Patrick Comerford
Next Sunday, 10 November 2019, is the Third Sunday before Advent. But the Church of Ireland Directory notes that ‘Remembrance Sunday may be observed.’
This posting looks at the readings and liturgical resources for Sunday 10 November as Remembrance Sunday. A separate posting this morning looks at the readings and liturgical resources for next Sunday as the Third Sunday before Advent.
Remembrance Day this years has an added poignancy in its commemorations as 2019 marks the eightieth anniversary of the outbreak of World War II, the 75th anniversary of D-Day, and the centenary of the official end of World War I with the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty in 1919.
In this ‘Decade of Centenaries,’ the Church of Ireland has produced many resources for use in churches and parishes.
These resources have included services for the 1916 Commemorations, with a Service of the Word for a commemoration of the Easter Rising, PDF, and a Service of Commemoration of the Easter Rising 1916 PDF.
The resources for World War I commemorations include a Service of the Word for the Remembrance of World War I in a local church, for which I wrote the introduction, and available as an MS Word doc or PDF, a Commemoration of the Battle of the Somme for Local Use, PDF, and a Service to mark the end of World War I in a local church, available as PDF or in MS Word.
The Readings:
The Church of Ireland Directory for Sunday 10 November 2019 says:
Remembrance Sunday may be observed using the following readings:
Isaiah 2: 1-5 or Isaiah 10: 33 to 11: 9 or Ezekiel 37: 1-14.
Psalm 4 or Psalm 47 or Psalm 93 or Psalm 126 or Psalm 130.
Romans 8: 31-39 or Revelation 1: 1-7.
Matthew 5: 1-12 or John 15: 9-17.
Any combination of the above Remembrance Sunday readings may be used.
Service of the Word for the Remembrance of World War I:
Preparation
Greeting
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God.
or We meet in the presence of God
who knows our needs,
hears our cries,
feels our pain,
and heals our wounds.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Sentences of Scripture
God is our refuge and strength;
a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46: 1
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
from whence will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121: 1-2
This I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:
the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning. Lamentations 3: 21-23
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 31
What does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6: 8
Hymn
Bidding
Brothers and Sisters,
as we continue to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the first world war,
we come together to offer to almighty God
our worship and praise and thanksgiving
to draw near to the throne of God
in penitence and humility;
to hear his proclamation of justice and righteousness
to remember those who participated
in the war from our parish/town.
to pray for all those who continue to serve
in our armed/defence forces.
And to pray that in the power of his spirit
we may serve him in the pursuit of his heavenly realm.
Or
Almighty God,
you call us into a common fellowship
of solidarity and love;
draw near to us as we commemorate
those who died in the First World War.
As we reflect on their sacrifice and the horrors of conflict,
may you move us to always work for peace
and justice in our broken world;
this we ask through the Prince of Peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Penitence
The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,
and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith.
Lord God,
you sent your Son to reconcile us to yourself
and to one another.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus,
you heal the wounds of sin and division.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Holy Spirit,
through you we put to death the sins of the body – and live.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Or
For boundless love of self,
and for failing to walk with humility and gentleness:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For longing to have what is not ours,
and for hearts that are not at rest with ourselves:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For misuse of human relationships,
and for unwillingness to see the image of God in others:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For jealousies that divide families and nations,
and for rivalries that create strife and warfare:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For inequity in sharing the gifts of God,
and for carelessness with the fruits of creation:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For hurtful words that condemn and angry deeds that harm:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
For idleness in witnessing to Jesus Christ,
and for squandering the gifts of love and grace:
Lord in your mercy
Forgive our sin
The priest pronounces this absolution.
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
Have mercy on you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Beatitudes (BCP pages 223-224) may also be used
Act of Commemoration
The Names inscribed on the memorial may be audibly read aloud.
Those wishing to do so come forward to lay wreaths, light candles, or offer other symbols of remembrance and hope, such as single flowers or crosses.
This may take place at this point or following the Ministry of the Word.
The Silence
Prayer
Ministry of the Word
Psalm
Hymn
First Reading
Hymn
Second Reading
The Sermon
Responding
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of the Church.
We believe in God the Father,
who made the world.
We believe in Jesus Christ, his Son,
who redeemed humankind.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God.
Or
Let us declare our faith in God:
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Apostles Creed may also be used.
