Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

 (Psalm 46: 1 to 3 and 8 to 11) 

God is our shelter and strength,

Always ready to help in times of trouble.

So, we will not be afraid, even if the Earth is shaken,

And mountains fall into the ocean depths,

Even if the Seas rage,

And the hills are shaken by the violence.

Come and see what the Lord has done.

See what amazing things He has done on Earth.

He stops wars all over the World,

He breaks bows, destroys spears, and sets shields on fire.

“Stop fighting,” He says, “and know that I am God,

Supreme among the Nations, supreme over the World.”

The Lord Almighty is with us,

The God of Jacob is our refuge.

Prayer of Praise    

All glory and honour be yours always and everywhere, mighty Creator, ever-living God.  We give you thanks and praise for your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary and lived as one of us.  By his death on the cross and rising to new life, he offered the one true sacrifice for sin, forgiving his killers, and reconciling us to each other and to you.  He breathed the Holy Spirit on his Disciples and sent them out to befriend with peace and justice the people of every language, race, and nation.

Loving Shepherd,

You lead and guide, you walk alongside us.

You prepare, you feed, you call all of your sheep,

even those of us who are lost,

those of us who stray constantly,

those of us who stay close to your comforting presence.

We are grateful for the lush green pastures of our lives,

we offer our thanksgivings for the goodness in our lives that you bring to us.

Loving Shepherd,

you know our names; you care for us.

When we face darkness and death, you walk beside us.

When we hunger for your love, you fill us to overflowing.

When we are fearful, you feed us at your table.

Shepherding God,

guide us with your love and renew us with your peace.  Amen.

25/05/2019 – https://anglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Anzac-Day-Liturgical-Resources.pdf

written by Rev Karla, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.https://revgalblogpals.org/

written by Mary Petrina Boyd, and posted on Ministry Matters.http://www.ministrymatters.com/

written by Rev. Abi and posted on her Long and Winding Roadblog. http://vicarofwadley.blogspot.ca/

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing 2 Songs

‘For I’m persuaded to believe’ (Communion songbook page 35)

For I’m persuaded to believe

Nothing can separate us

From the wonderful love of God.

For the Lord who has called us

According to His purpose

Works all things together for good.

Neither height, nor depth, nor principalities,

Things present nor things to come.

Though the Devil hates us

He can never separate us

From the wonderful love of God.

(Repeat)

Mark Lowry

‘Open my eyes that I may see’  (Communion Songbook page 54)

Clara Scott and Phil Perkins

Prayer of Confession   

God our Father, we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed,

We have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved others as we love ourselves.

God of Eternity, before you generations fall and rise,

May you have mercy upon our foolishness and carelessness.

Jesus Christ, we ask you to have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit cleanse us from all our sins and help us overcome all our faults.

We hold before you those who have been wronged or insulted or offended, but who have not brought their pain and laid it at your feet and who cannot or will not forgive.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who use the young and old to wreak havoc and commit unthinkable crimes under the banner of restoring national pride or of upholding racial or religious purity, those in a broken World who are consumed by words of hatred and revenge.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you those who provide the material means for promoting and prolonging armed conflict within and between Nations, for oppressing and supressing other peoples, who value wealth and power above your call to work towards peace and mutual benefit for all.  Christ. Have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

We hold before you ourselves, when we have done nothing about the wrong all around us, when we recall those who have not forgiven us.  Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

 We repent of all that we have done that is not in line with your Will and Purpose for Humanity, and all that we have not learnt from the past.

 We hope for grace to know ourselves forgiven, and to offer forgiveness to others.

Almighty God, who promised that all who turn to you in faith will know forgiveness,

Set us free and pardon us from all of our sins.  Strengthen us to do your will and to work towards the coming of your Kingdom.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

ANZAC Centenary Resources Word copy (uca.org.au)

Assurance of Forgiveness 

(1 John 3: 16) 

The Apostle John tells us that, in dying on the cross, “Christ gave his life for us”.  Having confessed our sins before God, and trusting in this promise, we can rest assured on these words from John, that God has listened, that God has forgiven us, and that we are, now, reconciled to God.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

(from Holy Communion Two in Uniting Church Worship Services p21) 

O Lord, our God, you have given your Word to us that it may be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.  Grant us grace to receive your truth in faith and love, that we may be obedient to your Will and live always for your glory, through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen.

