As we move into November we enter the season of Remembrance with All Saints and All Souls, followed by Remembrance weekend.
As the days shorten, we move on in the year to something of a more reflective time.
This seems to have been a year to remember anniversaries; we commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 8th –
the end of the 2nd World War in Europe.
Then on August 15th we made sure that we acknowledged VJ Day 80- the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Japan. Who could forget the really moving flypast from the Memorial Arboretum at 1pm on the anniversary? Many felt that they were forgotten at VJ Day; celebrations had begun in Europe for the end of WW2..
After fighting stopped on 15 August, it would take several months for POWs, servicemen and women to return home to Britain, where their harrowing wartime experiences would continue to take a toll. On VJ Day 80, we paid tribute to our veterans, the Second World War generation and remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace. We must never forget the sacrifices made….in the hope of peace…and for our freedom.
Why do we remember?
Well, we think about the people who died in these wars.
We think about them with thankfulness, because they sacrificed everything they had to make sure that we could be free in this country today. All that we take for granted, they didn’t have a chance of experiencing or having.
In addition we think about those whom we have known and loved, but see no longer; those who have shaped our lives for good.
Remembrance, though isn’t just about the past.
We also remember the past by the telling of a story. So that particular story becomes real and alive now and encourages us for the future.
We remember the story of what God has done in our lives as we tell the story once again of the Last Supper, where Jesus broke bread and blessed the wine.
And his sacrifice is recalled in the very words of Jesus-
‘Do this in remembrance of me’.
So remembrance is part of the very core of what we stand for as Christians, because part of remembering is a celebration ………..of all the things we now enjoy and treasure – gifts of freedom, justice, peace and truth.
So the past that we now remember allows us to value ever more deeply all that we have in the present time in which we live. We pray for peace. And lest we forget the promise of peace we continue to share our history as we pray for peace in our world. So………………….Some notable words……..
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F Kennedy
“Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”- Mary Roach
It is good to remember – it means we can – hopefully – learn from the past, but also that we can give thanks for what others have done for us.
So a prayer for this Remembrance season–
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.
Revd Elizabeth Wall
Associate Minister