Sunday 11 November 2018 Remembrance Sunday

Transcription

1 Sunday 11 November 2018 Remembrance Sunday Lectionary Readings (depending on the kind of service you are leading, you may use one or more of the following readings however, you must use the gospel reading, as this is what the homily is based on) Jonah 3.1-5, 10 Ps 62.5-end Heb 9.24-end Mark Homily Today s homily has been written by the Rev d Val Kilner, Assistant Priest in the Somersham Benefice November has become a month for remembering remember, remember the fifth of November Guy Fawkes and the plot to destroy the houses of Parliament and all that Then today Remembrance Sunday. But what are we doing when we remember? A dictionary definition says: Have in mind or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of someone or something from the past. So today what should we have in mind? I wonder whether any of us have read Tolstoy s book War and Peace or even started to read it. Those words, 'war' and 'peace', may well sum up what we are about today. Our recalling is focused firstly on war and the cost of hostilities, particularly in terms of human suffering lives lost or damaged. Some will have particular individuals in mind today, family members or friends. We do well reflect also on the fact that we don t appear to learn from the past. Wars are still being fought today in many parts of the world, despite the cost in terms of human suffering. But today, as well as remembering war, we also focus on peace and thanksgiving for peace, and for a way of life which cost so much to defend. Significantly today we recall that peace made possible by the signing of the armistice agreement on November 11 th We remember and we give thanks.

2 Remembering long ago past events may be hard for some of us. Our memories are dependent on the eye-witness accounts of those who were there, as well as contemporary letters, documents and photographs to put us in the picture. Films too of young men still in their working clothes, many of them colleagues and friends, proudly marching off for training having voluntarily signed up to fight for king and country in As we see them, we wonder how many of them survived until November 11 th 1918 and, if they did, in what state. We may know some who were called up to military service following the outbreak of war in 1939, or have taken part in more recent conflicts, and have heard their stories. In our gospel reading, four working men were earning their living as fishermen. They were doing what they did, day in and day out casting their nets, mending their nets when they were, in effect, called up. Jesus said: Come with me - and work with people. Had they met Jesus before? Possibly. Something about him and his cause prompted them to respond they wanted to be involved in what he was about. They had a choice and they said yes. They went with Jesus and began an amazing journey of discovering who he was and what life in the kingdom of God is like. They were called up to serve; they had no idea what lay ahead. They didn t get involved in physical battles but certainly in tussles with religious authorities and in threats to their lives. John, who had told people that Jesus was coming, had already lost his life. And they were challenged intellectually what is being asked of us? They were challenged spiritually could this Jesus really be the Son of God? What is this kingdom of God that we are standing up for? During the next three years and for the rest of their lives they fought those intellectual and spiritual battles. They learned through Jesus' teaching and the way he lived what this kingdom of God was like and they changed. It appeared that all was lost when Jesus was killed. He voluntarily fought the ultimate battle against evil on the cross, as he sacrificed his life. But when he was seen alive again three days later they were utterly convinced that Jesus was, yes, a man like them, but also God. They took on the task of sharing what they had discovered with others, and found themselves filled with that new risen life of Jesus through the Holy Spirit. They carried on Jesus work, drawing people into the amazing kingdom of God in which each person, whoever and whatever they are, whatever they have done or haven't done, is accepted, forgiven and loved. They also learned about peace not the absence of war, but inner peace that comes through knowing the love, acceptance and forgiveness of God. Being at peace with God, they could be at peace with themselves, and learn to be at peace with those around them.

3 Each time those of us who share their faith in Jesus and want to live his new kingdom life celebrate holy communion, Eucharist or the Lord's Supper, we remember. We put together the pieces as we re-member that sacrificial life and love of Jesus. We thank God for the peace we have with him, within ourselves, and that we can have with each other, as we allow his Spirit to work in us to make us like him. Today we remember with sorrow and thanksgiving those who were called and are still called to fight, suffer and die to defend a way of life. Today we also remember that we, as people of Jesus now, are also called to serve. We have work to do in spreading the good news of his kingdom that all are equally valued and loved so that his values of love and justice and peace may prevail. Suggested intercessions We focus on peace: Lord, we thank for the freedom we enjoy because of hard-won peace and for those whose lives were given to secure the peace in which we live. We ask that we may know your peace that passes all understanding and that we may live out that peace. Lord, we pray for those who work to maintain peace: for those in the armed forces and organisations such as the United Nations and ask that there may be a willingness for leaders of the nations to listen to each other and work together. We pray for the work of the British Legion and all those who support those who have served their country And as we focus on war: Lord, we pray for places in the world where there is armed conflict today and for those who suffer because of those hostilities and we ask for peace We pray for those who still suffer because of past warfare and ask for healing. We remember before you all those whose memories today are painful and ask for your comfort.

4 Lord, you have shown us what is good. Enable us, we pray, to act justly to love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.* Amen Suggested hymns/songs God our help in ages past All people that on earth do dwell Now thank we all our God Lord for the years Make me a channel of your peace Will you come and follow me? Jesus calls us o er the tumult Lead us, Heavenly Father Dear Lord and Father of mankind Thy hand, O Lord, has guided Ideas for all-age worship 1. Use a sheet of emojis. Discuss which ones would best express feelings on Remembrance Sunday and why. 2. With individuals or small groups, make small crosses using wooden lollipop sticks or card to remember that Jesus gave his life for everyone. Scrunch up small pieces of red tissue (poppies) and stick them on the cross to remember those who gave their lives for us. With whole congregation, have one large cross and individual pieces of red poppy-shaped paper on which to write prayers that are then attached to the cross. 3. Remembering = re-membering putting the pieces together again. With individuals or small groups, use old birthday card pictures or postcards. Prepare them by using scissors, cut them into 6 10 pieces they can be straight-edged triangles of different sizes. Either: Give one set to each person to re-assemble and make the picture

5 or Give one piece from each set to a member of the group and mix up all the other pieces. Each person has to find their matching pieces to re-assemble their picture. With whole congregation, gather together the (large) pieces of a child s jigsaw puzzle and re-assemble the picture. * Based on Micah 6:8 from Angela Ashwin: A book of a thousand prayers