Bible Readings

Acts 4:

5  The next day the Jewish Leaders, the Elders, and the Teachers of the Law gathered in Jerusalem.  6  They met with the High Priest Annas and with Caiaphas, John Alexander, and the others who belonged to the High Priest’s family.  7  They made the Apostles stand before them and asked them,

“How did you heal the man who was lame?  What power do you have or whose name did you use?”

8  Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them,

“Leaders of the people and Elders:  9  if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was healed,  10  then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth – whom you crucified and whom God raised from death. 

11  Jesus is the one of whom the Scripture says,

‘The stone that you builders despised turned out to be the most important of all.’  (Psalm 118: 22) 

12  Salvation is to be found through him alone; in all the World there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”

1 John 3:

13  So do not be surprised, my sisters and brothers, if the people of the World hate you.  14  We know that we have left death and come over to life; we know it because we love our sisters and brothers.  Whoever does not love is still under the power of Death.  15  Whoever hates his sister or brother is a murderer, and you know that a murderer does not have eternal life in them.  16  This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us.  We, too, then, ought to give our lives for our sisters and brothers.  17  If a rich person sees someone in need, yet closes their heart against them, how can they claim that they love God?  18  My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.

22  We receive from Him whatever we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  23  What he commands is that we believe in His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us. 

24  Whoever obeys God’s commands lives in union with God and God lives in union with them.  And because of the Spirit that God has given us we know that God lives in union with us.

[Revised Standard Version, Today’s English Version, New English Bible]

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

John 10:

11  Jesus said,

“I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep.  12  When the  hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.  13  The hired man runs away because he is only a hired man and does not care about the sheep.  14  I am the good shepherd.  As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way I know my sheep and they know me.  15  And I am willing to die for them.

16  There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen.  I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

17  The father loves me because I am willing to give up my life, in order that I may receive it back again.  18  No one takes my life away from me, I give it up of my own  free will.  I have the right to take it back.  This is what my Father has commanded me to do.”

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘Lo! He comes with clouds descending’  (TiS273  AHB201  MHB264)

Charles Wesley

Sermon

“The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ against Ukraine and the West.”

  An article that I recently found on the internet reads:

“The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ against Ukraine and the West.”

  The political news website, The Hill, reports that Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has declared a ‘Holy War’ against Ukraine and the Western nations that support the Kyiv government.  The Russian Orthodox Church’s aggressive stance against Ukraine and the West was explained in detail in a program titled ‘Order of the 25th World Russian People’s Council, The Present and Future of the Russian World’.  “From the spiritual and moral point of view, the Special Military Operation is a Holy War, in which Russia and its people are defending the single spiritual space of Holy Russia,” declares the document, as quoted by The Atlantic Council.  The Russian Orthodox Church’s document, as The Hill cites, also claims that Russia’s actions are “protecting the world from the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West, which has fallen into Satanism”. 

  The holy decree by Patriarch Kirill stresses the need to wipe out Ukraine’s statehood from the map by claiming that it is part (of) a wider Russian world.  “The entire territory of modern Ukraine should enter Russia’s exclusive zone of influence”, the document states, as quoted by The Atlantic Council. “The possibility of a political regime hostile to Russia and its people existing on this territory must be completely excluded.”  According to Al Jazeera, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church promised in the past eternal salvation to Russian soldiers fighting against the ‘corrupting’ influence of the West.  The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ against Ukraine and the West (msn.com) 

  Should what Patriarch Kirill is reported to have said be taken at face value, because as the author of the article stated,

“not even (President) Putin dared to outright call sending Russian troops to invade Ukraine and drag (on) a war over two years (as) a “mission from God”?

  It has been suggested that what Patriarch Kirill is seeking to do is to bolster his friendship with President Putin and to ensure that the Russian Orthodox Church retains its lucrative State subsidies.  Yet the Church is taking severe measures against any Priest who takes a dissenting view of the war in Ukraine, finding themselves,

“out in the cold with (their) whole family without a job and a place to live”.

(https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/9/far-from-harmless-patriarch-kirill-backs-putins-war-but-at-what-cost)

  What words does Patriarch Kirill state in his “holy decree” promoting a “holy war”?

