Thought for the Day - Sunday 8 November

Thought for the Day – Sunday 8th November ‘Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ (John 15: 13) Having just led our Remembrance Worship, followed by watching the service at the Cenotaph in London it brought home to me just what a strange Remembrance Day this is this year due to all the Covid-19 restrictions. No gathering in churches, no gathering around War Memorials or Cenotaphs, fewer poppies on display, no thousands of Veteran’s marching past memorials in Remembrance and fewer wreaths being laid in Remembrance too. Yet, even despite the lack of these things I found a deep poignancy in the silence created by them not being there and somehow our times of silence today seem much more profound and moving. Indeed, in some ways as one of the commentators said on television in many ways the silent virus which is our enemy today and against which we battle today perhaps makes the whole day even more poignant for us as we think of those who have lost their fight to this enemy as well as remembering those who have given their lives during conflicts near and far in times of war. Remembering is so important – and as Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae says in his poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ we must never break faith with those who have died because to do so would mean ‘they shall not sleep’ and so it is up to us to remember them and tell our young of them and pass on their story but also we must continue their fight for peace. So, as Hymn 712, written by Carnwadric Parish Church (Glasgow) Worship Group and John Bell in our Hymn Book says: What shall we pray for those who died those on whose death our lives relied? Silenced by war but not denied, God give them 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 them peace. What shall we pray for those who live tied to the past they can’t forgive. haunted by terrors they relive? God give them peace. What shall we pray for those who know nothing of war, and cannot show grief or regret for friend or foe? God give them peace. What shall we pray for those who fear war, in some guise, may reappear looking attractive and sincere? God give them peace. God give us peace and, more than this, show is the path where justice is; and let us never be remiss working for peace that lasts. ©WGRG The Iona Community Well, we pray for peace. We remember, we pass on the story, we never stop praying for peace, we never stop working for peace and justice in our world, we keep faith with those who have died that they might ‘sleep’ and have peace. Prayer Lord of all ages, our hope in times of trouble, and our consolation in grief; bring us a spirit of renewal, so that on this day of remembrance we, your people, may honour those who have given their lives in service to their country in conflict. May their service kindle within in us the desire for peace and unity, which is your hope for all people. We take time too, today to pray for all those who have lost their lives to the silent enemy, Covid-19, we battle today and we hold fast their families within our hearts and minds, praying your peace may come to their lives. In Jesus, name we pray. Amen.