will be a family service.

So why not join us and watch it yourself by logging in to the Copplestone Methodist Church website on Sunday, April 12 at 10.45am.

You never know it may open a fresh pathway for your life-journey, you may discover who you really are, a child of God and loved by Him, the great creator.

Even if you cannot make that time you may watch the service at any time after to suit yourselves. Modern technology really does have its virtues, you can lie on until past midday on Sunday and still join us in worship!

Roy Sambles