Music as the Community Gathers – Sam Hirst
Words of Welcome & Announcements
The National Anthem – O Canada
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
Invitation to Worship
We have gathered here this morning to worship God who is known to us as Kind Creator, Compassionate Friend, Ever-Present Spirit. We have gathered to remember all those of our community who gave of their lives in the armed forces of Canada in past wars. We have gathered to give thanks for the freedoms won for us through blood and valor. As we worship today we renew our commitment to live in such a way that such sacrifices may never again be required. “Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget.”
Opening Prayer
Gracious and Loving God, where hearts are fearful and confined, grant freedom and daring. Where anxiety is infection and widening, grant peace and reassurance. Where impossibilities close every door and window, grant imagination and resistance. Where distrust reshapes every understanding, grant healing and transformation. Where spirits are daunted and dimmed, grant soaring wings and strengthened dreams. So may we go from this place when our worship ends, empowered by your Spirit, to love the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Opening Hymn VU#527 “God, As with Silent Hearts”
1. God! As with silent hearts we bring to mind how hate and war diminish human kind, we pause, and seek in worship to increase our knowledge of the things that make for peace.
2. Hallow our will as humbly we recall the lives of those who gave and give their all. We thank you, God, for women, children, men who seek to serve in love, today as then.
3. Give us deep faith to comfort those who mourn, high hope to share with all the newly born, strong love in our pursuit of human worth: ”lest we forget” the future of this earth.
4. So, Prince of Peace, disarm our trust in power, teach us to coax the plant of peace to flower. May we, impassioned by your living Word, remember forward to a world restored.
Bible Reading – Micah 4.1-4
In the days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that we may be instructed in the ways of the Holy One – walking in the way of peace.”
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Holy One from Jerusalem.
Judgements will be given between the peoples, arbitration between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into plough shares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; but they shall sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Holy One has spoken.
“Although We do not Remember; We Must Never Forget”
In Flanders fields the poppies blow; Between the crosses, row on row – That mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly – Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead, short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow. Loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders’ fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: to you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders’ fields.
These familiar words are from the pen of Col. John McCrae. He was serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War One. McCrae was a Physician, as well as being a gifted artist and poet. He served as a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres, in Belgium. On January 28, 1918 – perhaps as a result of the horrendous conditions endured by the troops in the trenches of Europe – John McCrae succumbed to Pneumonia. He was 45 – a generation older than many of the boys whose wounds he was attending.
On Armistice Day – which became Remembrance Day in 1931 – Canadians have gathered at War Memorials 
at the centre of communities – to solemnly recall the sacrifices made.
School children learned and memorized this famous poem – almost always read or recited as part of Remembrance Day observances.
This year will be different. Although many folk may choose to drop by the Cenotaph at some time during the day on Wednesday – the Royal Canadian Legion is asking that people not gather for the usual 11:00 am Lay of Wreaths and Act of Remembrance. COVID-19, this deadly virus, could take advantage of large gatherings and infect many more people.
WE are all fortunate that we have lived through a period of 75 years since the whole world was embroiled in War. Canada was at war again in Korea, and very recently in Afghanistan – where 159 young Canadian men and women lost their lives. Canadian troops also served in 37 separate Peace Keeping missions with the United Nations all around the world.
Many of us who are gathered here this morning have had dear ones who served – some of those dear ones paid the supreme sacrifice. The names of our veterans of World War I and II are on the wall of the sanctuary. It is truly astounding to realize that so many served from this small township, village and county.
We must never forget the sacrifices that were made on our behalf – to allow us to live with rights and freedoms guaranteed.
It is likely that Col. John McCrae had a clear idea, in his mind, of who was the “foe” – when he wrote that his readers were to take up the quarrel – holding high the torch. Be-that-as-it-may, it seems to me that our quarrel now is not, as St. Paul said, with flesh and blood – but with principalities and powers. The enemies we are called upon to fight are the conditions of injustice, racism, misogyny, homophobia, dehumanization, hatred and greed that diminish people and whole communities and even nations – and that threaten to destroy our very planet.
May God help us to take to heart and to live with purpose the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi – that the vision of the Prophet Micah might become a reality – a vision of peace built on justice. God grant us the courage so to live. May it be so. Amen.
Acknowledgement of Gifts, Tithes & Offerings
The Prayer of St. Francis
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is injury, let me bring pardon. Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, and to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”
Parting Hymn VU#526 “Weep For the Dead”
1. Weep for the dead. Let tears and silence tell of blood and battle, horror and renown. The years diminish, but do not dispel the pain of lives destroyed, and life laid down.
2. Silent the dead. Remembering we stand, silent as they, for words cannot esteem, causes of war, the love of native land, all that they were, and all they might have been.
3. Summoned by love that leaves no room for pride, we pray that every continent and isle, wounded by war, war’s hate may lay aside, and find a way to heal and reconcile.
4. Weep for the dead, from all the ills of earth. Stand by the cross that bids all hatred cease. March to the drum of dignity and worth. Salute the King of Love, the Prince of Peace
The Act of Remembrance: Trumpeter – Robin Everhardus
Commissioning & Blessing
Extinguishing the Candles
The Royal Anthem – God Save the Queen
Music as We Move into the World – Sam Hirst
All illustrations, Photos, links used on this website are property of their respective owners[/column]