Russia and its people are defending the single spiritual space of Holy Russia,

Russia’s actions are “protecting the world from the onslaught of globalism and the victory of the West, which has fallen into Satanism”,

Ukraine’s statehood should be erased based on the claim that it is part (of) a wider Russian world,

the possibility of a political regime hostile to Russia and its people existing on the territory of Ukraine must be completely excluded, and that

Russian soldiers fighting against the ‘corrupting’ influence of the West are promised eternal salvation.

  But what is the message that Patriarch Kirill is actually saying?

  Patriarch Kirill is actually saying:

“Armed conflict is necessary with Ukraine and its Western allies so as to protect the Earthy Kingdom of Russia from the onslaught of globalism spread from Western Nations, from ‘satanism’ spread from Western Nations, from the corrupting influence spread from Western Nations, and to ensure the long-term continuation of the Earthly Kingdom of Russia.”

and that

“The political / geographical entity defined as Russia is to be classed as a “single spiritual space”, that the defence of Russia and its exclusive zone of influence is a “holy duty” of the citizens of Russia, blessed and assisted by God, and that this defence necessitates the destruction of the infrastructure, the industry and the inhabited areas of a neighbouring sovereign state, Ukraine, a Nation which Russia had sworn in the past to respect in its entirety and to defend from external threats to its integrity and sovereignty.”

  Patriarch Kirill’s stance is that the Russian Church has as one of its priority’s the defence of an Earthly Kingdom, that this defence must involve the initiation of acts of hatred against peoples of a neighbouring Nation, many of whom are members of another branch of the wider Christian Church, that these acts of hatred are approved by God, that God needs the physical intervention of the Russian Nation to counter the threat of satanism, and that Patriarch Kirill himself has the power and authority of God to “promise eternal salvation to Russian soldiers who are fighting against the ‘corrupting’ influence of the West”.  Let us see, though, how this proclamation by Patriarch Kirill compares to the Gospel message as proclaimed by the Apostle John.

  In today’s Gospel passage we have Jesus describing himself as “the good shepherd”  (John 10: 11a)  This was a common image of God’s care for His people Israel, as we see in such passages as Psalm 23: 1, 80: 1 and Isaiah 40: 11.  So those who were listening to Jesus knew exactly that he was referring to them as the people of Israel, the Jews.  When Jesus states, “I know my sheep and they know me”  (John 10: 14b)  , his listeners also knew that he was referring to them, members of the Jewish race, having a close relationship with God.

  Yet what were they to make of Jesus when Jesus said,

“There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen.  I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”  (John 10: 16)

  To whom could Jesus have been referring with this mention of “other sheep”?  The racial and cultural and religious bigotries of those listening to Jesus on this occasion prevented them from grasping the revelation that God sought to extend His lovingkindness to everyone on Earth, that is, to those of the Jewish race who had lost their faith in God, and to the peoples of all of the non-Jewish lands around the World.

  So, when Jesus calls himself “the good shepherd”, he was not claiming to be God’s agent only among the Jewish peoples who dwelt within the boundaries of God’s Holy Land of Israel, Jesus was claiming to be God’s agent among all people’s Worldwide.  The Kingdom to which Jesus was calling people was not that contained within the geographical or political boundaries of the Earthly Kingdom of Israel, nor of any other Earthly Kingdom, but to the boundless and boundaryless Kingdom of God.  “The Kingdom of God is near” was the call of Jesus from the commencement of his ministry.  (Mark 1: 15a) 

  There was and is no room for Earthly empire building in the ministry of Jesus, for his ministry extends beyond Earthly geographical and political boundaries and disregards all Earthly geographical and political boundaries.  So, if membership of the Kingdom to which Jesus was calling people was not defined by geographical or political boundaries, nor defined by being born of a particular race or tribe, nor was it guaranteed through observing a list of rules and standards of behaviour, nor from following the rites and rituals of religious practices, how then would someone become a citizen of this Kingdom?

  From the very beginning of History what was most crucial for an individual was their relationship with God.

