St Clement Church Community Remembrance Sunday Service
Good morning to you, as we join together in our church building or at home, to commemorate Remembrance Sunday. On Monday 11th at 11am a wreath laying service will take place at St Clement War Memorial. Our service on Sunday 10th will begin at the later time of 10.45.
May Christ’s love sustain you this day and always.
Much love and God Bless, Rev Di and family xx
The Greeting
What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
We meet in the presence of God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Hymn; ‘O God our help in ages past’
We gather this morning in penitence and faith, to pray for reconciliation between 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.
Hymn; ‘O Valiant Hearts’
Act of Remembrance
As usual today on Remembrance Sunday, The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals will hold a special service at the Animals War Memorial in London at 3.00pm to honour the animals who ‘also served’ but ‘had no choice’. During the Battle of the Somme in WW1, 9 million horses, donkeys and mules died. Many of those not killed on the battlefields were slaughtered for food after the war – some reward for faithful service. The many service dogs and cats were either abandoned or shot, and the carrier pigeons were also despatched. War Dogs continue to serve in the military, and many lose their lives during their protection duties. The Royal British Legion now recognise the service of animals in war, and support the laying of wreaths to commemorate those lives lost.
A picture of the wreath laid today in church will be sent to the head offices of both societies as a recognition that we at St Clement have remembered 'those who also served in human conflict’
Let us remember before God and commend to His safe keeping,
those who have died for their country in war; those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure, and all who have lived and died
in the service of the peoples of the world.
The Laying of the Wreaths
(Red and Purple Poppy)
‘They shall not grow old as we who 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.
The Last Post
(Followed by 2 minutes silence)
The Reveille
Prayer of Commemoration
Let us pray; Ever-living God, we remember all 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. Amen.
Almighty and Eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
“The Soldier” Rupert Brooke
If I should die, think only this of me:
that there’s some corner of a foreign field
that is forever England.
There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
a dust whom England bore, shaped,
made aware, gave once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam.
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
a pulse in the eternal mind,
no less gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
and laughter, learnt of friends;
and gentleness, in hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
The 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.
God bless our native land,
May heaven’s protective hand
Still guard our shore.
May peace his power extend,
Foe be transformed to friend
And Britain’s rights depend
On war no more.
Not in this land alone
But be God's mercies known
From shore to shore.
Lord make the nations see
That men should brothers be;
And form one family
The wide world o’er.
Act of Penitence
Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world;
its pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil divisions and hatreds.
Let us confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and establish that peace which God wills for all his children.
Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Absolution
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon us, 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. Amen.
The Collect
Let us pray: Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all;
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the family of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to His just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings
Hebrews 9.24-28
For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own; for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
This is the word of the Lord.
(Thanks be to God)
Gospel Mark 1.14-20
Hear the Gospel of our Lord according to Mark
(Glory to you, O Lord)
After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. (Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
On the 11th of November, 1918 Private Arthur Wrench of the Seaforth Highlanders wrote in his diary:
“I think it is quite hopeless to describe what today means to us. We who will return to tell people what war really is, surely hope that 11 am this day will be of great significance to generations to come. Surely this is the last war that will ever be between civilized nations.”
From our perspective what a terribly tragic irony.
We have come here today to remember all those who have fallen in wars past and present. Some of you will have a personal memory of losing a member of your own family or friend, for many of us it will be an inherited memory, passed on from one generation to the next.
But for millions of people war has not been history, but a part of their lives as conflict continues around the world, leaving yet more military personnel and civilians dead, and families and friends grieving.
How do we define war? We see nowadays firsthand on our TV screens the continuance of war, destruction of towns and cities, people’s homes and livelihoods.
War reporters tell us about the number of dead and injured, and perhaps the numbers suggest the scale of the conflicts, but I suggest that such numbers have little, if any, relevance to those who have lost a son, daughter, brother, sister, father or mother. It is eternally important that we remind ourselves of the dreadful cost of war if we are ever to live in peace.
The most compelling outward sign of our remembrance is the simple red flower, the Flanders Poppy. It has become the symbol of the Royal British Legion, but more than that, across the world, it has come to represent the sacrifice made by all those men, women and children who have given their lives in conflict. And the purple poppy represents the sacrifice made by all the animals who have given their lives because of human conflict.
From early history flowers have become symbols; Clover leaf for the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Lilies for purity, Roses for love and for England, Daffodils for the Marie Curie charity and for Wales, Thistle for Scotland and the Shamrock for Ireland. But how was the poppy chosen as the universal symbol of remembrance?
As you might expect, it began with a death. A man called John McCrae had a very dear friend who was killed in 1915 in Belgium, and as McCrae was kneeling at his friend’s graveside, he was moved to write a poem reflecting the scene around him.
He wrote:
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 among 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.
McCrae himself was unhappy with the poem and he threw it aside, but one of his fellow officers found it and was so touched that he sent the poem to England where it was published in the magazine Punch. As a result, the scarlet poppy quickly became the symbol for soldiers who died in battle. In 1921, the British Legion began the Poppy Day Appeal to raise money for poor and disabled veterans, and now the Poppy campaign is the Royal Legion’s most important activity.
