O God our help in ages past
- O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home: - Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone,
and our defence is sure. - Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting you are God,
to endless years the same. - A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun. - Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day. - Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come:
O be our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home. (by Isaac Watts, 1719)
Welcome (Please sit)
Minister: We are here to worship Almighty God, whose purposes are good; whose power sustains the world He has made; who loves us, though we have failed in His service; who gave Jesus Christ for the life of the world; who by His Holy Spirit leads us in His way.
As we give thanks for His great works, we remember those who have lived and died in His service and in the service of others: we pray for all who suffer through war and are in need: we ask for His help and blessing that we may do His will, and that the whole world may acknowledge Him as Lord and King.
Confession
Minister: We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.
Therefore we say together.
Almighty God, we confess our sins and shortcomings, our pride, selfishness and greed: all evil and hatred that divides us from our fellow humans. We confess to you our share in what is wrong, our failure to seek and establish the peace you want for all people. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with You.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
All: Amen.
The minister offers the promise of God’s mercy.
Our Reading is taken the Gospel According to – Mark Chap: 1
14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God.
15 “The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”
16 As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net.
17 Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.”
18 At once they left their nets and went with him.
19 He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready.
20 As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus.
These are the words of Christ
All: Thanks be to God
Sermon for Remembrance Day –
MEMORIES
Memories have a habit of ambushing us when we least expect it, the sound of a song that reminds us of our first love, the smell of a favourite food that reminds us of home, the object which we associate with a particular time of our life. These things and many more can trigger memories so strong we are instantly transported back in time as emotions and images come flooding back.
Some memories we treasure and we find ways to preserve them. Even if you aren’t a hoarder, it is a rare person who doesn’t keep any mementos, photos, diaries, letters, emails, videos, or objects as reminders of those key events and people who are important to us, and those who are dear to us.
Memories – what are they good for?
Some people might say absolutely nothing, For some who have witnessed atrocities they would rather forget there is a real sense of wishing and hoping. Hoping that memories would fade or even fail so that they don’t have to face and deal with that time of trauma all over again.
Maybe you have a relative or a friend who has served in conflict situations yet chooses not to speak of it and those who love them have learned not to ask. Because there are some memories of course most people would rather forget, or we find that there are no words to express the horror of what has been seen and done and suffered no words at all seem adequate.
On the other hand, you may know someone like my late uncle Frank, who was always ready and willing to tell his story of when he in the RAF during the war.
He regularly entertained us by telling stories of flying his Hurricane fighter whilst chain smoking from a packet of fags. He would chain smoke, because then he knew when he was running out of cigarettes it was time to descend because the fuel would be running out too. Well, that’s what he told us kids. Whether it was true or not I don’t know but it was a good story and he told it well, and of his times playing cards for money waiting for the word ‘Scramble’. He apparently won enough to buy a row of houses which of course he later lost in another game and then he would laugh loudly and say that he had a good time with his mates and that no-one bore a grudge.
It took me a long time to realize that some of those events he spoke of might have been less glamorous than he made them sound!
For him, I’m now quite sure that it was his way of coping with what he had seen and heard and lived through. Who am I to say which one of these two types of people was right or wrong?
Keeping quiet or speaking out. It is a very personal choice.
For some, Remembrance Sunday will always be personal, a time to recall the loss of people we love, when we are reminded of the scars visible or invisible that we carry around as a result of conflict, when we are confronted with actions that still bring with them a sense of guilt and shame or, equally, we are inspired by the dogged determination, loyalty and amazing courage demonstrated by ordinary human beings in the face of adversity and yes, evil.
But I would suggest that it would be a mistake to think that Remembrance Sunday is purely personal, just for those personally affected by loss or memories of war. Rather, it is a time for everyone to be invited to remember. An essential reminder that we live in community with one another and that the decisions we make as a nation, or as part of a global network of nations, ripple out to affect us all and that in a democracy we bear corporate responsibility for those actions.
Memories, what are they good for?
Well, as I see it, remembering plays a vital role in defining our identity, because through our memories we try to make sense of the world around us, we learn from our experience, or at least sometimes we do. There is a certain hopefulness in choosing to remember, an opportunity to look forward to what we might do differently next time.
It is said that a fool learns from his own experience, a wise person from the experience of others.
Today, can we imagine a Remembrance Sunday where no-one in the congregation had any experience of war?
Where there was no-one who knew anyone who had died or been hurt or suffered post-traumatic stress disorder, or watched a marriage disintegrate as a result of conflicts past or present?
It would be lovely, wonderful, a blessing.
