As we gather we have the opportunity to reflect on these Holy Scriptures
God is our refuge and strength;
a very present help in trouble.
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 121.1-2
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 3.21-23
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
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
Gathering
We gather outside at the Memorial where there is one outside our Church, or indoors.
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.
Two Minute Silence
The flags are lowered. We hear the Last Post, the two minute silence and then the Reveille. Wreaths are then laid at the Memorial,
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.
Amen.
We then sing our opening hymn as we return into Church
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet thy tribute bring;
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven
who like thee his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King!
Praise him for his grace and favour
to our fathers in distress;
praise him still the same for ever,
slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
Father-like he tends and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows;
in his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes:
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows!
Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
blows the wind and it is gone;
but while mortals rise and perish
God endures unchanging on.
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the high eternal One!
Angels, help us to adore him,
ye behold him face to face;
sun and moon, bow down before him,
dwellers all in time and space:
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace!
Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
In the name of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
The Lord be with you
and also with you
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.
Penitential Rite
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 his children
Silence
Lord have Mercy Lord have Mercy
Christ have Mercy Christ have Mercy
Lord have Mercy Lord have Mercy
Absolution
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you, + pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The Word of God
A reader says:
Hear these words from the New Testament
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
John 14:27
The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest ofrighteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
James 3:17-18
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5
These are the words of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Another reader says:
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew: (Matthew 5:1-12)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Homily
Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.
Lord, for that word, the word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us,
Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.
Lord, for our land, in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.
Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain;
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him,
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.
Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;
past put behind us, for the future take us,
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926)
Prayers
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; May God give peace
God give peace
For those who love them in death as in life, offering the distress of our grief and the sadness of our loss; May God give peace
God give peace
for all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return;
May God give peace
God give peace
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; May God give peace
God give peace
for peace-makers and peace-keepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free; May God give peace
God give peace
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. May God give peace
God give peace
O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory
we cherish, and those whose names we will never know.
+Rest eternal grant unto them, O Lord
and let light perpetual shine upon them
May they rest in peace
and rise in glory
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. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
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.
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.
Amen
Response
The Congregation are invited to come forward to offer symbols of remembrance and hope, such as single flowers or crosses at the foot of the altar as music is played.
=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db8TZQ0yzjM
Act of Commitment
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.
Amen
The Kohima Epitaph
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow we gave our today.
Blessing and Dismissal
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.
Amen
Go in the peace of Christ
Thanks be to God
The National Anthem is sung after which we may depart
The National Anthem
God save our gracious Queen,
long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen!
Send her victorious, happy and glorious,
long to reign over us: God save the Queen!
One realm of races four, blest more and ever more,
God save our land!
Home of the brave and free, set in the silver sea,
True nurse of chivalry, God save our land!
Of many a race and birth from utmost ends of earth,
God save us all!
Bid strife and hatred cease, bid hope and joy increase,
spread universal peace, God save us all!
Official Peace Version (1919)