  Job is described as one “who worshipped God and was faithful to Him, (who) was good man, careful not to do anything evil.”  (Job 1: 1) 

  We read that “Abram put his faith in the LORD, and because of this the LORD was pleased with him and accepted him.”  (Genesis 15: 6) 

  At Mount Sinai during the Exodus journey, God carefully instructed the people of Israel, “if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my people, a people dedicated to me alone”.  (Exodus 19: 5a & 6a) 

  But we also see what was the consequence from not continuing with this faithful obedience to God which God had sought.  On one occasion, the people of Israel worshipped the image of a gold bull-calf, despite making a prior promise before God not to “bow down to any idol nor to worship it”  (Exodus 20: 5a & 24: 7)  Moses was communing with God on Mount Sinai at the  time, when God ,aware of what the people of Israel were doing, said to Moses, “Your people have sinned and rejected me.  They have already left the way that I commanded them to follow.”  (Exodus 32: 7b & 8a) 

  It is here that we see what was the consequence from the peoples’ action.  Their sin created a barrier between them and God, it separated them from their God, such that they could not longer enjoy that close relationship with God which God had sought.  Such was the consequence for Adam and Eve when they were cast out of the Garden of Eden  (Genesis 3: 23)  .  Such is the “guilt of Humankind” to which the Apostle Paul refers in the first chapter of his Letter to the Church in Rome.  (Romans 1: 18 to 32) 

    Thus, wherever he went, Jesus preached, “Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”  (Mark 1: 15b)  Jesus Christ, in his Earthly ministry, was striving for the reconciliation of Humanity with God and of the reconciliation of Humanity with each other.  But how was this to be achieved?

  In his speech recorded for us in John 10, three times Jesus said, “I am willing to die for the sheep”  (John 10: 11b, 15, 18a)  Taken out of the context of one’s reconciliation with God, these words would appear as nonsense.  And to some of his listeners that day, that is what they said, “He is crazy!  Why do you listen to him?”  (John 10: 20) 

  Yet, when understood within the context and teaching of the intent of “the Passover lamb” of Exodus 12, or of the Sin Sacrifice of Leviticus 1: 1 to 4, or of the “scape-goat” of Leviticus 16: 5 to 10, these words of Jesus showed that he understood all too well that Humanity’s reconciliation with God necessitated a sacrifice, and that this meant him sacrificing his life on the cross. 

  Thus, we have Jesus saying, “(I am) willing to die for the sheep”  (John 10: 11b)  ,and that “This is what my Father has commanded me to do,”  (John 10: 18b) 

  But for this reconciliation with God to apply to all people and to be effective for all time, this also required that Jesus be raised from the dead and to ascend back to Heaven to rule with God at his right-hand side.  This is what Jesus explained to Cleopas and his companion while they walked along the road to Emmaus,  (Luke 24: 25 to 27)  , and which he repeated to those Disciples and followers who were gathered later that evening in the upper room in Jerusalem.  (Luke 24: 44 to 47) 

  Thus, we have the Apostle Peter saying to the Council of the Jewish Leaders and Elders and Teachers of the Law, “Salvation is to be found through Jesus Christ alone; in all the World there is no one else whom God has given who can save us (from our sins).  (Acts 4: 12) 

  Thus, we have the Apostle Paul writing to the Church in Rome saying, “God puts people right (with Himself) through their faith in Jesus Christ.”  (Romans 3: 22a) 

  Thus, we have the Apostle John writing, “This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us.”  (1 John 3: 16a) 

  So, knowing this, what call does God put on our lives?

  The message that Jesus preached in his wandering through the towns and villages of Galilee and Judea was not just “turn away from your sins”, but also “and believe the Good News”.  (Mark 1: 15b)  But what was this Good News?

  The Apostle Paul writes, “God puts people right through their faith in Jesus Christ.  God does this to all who believe in Christ.”  (Romans 3: 22, 5: 1)  This is our first call from God, for us to respond to the love that God has for each person, for us to believe in His Son and in the effectiveness of the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God that was achieved through God’s great work in the World achieved in and through His Son, Jesus Christ.

  The Apostle John takes this further.  He says, ‘we know what is real love’, it is the love of God.  (1 John 4: 7 & 8)  We know how far God was willing to go to express this real love for us, that is, to seek for Jesus Christ to give his life for us.  (1 John 3: 16a)  Knowing this, says John, how can we not respond to God in any other way but by doing the same thing.  And this, says John, means being willing to express our love for others in word and deed.  (1 John 3: 18)  The call is to “give our lives” or to “lay down our lives”, in the same way that Jesus laid down his life for us.  The emphasis is on meeting another’s needs, whether physical, such as food and clothing or shelter, or mental, such as words of encouragement and support, or spiritual, such as through teaching and guidance.  How far or how much we are called to give depends on our abilities and the circumstances.  But not to act when such a need arises, says John, is like closing your heart against the person in need, and if we act in this way, our claim to love God is false.  (1 John 4: 17) 

  God doesn’t call us to force a change in someone’s life or circumstances, God calls us to pray that He will bring about a change in someone’s heart.

