This is the week of Easter, and yet it is unlike any Easter any of us have ever experienced. Right now, it is easy to feel chained, like a dark power is holding us down. Death, and the fear of death, seems to reign, keeping us locked in our homes while all that is familiar to us seems torn away.

That is what we are up against. But Easter is more than a match for any kind of darkness.

At the first Easter sermon the Apostle Peter said this:

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. Acts 2:22-24

 When Jesus died for our sin and rose to new life, he defeated death in all it’s dark power. He broke death’s hold on us because he paid for our sin and now, we are forgiven. And Jesus breaks the fear of death too, for just as it was impossible for death to keep it’s hold on Jesus, so now it’s grip on all Jesus’ people is broken. Like the Apostle Paul does in 1 Cor 15:55-57 we can taunt death because of its powerlessness over us now. Death itself has been swallowed up in the victory Jesus’ won for us at Easter. Because of Easter we can stand firm and without fear through any darkness.

I am reminded of a wonderful old hymn of triumph I used to sing when I was growing up: “Up from the grave he arose”. It captures it for me:

Death cannot keep his Prey,
Jesus, my Saviour;
He tore the bars away,
Jesus, my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o'er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

 
Join us this Good Friday, and this Easter Day to celebrate what Jesus Christ won for us at Easter with St Matthew's Everywhere.
 
We will still be running our indepth look at Easter as a live stream at 7:30pm on Good Friday.  You can access it on the church website and also follow this link to join the live stream.  

Ben Rae, the campus director for AFES at UWA, will be bringing us these two talks:

Talk 1 - God’s Crucial Solution

When we look around our world it’s hard not to conclude that it’s pretty messed up. Viruses run rampant, leaders are often corrupt, and if we’re honest with ourselves our own hearts are often not in great shape either. 

 People have all sorts of plans for how to fix our world. New vaccines, better education, trying harder to be nice. Yet throughout the gospel accounts we see Jesus focussed not on those things—good as they may be—but on the cross. His whole life is about his death. But why? After all, the Roman’s crucified thousands of people, why would one more make any difference? 

Clearly Jesus had a plan. What was it? And how do we see God building towards it in the Old Testament? And what difference does it make to our world?

Talk 2 - Jesus and the Death of Death

Most Australians believe in some kind of life after death. At funerals people talk of their loved ones “still being with us”, that “they’re looking down on us and smiling”, or that “heaven has got another angel.” But when Jesus rose it was not as a disembodied soul or an angel, but as a physical, embodied human. 

What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make to how we think about life, death, and life after death? No real difference, or all the difference in the world?

Get to know Ben Rae

Ben Rae, pictured with his family below, is the staff team leader for the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) at the University of Western Australia. 

Ben grew up in the South West town of Donnybrook before moving to Perth to study Neuroscience at UWA. After working for two years as a research assistant at the Lions Eye Institute he decided to head into pastoral ministry. He did a ministry apprenticeship with the Christian Union at UWA and after studying at Trinity Theological College he returned to the UWA CU as a senior staffworker.

He has been married to Shelley for 16 years. They both attended St Matthew’s Unichurch until after the birth of their first child Emily (9 years old), and have recently been surprised and delighted by the arrival of Madeleine (10 months). They now worship with the church at St Barnabas Anglican in West Leederville.

Ben loves Jesus, likes books and coffee, and is discovering that running is not as miserable as he used to think.
St Matthew's Everywhere
We would love to keep sharing how our church family are experiencing St Matthew's Everywhere, staying connected and caring for one another. Send your photos to hello@stmatthews.com.au or use the hashtag #stmatthewseverywhere on Facebook and Instagram.

If you would like to experience St Matthew's Everywhere with others via Zoom (or some other video conferencing software) we have groups that have formed at different times to pray, reflect and encourage each other after watching the weekly video. Contact hello@stmatthews.com.au for details.
Messages from our Mission Partners
Catching up with the Budathoki's in Nepal

As I reflect on COVID 19, it has definitely been affecting all of us. The government of Nepal decided to lock down the whole country for two weeks. This is probably a good thing to stop the disease from spreading. It does mean that we won’t be able to get out of the house unless in cases of emergency. Fortunately, the day before the lock down, we were able to buy a few gas bottles. We have been hearing that some of our friends have run out of gas and were not able to buy. We are thankful to God for his provision. But the impact of the lock down is far and wide, especially those people who live on a daily wage have been badly affected.

Most Churches are now meeting online and in small groups. Some pastors are arrested on the basis that they were trying to meet for fellowship when the government restricted people meeting in big groups. We have also temporarily cancelled most of our scheduled meetings and training.

If I think about the bigger picture and its impact, things will certainly take a while to return to normal. I believe there will be shortages of goods in the market as most things are imported from India. 

Pray for the country of Nepal and its government that they would act wisely and take measures to be self-dependent in the future. Pray also for Christians that they might work for the common good of the people and keep their eyes focused on Jesus. 

In Him, 

Samuel 

Catching up with the Chapman's in Mexico
We’ve been in basic lockdown since the 20th March when the university and our café closed completely. Mexico has declared a health emergency and has closed schools and unis until the 30th April. This, of course, affects our community and café ministry we had at home - most of the students who were living here during the semester have gone home. We’ve continued our weekly Bible study through videoconferences and have been keeping in touch with the student workers. The close-down does allow us to catch up on work for Voice of the Martyrs and projects that were put on the backburner, as well as read, pray and reflect more on God’s word, so this has been helpful. 

With respect to the situation in Mexico, it’s important to realise that Mexico was already a country in crisis - economic, social and physical health - before the Covid-19 crisis hit. It is more likely in Mexico to be robbed, kidnapped, raped, run over by a drunk driver, extorted or murdered than to contract the virus. So at present the virus, while being taken seriously, is only one of several crises which further puts at risk a population that is already living in precarious conditions.

Please pray that during this time God’s church in Mexico will support and sustain each other in love, fellowship and generosity, and that many people will look upwards to the Lord Jesus and receive salvation and hope from Him. That Christian families will come out stronger as they spend more time with each other and in the Word.

Thanks for your prayers and support of us.
With love in Christ
Robert and Shelley Chapman
Ministry Opportunities
In this season there are new ministry opportunities and needs for our Church family. We are particularly in need of people with technology skills such as video production, editing, websites or other areas that might help to connect us at this time. We are also in need of equipment for those things if you are able to lend it.
 
As ministries to our church family begin in a whole range of new ways, we would love to hear from you how you think you might serve. If you can serve or even if you have an idea for serving, email us at hello@stmatthews.com.au or call 
(08) 9381 2640. 
How can we help?
As a church, St Matthew's is looking to ways we can care for all in need during this time. If you find yourself in need physically, spiritually, or socially, please reach out to us. Email us at hello@stmatthews.com.au or call (08) 9381 2640. 
For the most up to date information, please check our website www.stmatthews.com.au
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