Call to Worship. Scripture Sentence

Transcription

1 The resources below can be used and adapted to suit local needs. A number of alternatives to each element are provided to hopefully speak to as broad a spectrum of worship as possible. Call to Worship On this special day we gather some who have known war, the loss, the destruction, the comradeship. Others who have not and can only guess at the emotion and turmoil of a country in conflict. Some of us come to say thank you for the freedom given us by the lives of those who have died, some to acknowledge friends or relatives lost or afflicted, some to ask God forgiveness for a world in which war still dominates. Yet we all come to remember men and women past and present who have died and are dying through war. We come to remember, perhaps a small gesture to some, but so important and we ask that in our time together that God will help us to commit ourselves and guide us towards peace. We have come together to remember before God those who have given their lives for our country, to honour their courage and sacrifice and to pray for the peace and freedom which was their hope. We will keep silence (and lay a wreath) in honour of those who gave their lives; we will hear God's word and commit ourselves again to his service and to that of our neighbour. We meet in the presence of God. We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations, that all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace. We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away. Scripture Sentence Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

2 This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Lamentations What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6.8 God is our refuge and our stronghold, a timely help in trouble; So we are not afraid though the earth shakes. Psalm 46:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills from whence will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm Gathering Prayer O God our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home You God are our God, You are with us in all the times of life to offer hope and light and comfort. We come to you now with thanks: thanks for our freedom, thanks for our peace; thanks for our prosperity and security. On this Remembrance Sunday, we thank you especially for the women and men who gave of themselves in times of war to help to ensure the blessings that we enjoy. The names, the faces, the stories come to us once again and we honour them, their courage their sacrifice, their willingness to put themselves in harms way for a better world. Almighty God you have created us in your image and have called us to live in peace and mutual love. Forgive our sins and our failure to live according to your will; and give us grace to serve you, and our brothers and sisters for your sake. For all who came before us, for all those who gave from their hearts,

3 who gave from their lives, that there might be a better world, a safer world, we pray for peace in their name. That all their dreams that all their struggles, would not end in great sadness and bitterness - but in peace - we pray for peace in their name. And for the children, that the children may live, that they will have children of their own and that it will go on - that they would have a world worth being born into, a future worth dreaming about - we pray for peace, in their name. May we never forget, May we never, again march off to war. A feeble prayer perhaps but let each of us work to ensure it. Keep us faithful Lord God and give us the encouragement that we need. May we encourage one another in the faith and ministry of Jesus Christ in whose name we pray. Eternal God, you are the shepherd of our souls, the giver of everlasting life. On this day when we commemorate and commend to you those who lived and died in the service of others, we are glad to remember that your purposes for us are good, that you gave Jesus Christ for the life of the world, and that you lead us by his Holy Spirit into the paths of righteousness and peace. Merciful and faithful God, your purpose is to fold both earth and heaven in a single peace. With sorrow we confess that in our hearts we keep alive the passions and pride that lead to hatred and to war. We are not worthy of your love, nor of the sacrifice made by others on our behalf. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Almighty God, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. God of unbounded grace, you declared your reconciling love and power in the death and resurrection of our saviour Jesus Christ. Teach us, who live only in your forgiveness, to forgive one another. Heal our divisions, cast out our fears, Renew our faith in your unchanging purpose Of goodwill and peace on earth; Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

4 who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, now and for ever. Children s Address Ideas Explore what silence is: Silence can mean anger Silence can mean death Silence can mean concentration Silence can mean no ones about Silence can be scary Silence can be peaceful Silence can be full of all sorts of things We are about to enjoy a very special silence one that we create out of respect Some of us can remember people we know who were in the war and lost their lives and so we are silent and remember them, those of us who were born too late to know much about it are silent and give thanks that they had the courage to allow us our freedom Talk about things we remember: What did you have for dinner last night? What was your first teddy bear called? What colour is your Mum s hair (without looking)? Now, how do we remember things that you didn t see or weren t involved in? Remembrance is one of the few occasions when we do that. We don t know the people on the war memorials but we remember them anyway because what happened to them was so terrible yet inspirational too. They gave up their lives for us and since we don t really have the words to say about them, the colour of their hair or their teddies name we don t say anything at all. We stand in silence and remember them. The Act of Remembrance 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. We will remember them. (Last Post) Two Minutes Silence

