Remembrance Weekend Service

[Alfred Dunholm]

Although it isn't Sunday yet I have a busy weekend ahead of me, so i'll post this now.

As the choir, clergy and civil and military representatives enter, all stand and sing:

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love:
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

I heard my country calling, away across the sea,
Across the waste of waters she calls and calls to me.
Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,
And round her feet are lying the dying and the dead.
I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns,
I haste to thee my mother, a son among thy sons.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace

The congregation is seated.

Archbishop:
God is our refuge and strength;
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46.1

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

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.

We remember in God all those citizens of the Commonwealth of Nations who laid down their lives in two World Wars and in all conflicts since, and also the men and women of all other states who’ve lain the ultimate sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

As we continue to fight against evil, and remember those who have fallen in the course of all that is Godly and right, we must never forget that our goal must always be a world where such violence is a thing of the past.

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.

All: We will remember them.

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.

All stand and sing:

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home;

Beneath the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all our years away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.

The reading is announced and a layman reads:

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.”


Matthew 5:1-12

The Archbishop leads the prayers each of which are responded to with “God give us peace” by the congregation:

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of
conflict, and ask that God may give us
peace:

For all those who have fallen as a result of war or terrorism, and for the families who have suffered and continue to suffer to this day. God give us peace.

For all those who have been injured in body, mind or spirit as a result of conflict. God give us peace.

For all those who live in the shadow of the fear of violence or are troubled by conflict. God give us peace.

For all those who grieve for those who have fallen in war or acts of terror, whatever their nationality. God give us peace.

For all those who await and pray for the return of loved ones from conflict. God give us peace.

For all those whose hate and anger brings disquiet to the world. God give us peace.

For all those in authority and for those peacekeepers who seek to prevent the tragedy of war. God give us 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.
Amen.

Now let us join together in the words of the prayer which 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.
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

As wreaths are laid in memory of all those who have died as a result of conflict, a layman recites:

When you go home
tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow
we gave our today.

The Archbishop reads the following commitments, to which the congregation respond “We will”:

Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service.


Will you strive for all that makes for peace?


Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?


Will you work for a just future for all humanity?


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 national anthem of the host nation is sung

Archbishop: God grant to the living grace,
to the departed rest,
to the Church, the King, the
Fatherland
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

As the procession departs, led by the Archbishop, the congregation stand and sing:

All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendor, light and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
newborn worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth the almighty Giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ, his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

Prayers based on the Churches together in Britain & Ireland order of Service for Remembrance Sunday

[Josephus I]

Amen!

And may the poppy burners .... burn in hell!

[Alfred Dunholm]

On the bright side, a record number of poppies have been sold this year.

Some "on-the-day" additions:

Almighty God, the God of justice, not oppression
the God of peace, and not of violence,
deepen our gratitude for those who,
in war and conflict, gave themselves that we,
and those of every nation, might live without fear;
preserve the peace we now enjoy,
and extend it wherever scars of conflict remain unhealed,
that your Kingdom of righteousness and peace
may triumph over all divisions which mar your world,
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 from all whom we remember this day,
and grant that under your protection, now and ever,
way may be preserved in body and soul;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

[Josephus I]

Amen. Blessed are the Fallen.