NATIONAL POLICE
MEMORIAL DAY
October 3rd 2010. 10.45 a.m
FLEETWOOD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
Worship Leader: Tom Birch, Local Church Leader, Fleetwood United
Reformed Church
Organist: John Gibson LTCL
Since 2004 it has been our joy and privilege to host a National Police Memorial Day Service for those serving and retired officers and civilian personnel and their families and friends from Lancashire Constabulary, Northern and Western Divisions. The first service was at the suggestion of one of our church members, the late-Mr Allen Midgley. And from that occasion those who have joined with us on this first Sunday in October have appreciated being able to meet in this way. Those who joined us were welcomed by Jean & Robert Wadsworth. An extraordinarily large and representative congregation filled the benches. The service was described as very moving and fitting.
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We remember that the inspiration for our hosting the Memorial service was that of a gentle, gentleman, the late-Allen Midgley of our church family. There are those who can recall Allen in his final year, who was living in Exeter, despite being unwell, drove to Fleetwood to be part of the service.
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARED FOR WORSHIP
If the glory of God is to break out in your
service,
you must be ready to go out into the night.
(Basilea Schlink)
What is unseen is the pure generosity of
service,
the capacity to suffer for the realization of an ideal.
(Mary Grey)
Small service is true service while it lasts.
(William Wordsworth)
Our body is not made of iron.
Our strength is not that of stone.
Live and hope in the Lord and let your service be according to reason.
Season your whole-offering with the salt of prudence.
(Clare of Assisi)
Being aware of the absolute importance and arduous nature of the service in which we are engaged,
the true Christian sets about his task with vigour and diligence
and is prepared to meet difficulties and is not to be discouraged when they occur.
(William Wilberforce adapted)
This order of service is based on that used at the 2010 National Police Memorial Day Service, Belfast Waterfront.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
When the people have gathered and are settled, an elder of the Fleetwood church carried an open Bible and placed it on the communion table. In true Reformed tradition, this simple act is a reminder that our authority is God’s Word revealed to us in Scripture open before us.
The congregation was asked to stand as the Bible is carried to the table.
- THE CALL TO WORSHIP
I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the Lord’s house.”
And now we are here,
standing inside the gates of Jerusalem!
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem;
“May those who love you prosper.
May there be peace inside your walls and safety in your palaces.”
(Psalm 122, Verses 1 to 3 and then 6)
We remained standing to sing.
HYMN: Lord of all Hopefulness (Tune: Slane. Music: Irish traditional melody harmonised by Erik Routley. Words: ‘Jan Struther’.)
During the singing of the hymn a member of the National Association of Retired Police Officers came to the lectern to deliver the bidding.
We remained standing for the Bidding.
THE BIDDING.
The words in heavy type were said by all.
We meet here today to remember before God the men and women of our police service who laid down their lives in the service of their country,
to honour them and give thanks for their sacrifice.
We also hold before God their families, friends and colleagues;
all who are bereaved and mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Jesus said to his disciples,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down
one’s life for one’s friends.’
Almighty God,
worthy of our praise and the service of our lives,
comfort us as we mourn the loss of loved ones who have laid down their lives in the cause of justice.
Dispel the darkness of grief with the light of your love.
Strengthen us with the grace of your Holy Spirit that we may continue to strive for the cause of right,
and that following the good example of those who served you and are now at rest,
we may at last enter into the fullness of your eternal glory.
AMEN
Confident that neither life nor death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus,
let us pray as he 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
We sat for the reading from scripture.
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
Following the bidding a representative of the Police Federation came to the lectern to read ‘The Gap’ by Dietrich Bonheoffer.
- READING: ‘THE GAP’ by Dietrich Bonheoffer
The Gap
Nothing can fill the gap when you are away from those we love,
and it would be wrong to try and find anything.
We must simply hold out and win through.
That sounds very hard at first,
but at the same time it is a great consolation,
since leaving the gap unfilled,
preserves the bonds of love between us.
It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap.
He does not fill it but leaves it empty,
so that our communion with another may be kept alive,
even at the cost of pain.
We all stood for the hymn.
HYMN: This day God gives me strength of high heaven (Tune: Bunnesan. Music: Gaelic melody harmonised by Martin Shaw. Words: James Quinn based on ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’ 5th-7th century Gaelic.)
During the singing of the hymn, ‘This day God gives me strength of high heaven’, a representative of Wyre Borough Council came to the lectern to read ‘The Sermon on the Mount’.
We sat for the reading from scripture.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 5: 1-12
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 7: This is not simply statements of wise advice and counsel to the human race to assist with coping with life. It is addressed primarily to those who are looking for how a way life should be lived. It is also a description of those for whom God cares.
The Sermon on the Mount
Now when Jesus saw the crowds,
he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to him,
and he began to teach them.
He said:
‘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 be shown 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 because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
- A WORD IN SEASON
We stood for the hymn.
Hymn: The King of love my Shepherd is (Tune: St Columba. Music: Ancient Irish hymn melody harmonised by Eric H Thiman. Words: HW Baker.)
We all sat at this point for the Act of Remembrance.
ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
During the Act of Remembrance John Gibson accompanied the act with music reminders of acts of courage devotion and service.
At each instance below two representatives will come forward: one will light a candle as the other comes to the lectern to say the words of remembrance.
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The words in heavy type were said by all.
These candles,
one from each of the four nations of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
serve to remind us of the undying flame of devotion and commitment,
exemplified by those whom we remember today.
God of Justice and truth,
mercy and love,
we praise you for the example of service and sacrifice given to those we have gathered to remember.