5 (Reveille) Kohima Epitaph: When you go home Tell them of us and say "For your tomorrow We gave our today". Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Jesus we cannot be parted, either by life or death, we give you thanks for all whom we remember this day, and ask that you would so work your good purposes in us that we might honour those who have gone before us and share with them in your eternal joy. Ever-living God we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord.. Prayer For Others Bless Your Church throughout the world. Pour upon Your people in this and every land, The courage to lead lives lived in service to others, selfless and faithful. May we, disciples of your Son, the one called the Prince of peace, be instruments of that peace, bringing peace to our homes, our communities, our nation and our world. Bless those who serve in our armed forces at this time. We remember before You the men and women serving overseas, and we are mindful of the anxiety, fear and cost to the lives of family and loved ones who remain at home. Be with our sailors, soldiers and air personnel who find themselves in danger. May they serve the cause of justice, peace and freedom, to the honour of Your Name. Bless our young people. Forbid that our children should ever see the flames of war or know the depth of cruelty to which men and women can sink. Bring quickly the day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

6 neither shall they learn war anymore. Bless our friends and those who were our enemies, who suffered or are still suffering from war. Grant that Your love may reach out to the wounded, the disabled, the mentally distressed, and those who faith has been shaken by what they have seen and endured. Comfort all who mourn the death of loved ones and all who this day miss the camaraderie of friends and comrades. God of love, justice and power, bless our nation Give wisdom and strength to all who help govern it and direct our common life May law and order, prosperity and sense of community flourish and thrive for the benefit of all and to the glory of Your Name. Bless all who work for peace among the nations, who strive in dialogue for understanding, mutual respect and charity, that in all they do humanity s shared need for security, peace and food are satisfied. And now, rejoicing in the communion of saints, we thank You for all Your saints, and faithful servants, whom You have gathered into the peace of Your Presence. Let the memory of sacrifice be ever an example to us, that we may be taught to live by those who learned to die. And at the last, being faithful to death, we may receive the crown of life that never fades; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory and dominion forever. Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict, and ask that God may give us peace: for the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered by and known to God; for those who love them in death as in life, offering the distress of our grief and the sadness of our loss; for all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return; for civilian women, children and men whose lives are disfigured by war or terror, calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds of humanity;

7 for peace-makers and peace-keepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free; for all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace. O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever.. In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields. Composed at the battlefront on May 3, 1915 during the second battle of Ypres, Belgium by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae

8 Act of Dedication God, who calls us to be one with himself, through his Son Jesus Christ, tasks us to share in his work of reconciliation. So let us pledge ourselves anew to be peacemakers in our homes, in our country and throughout the world: Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost, To fight and not to heed the wounds, To toil and not to seek for rest, To labour and not to ask for any reward Save that of knowing that we do your will. Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service. Will you strive for all that makes for peace? We will Will you seek to heal the wounds of war? We will Will you work for a just future for all humanity? We will Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in us that have not yet been cast out by love: May we accept the hope you have placed in the hearts of all people, And live lives of justice, courage and mercy; through Jesus Christ our risen Redeemer. God, we pray for those who have died in war for us. And, yes, we pray for those who fought against them. They were and are all loved by you, and we dedicate ourselves to nurturing and sharing that scandalous love in our lives. May peace reign, within us, through us, if needs be, despite us We ask it in the name of the Prince of Peace.

9 Benediction We will remember In gratitude In grief In hope In love And may the Blessing of God The Father The Son The Holy Spirit Go with you To remain with you Today and forever. Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit rest upon you and remain with you always. God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people, unity, peace and concord, and to us and all God s servants, life everlasting. And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you all and remain with you always.