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THE SERVICE*
GATHERING
All gather in silence, and the presiding minister reads:
This I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Lamentations 3.21-23
God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46.1
REMEMBERING
An older person says:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
A younger person may reply:
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
All affirm:
We will remember them.
The beginning of the two-minute silence may be signalled
The completion of the silence may be signalled
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.
READING
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
Intercessions
¶The Church of Christ
Lord, giver of life, may your love break through where this earth has grown dark. Where justice is destroyed, let righteousness rule. Let the warmth and light of your love shine on the waste of our wrath and sorrow. Teach us, through you, to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which over the centuries has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and give peace to your Church, peace among nations, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.
Lest we forget, lest we forget: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
¶Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority
Lord, we pray for all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership. Pour upon them your gifts of wisdom and resolve in all situations of conflict so that those who would wage war shall instead beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks, as they search without ceasing for reconciliation and peace.
Lest we forget, lest we forget: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
¶The local community
Lord, as we pray for those who seek reconciliation on the world stage, so do we pray for those in every community. Teach us when to climb down from our embattled certainties in search of even a hard and bitter peace. Teach us how to soften the bitterness through continual attempts at reconciliation. And teach us when to defend our truth unto the very end.
Lest we forget, lest we forget: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
¶Those who suffer
Lord, comfort all who, in bereavement, disability or pain, continue to suffer the consequences of war. Grant that we who dwell secure in this insecure world may be generous in caring for those who return to us injured in body or mind. Still we cry to you out of the darkness of our divided world: let not new clouds rain death upon the earth!
Lest we forget, lest we forget: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
¶The communion of saints
Ever-living God, we remember all those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence; may they rise in glory, and let light perpetual shine upon them in their eternal rest.
Lest we forget, lest we forget: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
RESPONDING IN HOPE AND COMMITMENT
Representative and other members of the public come forward to lay wreaths, light candles or offer other symbols of remembrance and hope, such as single flowers or crosses.
The Kohima Epitaph is said:
When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today.
A hymn may be sung
The act of commitment is made:
Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and faithful service.
Will you strive for all that makes for peace?
We will
Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?
We will
Will you work for a just future for all humanity?
We will
The National Anthem(s) are sung
The following blessing is used:
God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth [or to the Church, the State] 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
*The service is based on the one by Churches Together:
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
39 Eccleston Square,
London SW1V 1BX
info@ctbi.org.uk
First published 2005 by CTBI; Revised version (updated contact details) 2010
It is expected that this service will be widely used across the UK in a variety of formats. For this reason, this publication is not subject to copyright.
Remembrance Day itself is of course Wednesday 11 November, with a two-minute silence beginning at 11.00 am.
We will remember them