The appeal continues to raise the funding needed to help all servicemen and women, and their families in the most practical way, the purple poppy raises funds to support the medical care of animals working in the military. However, the appeal also serves to maintain our awareness of our past, and present, in order that our prayers for peace, and the future of our families, friends and communities, will be fulfilled.
The Bible records many wars, violence and countless deaths, especially in the Old Testament, and it is a heartbreaking reflection that there has probably never been a time when conflict has not existed somewhere in the world. Jesus was born into an occupied land, and he lived and died in that land.
The Jews were waiting for their king, the Messiah, and they expected him to overthrow the Roman invaders by the traditional, violent, means. Peace was not on the agenda in those New Testament times. Jesus came and taught peace to the disciples and anyone who would hear him, he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
But the message that Jesus carried didn’t suit the Pharisees and religious leaders because he threatened the status quo, the local Roman authorities just wanted peace only on their terms and a quiet life; so Jesus died for us in an act of darkest violence, and three days later, as the Son of God, rose again in light.
Peace is a precious commodity; it comes from trust, patience, tolerance and faith. It is not unilateral, it cannot be “Peace only on my terms”, it results from mutual agreement and understanding.
Peace has never been easy to achieve; it is very hard work to establish and keep the peace at any level in our society. Yet regardless of the difficulties, peace must be what we all strive for, as Jesus himself taught us.
The driving force for peace must come from us, it must come from our remembrance of those who have given their lives in war; it must come from those injured in conflict and for their families and loved ones. Peace will not come if we forget; it will not happen if we wait for others to work for it.It is through our vigilance, our voice, and our prayers that peace and light will emerge.
The poppy wreaths that we laid today, and at the parish war memorial on Monday, remember not only those from this community who have given their lives, we also remember those who died for whom we have no recorded names.
The Poppy is our symbol of Remembrance but let us remember through the remembering of pain and loss, that there is always the light of hope, love and faith through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Act of Commitment
Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and women: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.
Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.
Hymn ‘Eternal Father strong to save’
Our Intercessions are written by Liz Davies
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 to all nations.
Father of all, remember your holy promise and look with love on all your people living and departed. On this day we especially ask that you hold forever all who have suffered during war, those who returned scarred by warfare, those who waited anxiously at home, and those who returned home wounded and disillusioned; those who mourned and those communities that were diminished and suffered loss. Remember too, those who acted with kindly compassion, those who bravely risked their own lives for their comrades, and those in the aftermath of war, who worked tirelessly for a more peaceful world. As you remember them, remember us, O Lord; grant us peace in our time and a longing for the day when people of every language, race and nation will be brought into the unity of Christ’s kingdom.
Lest we forget, lest we forget.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
As we remember those from bygone wars, we remember those who are suffering from war now. We pray for the people of Ukraine, for the people of Gaza, Israel, and Lebanon and all those in other war-torn areas of the world. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort may draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all the innocent children, at risk and in fear; please hold and protect them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, help us to waste none of today’s hours and to miss none of today’s opportunities. Thank you for the gifts you have given us – individually and collectively – and help us to use them to further your Kingdom here on earth - eyes to see and perceive, ears to hear and listen, hands to work and create, minds to think and innovate, memories to remember and learn from, hearts to love and worship.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for our community: for teachers and their pupils facing yet another challenging year; for healthcare and social workers in their mission to improve the wellbeing of those who are sick and unwell; for those in the armed forces, as they prepare for their next challenges in a dangerous world; for volunteers, carers and those who undertake work for which they are not paid; for our church today and in the coming weeks as we discern your will. Lord, guide and inspire our community, in all we do this week, and in the weeks to come.
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for all who are sick, in body, mind or spirit, for those who are in trouble and fear, for those who are anxious because someone is ill or in pain, for those who are lonely. Lord, bless: those who are tired because they have too much to do; those who are struggling with financial problems; those who are unhappy because of unkind words or actions. Lord, surround those in need with your wisdom, your Spirit, your healing, and your life-giving peace. We especially remember, at this time: Reverend Di and Ken, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Jan, Maureen, Pam and David, Barrie and Sandra, Roger and Helen, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, William, Jane, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Andy, Anne, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Jane, Carrie and John Paul, those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Lord, welcome into your eternal kingdom, all those who have died. We know that they are safe in your hands but we ask your blessing on all who are grieving the loss of loved ones.
We remember those whose year’s mind occurs at this time:
Lord, we thank you for this moment, this place, and this world. We give ourselves to you.
Use us as changed people. Ask much of us, expect much of us. Living Lord, accept our lives and accept our prayers this day and every day. You have the words of eternal life and in you we trust.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers in the name of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering our prayers and praise into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us. Our Father, who 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 those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn; ‘He who would valiant be’
Blessing
God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest,
to the Church, and all humanity, unity, peace and concord;
and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us those whom we love, and remain with us always. Amen.
'When you go home, tell them of us and say,
for their tomorrow, we gave our today'.