Strangely, it is easier to encourage people to remember while we are still, as a nation, involved with conflicts, when we are regularly confronted with the loss or injury of men and women in the armed forces, while the images of global conflicts are broadcast into our home each week.
Although the memories may be more painful than we can sometimes bear, the importance of remembering is at least clear at such times. But will we choose to continue to remember during times of peace, I wonder?
Every week Christians meet to drink wine and eat bread in memory of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. To remember that God once came to earth in human form, to live and love, laugh and cry and die among us.
Jesus demonstrated his love for us, to personally overcome evil and death. We eat bread and drink wine, remembering Jesus promise to return. We remember that he chose willingly to go to the cross, because it was the only way to reconcile us to God.
The peace we can share with one another each Sunday, the peace of Christ which passes all understanding, is not a cheap peace that cost nothing, but cost everything. I would suggest that there is no such thing as cheap peace, easy peace, because there is always a cost to achieving peace. Negotiation costs, justice costs.
We have to ask ourselves whether we are willing to bear that cost and what it means to ask others to bear it too.
On Remembrance Sunday we remember service men and women, peace-keepers and civilians, in fact all those who have paid, as well as those who continue to pay that cost on our behalf.
We remember that behind every news story, every statistic is a human being, a much loved child of God.
We promise faithfully not to forget today.
We will remember them.
Amen.
Hymn – Judge Eternal, Thronged in Splendour
- Judge eternal, thronged in splendour,
Lord of lords and King of kings,
with your living fire of judgement
purge this realm of bitter things;
comfort all its wide dominion
with the healing of your wings. - Weary people still are longing
for the hour that brings release,
and the city’s crowded clamour
cries aloud for sin to cease;
and the countryside and woodlands
plead in silence for their peace. - Crown, O Lord, your own endeavour,
cleave our darkness with your sword,
cheer the faint and feed the hungry
with the richness of your word;
cleanse the body of this nation
through the glory of the Lord. ( by H S Holland 1847 to 1918)
Act of Remembrance
(all stand)
Let us remember before God those who have died for their country in war, those whom we know and whose memory we treasure: and all who have lived and died in the service of mankind.
We are Silent
Voice 1:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
All: We will remember them.
Voice 2:
When you go home Tell them of us and say For your tomorrow We gave our today.
Minister: Lord God, you hold both heaven and earth in a single peace. Let the design of your great love shine on the waste of our anger and sorrows. Give peace to your church, peace among nations, peace in our homes, and peace in our hearts. In Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Prayers (please sit or kneel,)
We say together
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 them that 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.
All: Amen.
Prayers
Our prayers are led by a church member.
Offertory Hymn – Be Still my Soul
(tune: Finlandia by Sibelius)
- Be still, my soul: the Lord is on your side;
bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
leave to your God to order and provide;
in ev’ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heav’nly Friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end. - Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below. - Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
and all is darkened in the vale of tears,
then shall you better know his love, his heart,
who comes to soothe your sorrow and your fears.
Be still, my soul: your Jesus can repay
from his own fullness all he takes away. - Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the Lord,
when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
all safe and blessed we shall meet at last. (by Kathrina von Schlege 1750
Act of Commitment
We commit ourselves this day to working with God’s Holy Spirit to bring in God’s Kingdom.
Heavenly Father, you came in Jesus to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to the captives, and salvation to
Minister: Your people. Anoint us with your Spirit and rouse us to work in His name. Father by your Spirit:
All: Bring in Your Kingdom.
Minister: Send us to bring help to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. Father by your Spirit:
All: Bring in Your Kingdom
Minister: Send us to tell the Good News of your healing love. Father by your Spirit:
All: Bring in Your Kingdom
Minister: Send us to proclaim that the time is here for You to save Your people.
Father by your Spirit:
All: Bring in Your Kingdom
Minister: Lord of the church:
All: Here our prayer, and make us one in heart and mind
to serve you with joy for ever.
Amen.
(Please stand as we sing)
National Anthem
- God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save the King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the King.
- Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
Closing Blessings
Creator God,
you give seed for us to sow,
and bread for us to eat;
make us thankful for what we have received
and generous in supplying the needs of others
so all the world may give you thanks and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Recessional Hymn – I Vow to Thee My Country
(During which the wreaths are returned. Please follow the crossbearer out of the church to the War Memorial.)
- I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love
The love that asks no questions, the love that stands the test
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.
- And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know
We may not count her armies, we may her King.
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase
And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace
(by Cecil Spring-Rice – 1859 to 1918)
© 702211