CCL 125049 Charity No SC002937
Welcome
Welcome and let us worship God
The LORD is our God;
his commands are for all the world.
He will keep his covenant for ever
his promises for a thousand generations.
Psalm 105: 7-8
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father
You are a holy God
you see where there is injustice and unfairness
where people are hurt or harmed by others
and you burn with anger against it.
But you are also a loving and caring God
full of mercy and compassion
constant and true in all your ways
ready to forgive and grant a new start.
You are great and mighty
maker of heaven and earth
but you have called us to yourself
to be your children
to bring to you our worries and our fears
to find in you rest, comfort and healing
You are Lord of all the earth
none is beyond the reach of your care
none is above following your commands
But we confess that at times
we have added to the hurt and harm of your world
we have noticed the needs of others and passed by
we failed to notice
we squandered the love and mercy we received
we have gone back to the old ways after each new start
we have not followed faithfully in the way of Jesus
Forgive us
Restore us
Fill us again with your Spirit
that we may walk faithfully in your way.
Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen
Act of Remembrance
Let us make our Act of Remembrance:
for some it is a time for personal memories
for some it is a time to remember other people’s stories
for all of us it is a time to remember all who sacrificed their lives, their health, their future, for us
for all of us it is a time to commit ourselves again to seeking to build peace and God’s Kingdom, that others do not have to make such a sacrifice again
Let us remember
the courage, the devotion to duty, the self-sacrifice
of the men and women in our armed forces
the toil, the endurance, the suffering
of those who were not in uniform
the support of those from afar
Let us remember
those who were wounded in the fight
those who perished in air raids at home
those who fell in battle
who are buried at sea
or in some corner of a foreign field
Let us remember
those who were our enemies
who also lost parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends
who also lost homes, hopes, dreams
Let us remember
those who came back
who lives still bear the scars of war
who lost sight or limbs or reason
who lost faith in God and hope for humanity
Let us remember
those currently caught up in wars
the military personnel and the civilians
Let us remember
God’s will for his world
his continuing love and care for us
and his call to us to follow in the way of Christ
In silence let us remember
They shall not grow old
as we who 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
Reading: Matthew 5: 38-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But now I tell you: do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, let them slap your left cheek too. And if someone takes you to court to sue you for your shirt, let them have your coat as well. And if one of the occupation troops forces you to carry his pack one kilometre, carry it two kilometres. When someone asks you for something, give it to them; when someone wants to borrow something, lend it to them.
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, but hate your enemies.’ But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! You must be perfect – just as your Father in heaven is perfect!
Prayer
Let us pray together the Lord’s Prayer:
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 debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen