An extraordinary day and an extraordinary congregation gathered to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. In a service led by the chaplain of 1301 (Fleetwood) Squadron Air Training Corps, the Revd Anthony A Taylor, and assisted by Tom Birch, the occasion was particularly moving. In the congregation the Royal Air Force Association was represented by its local secretary, Mr Les Lowe.
The squadron attended by kind permission of its Commanding Officer, Flt Lt Paul O’Brien. Also in attendance were the squadron’s Warrant Officer, Steve Brown, and cadets: J Verity, J Smith, B Kennedy, M Hargreaves, M Stein, M Swatton and C Culshaw. Attending from the ATC area was Sq Ldr Steve Lloyd. The organist was John Gibson.
SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING AND
REDEDICATION ON THE 70th
ANNIVERSARY OF THE
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
Sunday, September 12th 2010
10. 45 a.m.
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARE FOR WORSHIP
With the stirring of the wind under the blue of the sky;
In treasured memories of the past;
In all that they achieved
and for all that might have been;
At the dawn of day and in the setting sun;
We gather to remember.
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
CALL TO WORSHIP
AN EIGHTEENTH CENTURY PROPHECY
(Translated from Luna Habitabilis by Thomas Gray (1716-71))
The time will come when thou shalt lift thine eyes
to watch a long drawn battle in the skies.
While aged peasants, too amazed for words,
stare at the flying fleets of wondrous birds.
Britain, so long mistress of the sea,
where winds and waves caress her sovereignty
her ancient triumphs yet on high shall bear,
and reign, the sovereign of the conquered air.
(The young men who flew the Hurricanes and Spitfires during the “Battle of Britain”, by their commitment and bravery, brought about the fulfillment of this ancient prophesy.
In our worship this morning we shall remember them before God and give thanks for their dedication and sacrifice, along with that of succeeding generations of RAF and allied personnel through to this point in time, the 70th Anniversary Year of the Battle of Britain.)
HYMN: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! (Tune: Lobe den Herren. Music: Later form of melody in Stralsund Gesangbuch as given in The Chorale Book for England. Words: Joachim Neander translated by Catherine Winkworth and others based on Psalm 103:1-5; Psalm 150; etc.)
During the singing of the first hymn, the colours of 1301 (Fleetwood) Squadron, Air Training Corps and those of the Royal Air Force Association, Fleetwood Branch, were brought for safe keeping the chancel.
The colours were carried by James Verity and Jake Smith.
PRAYERS OF INVOCATION, CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
HIGH FLIGHT
by Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee, 412 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, born 1922, killed in action December 11th 1941, aged 19.
“Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
and danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings,
sunward I’ve climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds – and done a hundred things
you have not dreamed of, wheeled and soared and swung
high in the sun-lit silence. Hovering there
I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung
my eager craft through footless halls of air,
up, up the long delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, nor eagle flew,
and while, with silent lifting mind I’ve trod
the high untrespassed sanctify of space,
I’ve put out my hand, and touched the face of God.”
The reader was Mrs Ann Shadbolt. Mrs Shadbolt’s father was a serving RAF Officer.
MINISTRY OF THE WORD
HYMN: Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father (Tune: Faithfulness. Music: WM Runyan. Words: TO Chisholm.)
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Isaiah, Chapter 60, Verses 8 and 9; 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4, Verses 16 and 18; and, Revelation, Chapter 14, Verses 6 to 7
What are these ships that skim along like clouds,
like doves returning home?
They are ships coming from distant lands,
bringing God’s people home.
They bring with them silver and gold to honour the name of the Lord,
the holy God of Israel,
who has made all nations honour his people.
There will be the shout of command,
the archangel’s voice,
the sound of God’s trumpet,
and the Lord himself will come down from heaven.
Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first;
then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And so we will always be with the Lord.
So then,
encourage one another with these words.
Then I saw another angel flying high in the air,
with an eternal message of Good News to announce to the peoples of the earth,
to every race, tribe, language, and nation.
He said in a loud voice,
“Honour God and praise his greatness!
For the time has come for him to judge.
Worship him who made heaven, earth, sea, and the springs of water!”
The readers were W/O Steve Brown and Cadets Kennedy and Stein.
A WORD IN SEASON
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD FOR US
HYMN: Lord of the Universe and Space (Tune: Melita (R&S 58). Music: JB Dykes. Words: Author unknown.)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN: Lord, give us strength for our venture (Tune: Dambusters March. Music: Eric Coates arranged by John Barnard. Words: 1301 (Fleetwood) Squadron Chaplain, the Revd Tony Taylor based on 2 Corinthians 8:11 and Isaiah 40:31 plus core values of integrity, excellence and service.)
THE COMMEMORATION
Let us remember those who gave their lives in the Battle of Britain.
During the commendation in particular the names of those who had made the ultimate sacrifice whilst flying in the locale of Fleetwood were named along with two members of the Agnew Road congregation: 2nd Lt RFC T Wright and Sgt J Russell Luxton, RAF [1]
Remember in your Kingdom, O Lord Christ,
those who loved not their lives unto death,
but gave them freely for their country;
shed forth upon them the light of your countenance and grant that they may be numbered among the host of your redeemed,
going forth conquering and to conquer with you,
their everlasting Lord;
who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
world without end.
AMEN
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.
(From: For the Fallen (September 1914) by Laurence Binyon)
THE LAST POST [2]
REVEILLE
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
THE BLESSING
If we walk in the Light,
with Jesus the Light of the World,
then Christ will shine upon us and others will see his love in ours.
May the Lord lead us from darkness to light,
from evil to goodness,
from death to life.
Go in faith,
your faith has enabled you to see the Son of God.
[1] The names had been collated by W/O Steve Brown. The list is being added to.
[2] During the commendation petals were distributed from a platter dedicated to the memory of Lilian Waterhouse, who was the wife of a serving RAF officer.