Virtual Order of service Remembrance 2022
Prayer:
Father Thank you for life. Thank you for people.
Thank you for all the races of the world
You made us different shapes, sizes and colours,
each with a language and culture of our own.
Although we are so different, yet we are the same.
We are all human beings. We share the same needs, desires, hopes & hurts.
Thank you Lord, that whatever our race or colour,
we are all your creation and you love us. Help us to love each other. Amen
Lords prayer
God Bless our native land
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtLOFofOLrc
TUNE Moscow
PLAY THROUGH ONCE THEN SING THE FOUR VERSES
1.
God bless our native land!
May Heaven's protecting hand
Still
guard our shore.
May peace her power extend,
Foe be
transformed to friend,
And all our rights depend
On war no
more.
2. O lord our monarch bless
With strength and righteousness:
Long may he reign:
His heart inspire and move
With wisdom from above
and in a nations love
His throne maintain.
3.
May just and righteous laws
Uphold the public cause,
And
bless our isle:
Home of the brave and free,
Thou land of
Liberty,
We pray that still on thee
kind heaven may smile.
4.
Nor on 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!
William Edward Hickson 1803-1870.
Taken from Methodist Hymn Book
Real story 1st World War
He was very old now, but could still hold himself stiffly at attention before the monument. His war, the one to end all wars, now just a fading part of history. Very few could remember, The cream of a generation; almost wiped out. He was haunted by the faces of the boys he'd had to order into battle, the ones who'd never come back. Yet one nameless ghost was able to bring a measure of comfort to his tormented mind. At the sound of the gun signalling the eleventh hour he was mentally transported back to the fields of Flanders.
The battle had raged for over two hours, with neither side gaining any advantage. Wave after wave of soldiers had been dispatched from the muddy trenches and sent over the top. So many had died already that day that he decided he could not afford to lose any more men before reinforcements arrived. Perhaps they'd give the remnants a few more days of life. There came a slight lull in the battle due to the sheer exhaustion of the men on both sides.
During this interval, a young soldier came up to him requesting that he be allowed to go over the top. He looked at the boy who couldn't have been more than nineteen. Was this extreme bravery in the face of the enemy or was the soldier so scared he just needed to get it over with? "Why would you want to throw your life away soldier? It's almost certain death to go out there."
"My best friend went out over an hour ago, captain, and he hasn't come back. I know my friend must be hurt and calling for me. I must go to him, sir, I must." There were tears in the boy's eyes . It was as if this were the most important thing in the world to him." "Soldier, I'm sorry, but your friend is probably dead. What purpose would it serve to let you sacrifice your life too?" "At least I'd know I'd tried, sir, he'd do the same thing in my shoes. I know he would." He was about to order the boy back to the ranks, but the impact of his words softened his heart. He remembered the awful pain he'd felt himself when his brother had died. He'd never had the chance to say goodbye.
"All right soldier, you can go." Despite the horror all around them, he saw a radiant smile on the boy's face, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. "God bless you, sir," said the soldier. It was a long time before the guns fell silent for the last time and each side was allowed to gather their dead and wounded. The captain remembered the young soldier. He looked through the many piles of bodies. Young men. So many as to give an unreal quality to the scene before him. When he came to the makeshift hospital, he looked carefully through the casualties. He soon found himself before the prone body of the soldier, alive, but severely wounded. He knelt down beside the young man and gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, son. I knew I was wrong to let you go." "Oh no, sir. I'm glad you did and I'm glad you're here now so I can thank you. You see sir, I found my friend. He was badly wounded, but I was able to comfort him at the end. As I held him dying in my arms, he looked me in the eyes and said: "I knew you'd come."
The young soldier faded between consciousness and oblivion for some time before he finally slipped away. The captain stayed by his side until the end, tears streaming quietly down his cheeks. Only in war could the happy endings be so terribly sad. As the bugle sounded "Taps", the old captain envisioned once again the young soldier's face. Looking up, he could almost hear the stone monument calling out to him: "I knew you'd come.
Taps Bugle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbkQk_1OV9Y
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.”
Last Post and Reveille, 1 Minute Silence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2isapE7rc
The words to our next tune, I vow to thee my country, comes from a poem by Cecil Spring-Rice that he wrote in 1908 when he was working at the British Embassy, The first verse talks about our country where we live and mainly about those who died during the First World War. The end verse, that starts with the line "And there's another country", is talking about heaven. The last line is taken from Proverbs 3:17 , which reads, "Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
I vow to thee my country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW5ZAoT7naM
Bible Reading 1 John 3: verses 11 – 18
For this is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another.12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
John Greenleaf-Whittier was an American Quaker poet, born in 1807. John began life as a farm-boy and shoemaker, and subsequently became a successful journalist, editor and poet.
Not sure when he actually wrote the following poem, O Brother man.
O Brother man! Fold to your heart your sister and your brother:
where pity dwells, the peace of God is there;
to worship rightly and to love each other,
each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer.
