Week, beginning 12th November

 

Psalm 46

Prayer

Almighty God, our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wars shall cease and poverty and pain shall end, that the earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our lord.  Amen.

God is our strength and refuge

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bA0zJnW1Rr8

Psalm 85.

Using beautiful imagery, the psalmist tells us that there is a relationship between righteousness and peace-they kiss each other.

It’s symbolic of a true connection. If we want to know lasting peace, we need to be concerned about our required standard. The two are inseparable.

Righteousness means

Goodness, virtue, uprightness, decency, integrity, worthiness, morality, honesty, honour,

blamelessness, guiltlessness, sinlessness, saintliness, purity, noble-mindedness;

but sin brings us short of the standard. God knows this. So he sent His only son into the world. Jesus the prince of peace who died that we may be saved.

That through him righteousness and peace are one.

James 3:17-18

O God our help in ages past

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjdmLstpNGE

At 11.00am - the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - the First World War came to an end. Much of the war had been fought in dug-out trenches across Belgium and France. It is thought that about 9 million soldiers lost their lives, and about 27 million were wounded - many of them permanently disabled. At 11.00am, the fighting stopped everywhere, six hours after the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne, northern France. Two years later the body of an unknown British soldier from one of the battlefields was laid in a coffin and brought over to England. On this day in 1920 the coffin of the unknown soldier was taken in procession to Westminster Abbey, past thousands of people lining the streets. During the service, the coffin was laid to rest with some soil from France in the floor of the central aisle of Westminster Abbey. The tomb commemorates all British casualties, especially those who have no known grave, and all who suffered during that war and since. Lying there amongst the tombs of kings and queens and many famous people, this “Tomb of the Unknown Warrior” bears the inscription, “Beneath this stone rests the body of a British warrior, unknown by name or rank, brought from France to be among the most illustrious of the land.” During the First World War, the soldiers in their dug-outs could see red poppies growing in the fields of Flanders, the name for an area that covers parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Each year, the Royal British Legion sells artificial red poppies to raise money for British injured soldiers, sailors and aircrew who have served their country up to the present day.

Last Sunday, acts of remembrance took place to recall those who had given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today.

Please pause for two minutes, and hold in your prayers, those who have laid the lives down fighting for peace.

Poem by Henry William Baker 1821 – 77

O God of love, O King of peace, Make wars throughout the world to cease;
Our greed and violent ways restrain.
Give peace, O God, give peace again. Remember, Lord, your works of old,
The wonders that your people told;
Remember not our sins' deep stain. Give peace, O God, give peace again.

Whom shall we trust but you, O Lord? Where rest but on your faithful word?
None ever called on you in vain. Give peace, O God, give peace again. Where saints and angels dwell above All hearts are joined in holy love;
Oh, bind us in that heavenly chain. Give peace, O God, give peace again.

Beauty for brokenness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D81ZD1NDPyE

Prayer:

Beauty for brokenness, Hope for despair Lord, in the suffering, This is our prayer, Bread for the children, Justice, joy, peace Sunrise to sunset Your kingdom increase! God of the poor, Friend of the weak, Give us compassion we pray, Melt our cold hearts, Let tears fall like rain, Come, change our love From a spark to a flame. Shelter for fragile lives, Cures for their ills, Work for the craftsman, Trade for their skills, Land for the dispossessed, Rights for the weak,Voices to plead the cause Of those who can't speak. Refuge from cruel wars, Havens from fear, Cities for sanctuary, Freedoms to share. Peace to the killing-fields, Scorched earth to green, Christ for the bitterness, His cross for the pain. We bring before you the war torn countries, where men women and children have been hurt or killed, where families have had to flee from their homes. Christ as a child with his parents fled into Egypt a refuge. We pray for All refuges in the world,
Lord we know there is sorrow, bloodshed, hatred and mistrust. Father we ask for your healing, and love. Father we ask that your son Jesus our Lord, the prince of peace, will bring change in to the minds of those who lead their countries; that they may remember the love He showed on the cross. That love which can warm the coldest of hearts. That they may find a workable ceasefire which can lead to a foundation of respect and peace. We thank you for the love you have for us Lord God for your world the beauty you created open our eyes that we may see the harm we have caused, bring Rest for the ravaged earth, Oceans and streams, we have Plundered and poisoned, Our future, our dreams Lord, end our madness Carelessness, greed. Make us content with The things that we need God of the poor, Friend of the weak, Give us compassion we pray, Melt our cold hearts, Let tears fall like rain, Come, change our love From a spark to a flame

Lighten our darkness, Breathe on this flame Until your justice Burns brightly again.
Until the nations Learn of your ways, Seek your salvation And bring you their praise.

