Peace, Reconcilliation, Remembrance - Some thoughts before tomorrow

Lots have been written about the Armistice over the past few weeks and months. As I sit in a coffee shop thinking about tomorrow preparing stuff for tomorrow I'm struck about the immense privilege it is to lead in remembrance.

I'm struck about the sacrifice that was made by so many, the politics of this nation which made remembrance a very difficult topic for the past 100 years but also the need to to remember in order to learn lessons of history.

Having recently been to a lecture about Blarney in 1918 and the difficulties of history there is a need deep down not to plaster over what has happened but to understand - I'm so thankful for historians who can look at the sources and make some sense of how the past impacts the present.

With my pastoral heart going into tomorrow - the acknowledgement of what has been is important but also speaking into what needs to be going forward is important too.

I've been really encouraged by those who have taken up my invitation to remember at our 11am service those who are somehow connected with them who died during WW1 and will be remembering them at that service. All are welcome to join us at that service. We will be  beginning 5  minutes earlier in order to have a silence at 11am. 

Here is the introduction to  tomorrows service

Brothers and Sisters, 
as we commemorate the centenary of the ending of the First World War,
 we come together to offer to almighty God
 our worship and praise and thanksgiving 
to draw near to the throne of God
 in penitence and humility;
 to hear his proclamation of justice and righteousness; 
to remember those who participated
 in the war - those connected in some way to us;
 to acknowledge the relief and joy 
at the ending of this time of great hostility, 
and the anguish, sorrow and grief 
of those who never shared in that relief and joy; 
to remember a world and lives changed forever,
 yet with an uncertainty for the future and of lasting peace; 
to pray for all those who continue to serve
 in our armed/defense forces,
 and to pray that in the power of his spirit
 we may serve him in the pursuit of his heavenly realm.

We will remember them.