  God has already achieved His victory in His ‘Holy War’ against sin and Satan.  If so, there can be no grounds for anyone making another call for such a ‘Holy War’, as does Patriarch Kirill. 

  I have previously made reference to this quote from Alan Cole in his Commentary on Mark’s Gospel, “for Scripture and History plainly reveal that the wrath of Humans fails to accomplish the Will of God.  (Alan Cole in Mark p221 to 223)  Why, then, does Patriarch Kirill proclaim that God seeks to use the wrath of Humans to accomplish His will?

  Our priority is not on Earthly Kingdoms, but the furthering of the Kingdom of God, as Jesus directed the Apostles.  (Luke 24: 47)  How, then, could the furthering of an Earthly Kingdom through violent means for territorial gain or racial pride further the Kingdom of God?

  Does not our call to respond to God’s love for us by actively expressing this love for others

through word and deed contradict any call to initiate acts of hatred against others on the basis of seeking to achieve political or military goals?  Does not the very fact of initiating acts of hatred against others and not acts of love, as is the proclamation by Patriarch Kirill, indicate that one has closed their heart against the person in need, and if acting in this way, proves that their claim to love God is false.  (1 John 4: 17)

  God doesn’t call us to force a change in someone’s life or circumstances through violent acts, as is the call by Patriarch Kirill, God calls us to pray that He will bring about a change in someone’s heart.

  We have heard the account from the Newsagency, Al Jazeera, that Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in the past has promised eternal salvation to Russian soldiers fighting against the ‘corrupting’ influence of the West.  The Russian Orthodox Church declares ‘holy war’ against Ukraine and the West (msn.com)  But we have read the words of the Apostle Peter, (that) the only way for Salvation is to be found through Jesus Christ alone; (that) in all the World there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”  (Acts 4: 12)  Nowhere in the promise of Patriarch Kirill to the Russian soldiers is there any mention of the need for them to proclaim their faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ.  As such, not only is the promise by Patriarch Kirill of eternal salvation to soldiers baseless, but he is falsely taking upon himself the role of God in determining who and how someone is granted citizenship of the Kingdom of God.

  Both Peter and Paul warn those who read their Letters of the dangers of listening to false teachers who preach a different Gospel to the one taught by the New Testament writers.  By proclaiming such false teaching, these false teachers have condemned themselves before God.  (Galatians 2: 9, 2 Peter 2: 1)  I would contend that Patriarch Kirill is proclaiming just such false teaching, and is dangerously misleading those in the Russian Church.  As such, we must consider that his proclamation is not founded in any way upon truth or justice or love. 

  We live in a sad and ‘darkening’ World.  As such we are encouraged to hold onto the assurance contained in the words of Psalm 46:

“God is our shelter and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”  (Psalm 46: 1) 

  Artur Weiser writes of the strength, the courage, and the joy that is ours which springs from a trust in Almighty God”  (Artur Weiser in The Psalms p367)  Thomas Pittaway writes of the comfort of knowing that God is with us, “not afar, not above the battle, but amidst the strife with us; not standing on the beach, high from the spray, but in the wash and surf of every storm that we face, breasting the waves with us, and we with Him.”  (Thomas Pittaway in Meditations in the Psalms p36)  May we have this trust and assurance in Almighty God as we face our own storms in life.  May we trust in the love of God to sustain us, come what may.  Hymn

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘God is our strength and refuge’  (TiS28)

 [This is a very recent YouTube recording, appropriately enough, recorded to celebrate VE Day 2020.  Because of Covid-19 restrictions at the time, it is a ‘virtual recording’.]

Verse 1 of 3

God is our strength and refuge,

Our present help in trouble;

And we therefore will not fear,

Though the Earth should change,

Though mountains shake and tremble,

Though swirling waters are raging:

God the Lord of Hosts is with us evermore.

Verse 2 of 3

There is a flowing river

Within God’s holy city;

God is in the midst of her,

She shall not be moved.

God’s help is swiftly given,

Thrones vanish at His presence;

God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore.