Father God, be with all peacemakers. World leaders and leaders of governments that they may work together for the good of all people. We ask this prayer in your name of Jesus. Amen

James 3: 1 – 18

We can build or destroy.

When you remember hurt things that have been said and keep thinking about them the wound is unable to heel it eats into you, you may end up carrying a chip on your shoulder and become bitter with your thoughts and words. Men and women who have been P. O. W. or hostages carry scars both mentally and physically. My Grandfather was a prisoner of war in 1916. But he never held a grudge he said “they were only obeying orders just as he was” he suffered with shell shock for the rest of his life but because he forgave them God took away his hurt and replaced it with compassion. He was a gentle person and loving man for all his life. He would show the love of God in his action to everyone he met.

There are Men and women who live to tell the story of conflicts, battles, and sieges.

And some still living through the pain of war. All countries who hold remembrance days hopefully will learn from history and to work for peace. We are are and should be ambassadors for peace. So let us keep guards on our tongues and speak of God’s love, Remembering not gossip but find goodness. Do not be tempted to listen to gossip but find the truth, speak with kindness. Do not curse the name of God with your tongue but praise him. Gossip is a sin. So Let our tongues speak of peace, And let our actions show love and compassion. This coming advent let the light of Christ shine bright in this dark world.

May your love of Him shine out always. Leviticus says in 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD.” Matthew records Jesus saying in 5:44 “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. John also writes the words of Christ in 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you”.

Always remember the love Jesus has for you in your heart. He came that we may all have life eternal.

A short story by By:  Randy Kilgore

When a US Navy vessel arrives or departs from the military bases in Pearl Harbour, the crew of that ship lines up in dress uniform. They stand at attention at arm’s length on the outer edges of the deck, in salute to the soldiers, sailors, and civilians who died on December 7, 1941. It is a stirring sight, and participants often list it among the most memorable moments of their military career. Even for spectators on shore, the salute triggers an incredible emotional connection, but especially between the servants of today and the servants of yesterday. It grants nobility to the work of today’s sailor, while giving dignity to the sacrifice of those from the past. It was surely with an eye toward creating this same kind of emotional bond. Our participation in the Lord’s Table honours Christ’s sacrifice while also granting us a connection to Him unlike any other act of remembrance.

Just as the US Navy carefully prescribes the way it salutes the fallen, so too Scripture teaches us how to remember Jesus’ sacrifice in 1 Cor. 11: 23 – 25 it says . For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Prayer of confession .

Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo. Forgive what our lips tremble to name and what our hearts can no longer bear. Set us free from a past that we cannot change, and open to us a future in which we can be changed. Grant us grace to grow more and more in Your likeness and image, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, the Light and hope of the world.

Prayer of Remembrance.

Christ, have mercy on those who cry; Christ have mercy on us when we turn away from the cries of others. Give us the strength of compassion, that we may never shield our eyes and hearts from pain, but seek to heal and bless. Bless us with courage and arm us with hope, that we may lessen the suffering of our world.

Lord abide with those who find this day painful be close to them and as the day draws to a close may they know that you are ever with them and us. . Amen

Abide with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTT5HGSaO-Y

Prayer for world peace

Lord, make your people instruments of Your peace; 

Where there is hatred, may seeds of love be sown
Where there is injury, Lord fill hearts with compassion
Where there is doubt, strengthen faith;  Where there is despair, fill hearts with hope; 
Where there is darkness, may your light shine
And where there is sadness, bring joy  love and peace,

peace in the heart, peace in the home, peace between friends, peace within the neighbourhoods, peace in the country, peace in and between governments, peace through out the world and may the prince of peace fill you with His love this day and always.

Amen

Lord We Pray For Golden Peace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccVXF1ubBKo

Lord, we pray for golden peace, peace all over the land,

may people dwell in liberty, all walking hand in hand.

Banish fear and ignorance, hunger, thirst and pain.

Banish hate and poverty, let no-one live in vain, let no-one live in vain.

Keep us all for ever one, one in love and in grace.

And wipe away all war and strife, give freedom to each race.

Banish fear and ignorance, hunger, thirst and pain.

Banish hate and poverty, let no-one live in vain, let no-one live in vain.

Let Your justice reign supreme.

Righteousness always done. Let goodness rule the hearts of all and evil overcome.

Amen May God bless you with His peace.

Ever holding you in my prayers. Pastor Susannah