So again we hold them in honour this day.
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Two representatives of Lancashire Constabulary, Western Division, came forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of England as the other representative delivered the words ….
For their courage and dedication to duty, we will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of Lancashire Police Authority came forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Wales as the other representative delivered the words …
For their example of self-sacrifice, we will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of National Association of Retired Police Officers came forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Northern Ireland as the other representative delivered the words ….
For their bravery and fortitude, we will remember them.
We will remember them.
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Two representatives of the Police Federation came forward.
One representative lights a candle to remember those who died from the Police Forces of Scotland as the other representative delivered the words …
For the memories we treasure and the love we shared.
We will remember them.
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Continuing our time of remembrance the leader of our service shall led us in a time of prayer.
Let us remember before God the men and women of the Police Service who gave their lives in the exercise of their duty.
Those who have given their lives during the year.
We give thanks to God for their courage and their dedication.
We treasure their memory and in silence commend them to God’s sure keeping.
Silence was kept, during which petals of remembrance, representing all who have lost their lives, were scattered
The names of Fylde Coast officers SC Llewellyn WALFORD, PC Arthur RICHARDSON, RPC John POUCHER, Supt Gerald Irving RICHARDSON, PC Kenneth Richmond FLETCHER, WPC Angela BRADLEY, PC Gordon Alexander CONNOLLY and PC Colin MORRISON are inscribed on The Roll of Honour as meeting the strict and particular criteria for inclusion.
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We also remembered the following men of the Police Service who gave their lives in the exercise of their duty during the past year: Constable Gary GRIEVES, Police Service of Northern Ireland; Constable Gareth GALLAGHER, Police Service of Northern Ireland; Police Constable Sean Peter McCOLGAN, Metropolitan Police; Police Constable Daniel Alastair GIBB, Metropolitan Police; Police Constable Daniel John COOPER, Wiltshire Police; Police Constable William Arthur Alastair BARKER, Cumbria Constabulary; Detective Sergeant Iain Stuart McLAY, Metropolitan Police; Police Constable Michael James JOHNSON, Wiltshire Police.
We treasure their memory and commend them to God’s sure keeping.
LAST POST
REVEILLE
Following the silence a representative of the representative of Lancashire Constabulary, Northern Division came forward to read the following rededication.
Lord, I ask for courage –
Courage to face and conquer my own fears …
Courage to take me where others will not go …
I ask for strength –
Strength of body to protect others …
Strength of spirit to lead others …
I ask for dedication –
Dedication to my job,
to do it well …
Dedication to my community,
to keep it safe …
Give me, Lord,
concern for those who trust me …
And please, Lord,
through it all
be at my side.
AMEN
We stood for the hymn.
During the singing of the hymn a collection was made for the Police Memorial Trust and church funds.
Hymn: I cannot tell why he whom angels worship (Tune: Londonderry Air. Music: Traditional Irish melody arranged by Noel Rawsthorne. Words: William Young Fullerton.)
During the singing of the hymn, ‘I cannot tell what he whom angels worship’ a representative of Lancashire Police Authority came forward to lead in an act of dedication.
We remained standing.
ACT OF DEDICATION
In the following the words in heavy type were said by all
We stand in the presence of God and dedicate ourselves to his service.
We dedicate ourselves to justice and integrity
Sustain us in truth
We dedicate ourselves to compassion and respect for all people
Sustain us in truth
We dedicate ourselves to courage and perseverance
Sustain us in truth
Following the act of dedication the leader of the service pronounced the blessing.
THE BLESSING
God of our journeying go with you wherever that may be.
God guide you through both wilderness and storm and through the turns and twists which make our lives.
God protect you and all who journey now.
When you are weary or when you are low,
may the renewing, raising and enlivening Spirit revive you.
When you are tempted to give up,
may you know hope.
When you fell alone,
may you know God’s presence with you.
God bless you,
keep you and be gracious to you,
that you may, at last,
be brought to your homecoming to find a safe lodging,
a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
The Blessing of God Almighty,
the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit rest upon you,
upon those you love and upon those who love you this day and on into eternity.
AMEN
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM (Tune: National Anthem. Music: Thesaurus Musicus circa 1743. Words: Anonymous.)
THOSE TAKING PART IN THIS SERVICE
Mr John GIBSON LTCL, organist
Mr Tom BIRCH, Local Church Leader, Fleetwood United Reformed Church
Mr Bert SHORT, National Association of Retired Police Officers
Inspector Louise LEYLAND, Police Federation
Cllr Roger BERRY, Wyre Borough Council
Mrs Sandra & Mr Jonathan Davies representing the community and Lancashire Constabulary, Western Division
County Cllr & Mrs Clive GRUNSHAW, Lancashire Police Authority
Mr Derek MAYES, National Association of Retired Police Officers
Mr Keith SHUCK, National Association of Retired Police Officers
Inspector Andy BUNN, Lancashire Constabulary, Northern Division
MUSIC FOR THE NATIONAL POLICE MEMORIAL SERVICE
- AS WE GATHERED included:
The Sandman … Brahms
Cavatina … Stanley Myers
Leibestraum … Liszt
All Forlorn … Alwyn
- DURING THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE included:
Pie Jesu (from Requiem) …. Faure
- AS WE LEFT GOD’S HOUSE included:
Hymn of Praise … Curwen
Preludes on the hymn tune Hyfrydol … Vaughan Williams
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Following the service the congregation moved the church hall for refreshments. Thanks go the willing team who responded with tea/coffee and biscuits.