Verse 3 of 3

Come, see the works of our Maker,

Learn of His deeds all-powerful:

Wars will cease across the World

When He shatters the spear.

Be still and know your Creator,

Uplift Him in the Nations;

God the Lord of Hosts is with us evermore.

Richard Bewes

Offering

Offering Prayer    

“For the life that you have given”  TiS774 

[This hymn is being sung to the tune Austria – there is no introduction.]

[This YouTube is for another hymn so disregard the words – only the one verse is needed.]

For the life that you have given,

For the love in Christ made known,

With these fruits of time and labour,

With these gifts that are your own:

Here we offer, Lord, our praises;

Heart and mind and strength we bring;

Give us grace to love and serve you,

Living what we pray and sing.

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Prayers for Others

Almighty God, we bring to you our thanks today for the peace and security that we enjoy, which was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their service and their lives in time of war. 

Make us good stewards of the freedom that they won.  We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit of sacrifice and giving may live on in us and in generations to come. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who suffer from the effects of war; the loss of home or livelihood, the loss of friends and loved ones, the loss of happiness or security, those crippled or maimed in body as well as in mind and spirit, those who suffer nightmares that years of peace cannot erase.  

Comfort their hearts and grant them your peace and healing. 

We pray for those who are bitter about their loss and suffering, and who find it difficult to forgive those who have wronged them. 

Heal their hearts and uphold them in your grace. 

We pray for the homeless and the refugees; those who have been dispossessed, those families whose lives have been disrupted. 

Grant them the means to start anew, provide stability for them with new homes and new communities and new jobs. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, in whose hands are the destinies of this and every nation, we pray for justice for those who have been wronged by the violent actions of armed forces, for those who have suffered loss and have experienced oppression at the hands of other peoples and Nations intent on undertaking violent armed acts of hatred over racial, tribal or ethnic differences, or for personal glory or political gain, or out of envy or greed, or who make war in revenge for long-held grievances. 

Convict the mind and conscience of those who instigate and prolong wars and armed conflicts of the error of their choices and acts. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for all who serve in the defence forces of this land.  

Give them courage and comfort in danger, patience in waiting, and discipline in the just use of force, so as to counter acts of hatred and oppression upon the innocent and defenceless. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

In this troubled world we pray for peace.  May we be inspired by the determination of those who have served in the fight for freedom, justice and peace. 

Give your Spirit of peace to all people and remove from them the spirit that makes for war, that all may live as members of your family. 

Prosper the work of those who preserve human rights, promote the pursuit of those who

work for reconciliation and justice, and direct us into the ways of understanding, reconciliation, and respect.  

May we learn to break down fear and ignorance, and to build up cooperation and harmony amongst peoples everywhere. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray for aid agencies and their workers in conflict zones,

protect them from harm and bless their work among the needy. 

We pray for the members of peacekeeping forces working under the direction of The United Nations, seeking to bring enemies together for an end to wars, seeking to work to resolve conflict without violence,

protect them from harm and sustain their efforts towards promoting peace. 

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we remember with thanksgiving those who made the supreme sacrifice for us in time or war.  We pray that the offering of their lives may not have been in vain. 

Deliver us from the bonds of hatred against those who are hostile towards us, give us the strength to discard the power of revenge. 

Save us from valuing our national identity more highly than our shared Humanity. 

May your grace enable us this day to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world, for the honour and glory of your Name. 

Lord, hear us.

Lord, hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘We have heard the joyful sound’  (Alexander’s Hymns No. 3 number 409)

Priscilla Owens

Benediction    

As you leave this place let us not glorify war with its horrors and tragedies, but let us remember those who you have never meet, but who sacrificed everything for freedom, justice and humanity.  Whoever you meet, wherever you travel in this dark world around us, speak words of God’s love and peace.  As pilgrims of reconciliation on the way to the promised end, may those who sacrificed so much for neighbours and for strangers, be our example.  May you be instruments of Christ, to work for him and to bear witness to him.  

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Benediction Song

“May the grace of Christ our Saviour”  TiS777

Verse 1 of 2

May the grace of Christ our Saviour,

And the Father’s boundless love,

With the Holy Spirit’s favour,

Rest upon us from above.

Verse 2 of 2

Thus may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord,

And possess in sweet communion

Joys which Earth cannot afford.

John Newton