MORNING WORSHIP on REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
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emembrance Sunday this year attracted an unusually large congregation. The printed order of service included the verse written for 2009 by our very own David WILKINSON, ‘Tears Fill Our Eyes’; and, the hymn written for Remembrance Sunday by Scotland‘s Carnwadric Parish Church Worship Group and John L BELL, ‘What shall we pray for those who died.’ [1]
GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
God is our shelter and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not be afraid, even if the earth is shaken and mountains fall into the ocean depths;
even if the seas roar and rage,
and the hills are shaken by the violence.
Come and see what the Lord has done.
See what amazing things he has done on earth.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(Psalm 46, verses 1 to 3, 8 and 11.)
HYMN 82: Creator of the earth and skies, to whom the words of life belong (Tune: Duke Street (R&S 732). Music: Melody from Boyd’s Psalm & Hymn Tune later attributed to John Hatton. Words: Donald Wynn Hughes.)
PRAYERS OF PRAISE AND CONFESSION
A TALK FOR THE WHOLE CHURCH FAMILY
HYMN 91: The right hand of God is writing in our land (Tune: The hand of God. Music: Noel Dexter. Words: Patrick Prescod.)
NATIONAL ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
Let us recall before God those who have given their lives in the cause of freedom and in the service of others,
especially those known to us.
WE HOLD IN OUR PRAYERS, HEARTS AND THOUGHTS THOSE OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR PEACE AND REMEMBER ALL WHO MADE THE GREAT SACRIFICE.
Andrew BRAND * Reginald BUCKLEY
John CAMPBELL * * Duncan Gibson COOK * Sam FIELDS * Henry JACKSON * William C MATHER * Edward MURPHY * Alfred NUTTALL * Edward RIMMER * James R SANDHAM * Robert SANDHAM * Percy L THACKERAY *
James S WALKER * Alexander WATT *
James WESTHEAD * Tom WRIGHT
Albert DICKSON * Victor DRUMMOND *
James R FLAXMAN * Albert GORNALL *
Charles LAMBERT * J Russell LUXTON *
When you go home
tell them of us and say
For your tomorrow –
we gave our today.
A time of 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.
We will remember them.
The Last Post is sounded
There is music in the midst of desolation and a glory that shines upon our tears.
Almighty and eternal; God,
from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,
either by death or life:
hear our prayers and thanksgiving for all whom we remember this day;
fulfill in them the purpose of your love;
and bring us all.
with them,
to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
(Following the Act of Remembrance we all sit for a time of quiet meditation.)
A TIME OF QUIET MEDITATION
TEARS FILL OUR EYES
Tears fill our eyes: no words need to be said.
We are here to honour you: ‘Our glorious dead’.
Our watery eyes speak the words we want to say
and tears roll down our cheeks on this Remembrance Day.
Tears fill our eyes for the sacrifice you made.
From our memories thoughts of you will never fade.
We remain in your debt and as one we stand.
Thank you brave people for defending our land.
Tears fill our eyes. We are not ashamed to cry.
The immense gratitude we have you will never die.
You gave us a tomorrow; sadly yours was not to be
and you laid down your lives fighting tyranny.
Tears fill our eyes as we remember you all.
Your country needed you and you answered the call.
At the going down and at the rising of the sun
we pay homage to you for the victories won.
Tears fill our eyes. We wear our poppies with pride.
The emotions we feel we will not hide.
Our hearts are filled with lasting respect:
Lest we forget – Lest we forget.
Tears fill our eyes on this day in November.
We are gathered in this place to remember.
Poignantly the silence is beautifully broken
as ‘The Last Post’ is sounded no words are spoken.
Copyright 2010: David Wilkinson
NOTICES FOR THE COMING WEEK AND WE OFFER OUR MORNING GIFTS
OFFERING PRAYER
O God of the universe,
you are the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.
All that we have comes from you.
All we have and all we are,
we offer to you,
living God.
May what we have offered be used to make a difference to the needs around us,
to set people free from pain so that they can live in hope.
We ask it in faith,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN
THE WORD OF GOD
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Psalm 98
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ Old Testament page 597: The temptation is to always to be lodged in the past. Our thoughts tend to remain focused on the long ago and far away. Two words in the psalm compel us to move on. The first is the word ‘new’ and the second. ‘come’ i.e. to come. The people are urged to adopt the joyful celebration of what God is doing here and now.
HYMN 344: God of grace and God of glory (Tune: Rhuddlan. Music: Welsh traditional melody. Words: HE Fosdick.)
GOSPEL: Luke, Chapter 21, Verses 5 to 19
Bench ‘Good News Bible’ New Testament page 108: The promised future does not come without turmoil and testing. It necessitates that the faithful bear witness to God’s future in the present, precisely when the new future cannot be seen, and even when it seems most improbable.
- A WORD IN SEASON
OUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD
HYMN: What shall we pray (Tune: Childhood (R&S 615). Music: ‘University of Wales’: A Students Hymnal. Words: Carnwadric Parish Church Worship Group and John L Bell adapted.)
What shall we pray for those who died,
those on whose death our lives relied?
Silenced by war but not denied.
God give to them your peace.
What shall we pray for those who mourn
friendships and love, their fruit unborn?
Though years have passed, hearts still are torn:
God give to them your peace.
What shall we pray for those who live
tied to the past they can’t forgive,
haunted by terrors they relive?
God give to them your peace.
What shall we pray for those who know
nothing of war, and cannot show
grief or regret for friend or foe?
God give to them your peace.
What shall we pray for those who fear
war, in some guise, may reappear
looking attractive and sincere?
God give to them your peace.
God give us peace and, more than this,
show us the path where justice is;
and let us never be remiss
working for peace that lasts.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN 705: Our God, our help in ages past (Tune: St Anne. Music: Probably by William Croft. Words: Isaac Watts.)
PRAYER OF DISMISSAL
Grant, Lord,
that we may live in your fear,
die in your favour,
rest in peace,
rise in your power,
and reign in your glory.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for ever more.
AMEN
[1] The set tune to ‘What shall we pray’ was unfamiliar. Therefore, it was set to the tune Childhood (R&S 615) with the last line of each verse amended to fit.