An Act of Remembrance

Today being Remembrance Sunday in the UK and its former Dominions and Colonies I make no apology for posting this Act of Remembrance I used to have the privilege of leading in Tewkesbury Abbey.

On this Remembrance Sunday, we remember all those who have given their lives in war for our freedom and for freedom and justice for all peoples.

A reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus.

Ecclesiasticus/Sirach 44 vv. 1 – 15 RSV

1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations.

2 The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning.

3 There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies;

4 leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction;

5 those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing;

6 rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations-

7 all these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times.

8 There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise.

9 And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them.

10 But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten;

11 their prosperity will remain with their descendants, and their inheritance to their children's children.

12 Their descendants stand by the covenants; their children also, for their sake.

13 Their posterity will continue forever, and their glory will not be blotted out.

14 Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations.

15 Peoples will declare their wisdom, and the congregation proclaims their praise.

2 Minutes silence

At 1102 

They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old,

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn,

They are vanished away as if they had never been,

Yet their sacrifice was not in vain.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Let us pray:

Lord of all men and of all Creation,

Look with mercy upon all your children in this time of trial and pain.

Be merciful to the innocent,

Comfort the dying and the bereaved,

Reassure us in your love,

And grant to all who wage war, the understanding of justice and peace.

We ask this in the Name of your only Son, Our Lord and saviour, 

Jesus Christ.

Amen.

May the souls of the faithful departed,

through the mercy of God,

Rest in peace and rise in glory.

Amen