A Service of Remembrance - Springline Parish

The Introduction

We meet in the presence of God. We commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations, that all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace.

We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror. We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.

We will confess to God our own share in the continuing causes of conflict; we shall hear God’s word and commit ourselves again to his service; and so we pray:

Almighty and eternal God,
from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,
either by death or life:
hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day;
and bring us all with them
to the safety of your eternal kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Penitence

Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings of the world: its pride, its selfishness, its greed; its evil divisions and hatreds, and let us confess our share in what is wrong, and our failure to seek and establish that peace which God wills for all his children.

Silence is kept.

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart,
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness;
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Word of God

Scripture Reading Micah 4: 1-5
or another suitable reading.

The following may be played

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.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while troubles last,
and our eternal home.

I. Watts (1674-1748) alt.
Music: St Anne

The Act of Remembrance

Let us remember before God
those who lost their lives in two world wars
and in armed conflict ever since.

The Last Post

The Two Minutes’ Silence

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 Kohima Epitaph

When you go home, tell them of us and say:
for your tomorrow, we gave our today.

Reveille

The Laying of Wreaths

Ever-living God,
we remember those whom you have gathered from
the storm of war
into the peace of your presence;
may that same peace calm our fears,
bring justice to all peoples
and establish harmony among the nations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Prayers

Rejoicing in the peace which comes from above,
let us pray to God our Father, whose mercy is everlasting.

Let us pray for the peace of the whole world:
for Elizabeth our Queen,
for statesmen and rulers of every nation,
for wisdom to know and courage to do what is right;

for all who work to improve international relations,
that they may find the way to true reconciliation.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for true reverence for human life;
for the gifts of love and comradeship,
for all who search for justice;
and for men and women the world over,
that they may live in security, freedom and peace.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of war:
for the injured and disabled,
for all victims of tyranny and oppression;
for the mentally distressed,
and for those whose faith in God or humanity
has been weakened or destroyed.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the homeless and refugees,
for those who are hungry,
for the work of international relief agencies,
and for the coming of the Kingdom of peace and justice
in our midst.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Let us pray for all who have died,
especially those whose names are inscribed
upon our War Memorials and Books of Memory,
for those who have died in armed conflict since,
for all who mourn their dead
and for those who have no faith to sustain them.

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Father, infinite in wisdom, love and power,
have compassion on those for whom we pray,
and turn the hearts of people everywhere
to work for the peace which is founded on your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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.

The Blessing

The Lord be with you
and also with you.

God grant to the living, grace,
to the departed, rest,
to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth
and all people unity, peace and concord,
and to us and all his servants life everlasting;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be upon you and remain with you always.
Amen.

The National Anthem

God save our gracious Queen,
long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen.
Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us.
God save the Queen.

Thy choicest gifts in store
on her be pleased to pour,
long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
and ever give us cause
to sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen!

Anonymous
Music: National Anthem

Acknowledgements

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this order of service, is copyright