For
he whom Jesus loved has truly spoken: the holier worship which He
deigns to bless
restores the lost, and binds the spirit broken,
and feeds the widow and the fatherless.
Follow
with reverent steps the great example of Him whose holy work was
doing good:
so shall the wide earth seem our Father's temple,
each loving life a psalm of gratitude.
Then
shall all shackles fall: the stormy clangour of wild war music o'er
the earth shall cease;
love shall tread out the baleful fire of
anger, and in its ashes plant the tree of peace.
Story from the 2nd world war
A
young soldier fighting in Italy in WWII managed to jump in a foxhole
just ahead of a spray of bullets. He immediately attempted to deepen
the hole with his hands and unearthed a silver crucifix, obviously
left by a previous occupant.
A moment later, a leaping figure
landed beside him as shells screamed overhead.
The soldier
turned to see that his companion in trouble was an Army Chaplain.
Holding up the crucifix, the soldier said “am I glad to see you,
how do you make this thing work?”
It is not recorded what the Chaplain said perhaps he shared a prayer.
But it is recorded in the gospels that Jesus spent time in Prayer. St Luke writes the following in:-
Chapter 6: verses 12 – 31
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. 25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. 27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
John C. Maxwell and Dan Reiland, The Treasure of a friend. (J. Countryman Books, 1999)
printed
this second world war story it very similar to first world war
narrative above but with a twist.
Friends
in Peace and in War
(Though Jim was just a little older than Phillip and often assumed the role of leader, they did everything together. They even went to high school and college together. After college they decided to join the Marines. By a unique series of circumstances they were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side in one of history’s ugliest wars. One sweltering day during a fierce battle, amid heavy gunfire, bombing, and close-quarters combat, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned with the others. Panic gripped his heart. Jim knew if Phillip was not back in another minute or two, then he wouldn’t make it. Jim begged his commanding officer to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide. Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms.
Jim’s commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk “Your friend is dead’’ he added, “and there was nothing you could do.’
“No sir, you’re wrong,” Jim replied. “I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were “I knew you would come.”
We do not know if he was put on a disobedience charge. but the thing that is recorded is that he never let his friend down.
The prophet Isaiah said in the last days the people will come to the mountain of the lord.
You can read this in the old testament
Isaiah 2: verses 1- 5
1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In
the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be
established as the highest of the mountains; it will be
exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to
it. 3 Many peoples will come and say,‘ Come, let us go up to
the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of
Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in
his paths.’
The law will go out from Zion, the word of
the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between
the nation and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They
will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears
into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against
nation, nor will they train for war any more.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.
Let us, by our actions show the love of God, Let us work to bring in Gods kingdom, let us lead others to Christ. For we are His disciples. Jesus Looking at his disciples said, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” These words are for us to day if we have ears to here Him.
So let us take every thing to Jesus in Prayer. (Take time for your own prayers)
What a friend we have in Jesus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prthhmly0Gg
Ally Barrett won Jubilates Hymns of Peace competition 2018 when she penned:
Lord, Help us to remember. But I am using her hymn as a prayer.
Let us pray
Lord, help us to remember the victims of past wars:
the ones who fell in combat believing in the cause,
the ones pressed into service who fought against their will,
the ones who suffered torment, the ones who suffer still.
Lord, help us to consider the conflicts of our day:
the cruel and complex struggles, the games the powerful play,
and, by your Holy Spirit, enable us to stand
for justice in all nations and peace in every land
For when you lived among us, our true, incarnate Lord,
you fought the powers of evil with love, and not the sword.
You lived and died to save us, and worked your Father’s will:
to show your power through mercy, to heal and not to kill.
Lord, give us grace and courage to live by your commands,
to love our fellow-humans with all that love demands;
and may we truly honour the fallen of the past
by working now for justice, to build your peace at last.
Amen
Be hold the mountain of the Lord
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBhcnxasChw
Poem by Andrew Moll When the guns of war fell silent
When the guns of war fell silent, weary soldiers cheered and sang. In the streets of towns and cities crowds rejoiced and church bells rang. Row on row of limestone crosses now recall the sacrifice. We remember, we will treasure peace, that comes at such a price. On a dark Judaean hillside crosses silhouette the sky, where the Son of God was taken, crucified and left to die. He was wounded for our healing, gave his life that we might live, deepest mercy, reconciling peace, that nothing less could give. When will all the guns be silent? How we long for war to cease. From the ruins of each conflict rises up our prayer for peace. May the selfless love of Jesus give us hope at last to see all the nations, celebrating peace, when all the world is free.
Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’
God has open arms of love, He is waiting to say to each one of us “I knew you would come.”
O God our help in Ages past
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjF11pIYEE
Benediction
Grace and mercy, righteousness and truth have come to us from God. Jesus has declared it, and the Spirit has made it known. The light shines, and the darkness cannot overcome it All: Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust. Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace. Let peace fill our hearts, our world, our universe. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. The peace of Christ be with you to day and always Amen
United Kingdom’s National Anthem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ27xS27qyc
Please free to play/ sing your own Nation Anthem.
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