Prayers of Intercession
Almighty God, Father of Heaven and Earth:
In remembering those who endured the First World War,
we give you thanks for that conflict’s conclusion;
grant that in our memories and reflections,
we may better learn the way of peace and of compassion in our own lives.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord of the Church,
we remember the responsibility we have as the body of Christ,
to pray for peace,
to bring forth your word
and to see swords beaten into ploughshares:
especially, we pray for chaplains who minister to the members of our armed/defence forces;
grant them discernment, perseverance and protection.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord of all Creation,
as your son faced he violence of his own death,
yet cried ‘Father, forgive!’
so we pray for hearts of forgiveness in your world.
Where nation will rise against nation,
people against people,
we pray that peace might prevail.
Bless the leaders of the world with clarity of vision
to speak peace into situations of conflict.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord of compassion,
we give thanks for the women and men
who risked their lives
for the sake of others during the First World War:
especially, we remember those doctors and nurses who served on the Front Lines.
Grant your blessing to those
who serve in the theatre of war today,
whether in combat, in logistical support or medical care.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord of eternity,
you knit together your elect
in the Communion of all your saints;
we remember with gratitude
the fallen of the First World War
and of conflicts since.
We thank you for the promise in your word,
that even death cannot separate us
from your love found in Christ Jesus.
Grant that we may live lives
worthy of this truth as we recall those
who laid down their lives for the benefit of others.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Almighty God, Father of Heaven and Earth,
hear the prayers which we ask in faith
for the sake of your Son, who conquered death
and stood victorious as the Prince of Peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Or
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
We pray for the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of freedom, justice and truth.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for those who bear arms on behalf of the nation,
that we may have discipline and discernment,
courage and compassion.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for our enemies, and those who wish us harm,
that you will turn the hearts of all
to kindness and friendship.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
We pray for the wounded and the captive,
the grieving and the homeless,
that in all their trials they may know your love and support.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.
Most holy God and Father,
hear our prayers for all who strive for peace
and all who fight for justice.
Help us, who today remember the cost of war,
to work for a better tomorrow;
and, as we commend to you lives lost in terror and conflict,
bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathering up all our prayer and praise into one, as our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father...
The Peace
Let us pray that we may be instruments of your peace …
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is discord, union;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that we may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as 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.
Jesus said: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.’ (John 14: 27)
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
and also with you.
It is appropriate that the congregation share with one another a sign of peace
Going Out As God’s People
Hymn
[The National Anthem may be sung]
Act of Commitment
Let us commit ourselves to responsible
living and faithful service.
Will you strive for all that makes for peace?
We will
Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?
We will
Will you work for a just future for all humanity?
We will
Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in
us that have not yet been cast out by love:
May we accept the hope you have placed
in the hearts of all people,
And live lives of justice, courage and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our risen Redeemer. Amen
Blessing
God grant to the living, grace
to the departed, rest,
to the Church and to the nations, peace and concord;
and the blessing...
Dismissal
Neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God.
Thanks be to God. Amen
Or
Go in peace. Love one another as Christ has loved us.
Thanks be to God.
Additional Collects
For Commitment to Reconciliation
Almighty God
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
you call your people into
a common fellowship of peace and love;
grant that we may always seek
reconciliation and forgiveness,
in our own relationships, in the life of our country,
and amongst the family of nations across the world:
May we never fall silent in the face of injustice,
always seek wholeness where there is division,
and continually proclaim the gospel of unconditional love,
given to us in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.
For Peace in a Broken World
Lord God our Creator,
your Son Jesus Christ prayed
that his disciples might have abundant life;
we gather to bring before you those whose lives
are scarred by the evils of hatred, violence and genocide,
by our inhumanity one to another.
Through the mystery of Christ’s suffering
transform our brokenness and disunity
into a new a lasting wholeness and peace:
we ask this through him who suffered, died and rose again,
even Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Forgiveness
Loving God,
you made us in your own image
and set us in the midst of your creation;
move us to repentance for our marring of that image
and the destruction of your creation
by our sins of greed and hatred, injustice and warfare;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Selecting the Hymns.
I have used these hymns on Remembrance Sunday in the past:
62, Abide with me, by Henry Francis Lyte.
647, Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, by William Williams.
666, Be still, my soul, to a well-known tune by Katherina von Schlegel, translated by Jane Laurie Borthwick (tune Finlandia by Sibelius).
81, Lord for the years by Timothy Dudley-Smith.
522, In Christ there is no east or west, by John Oxenham (William Arthur Dunkerley).
537, O God, our help in ages past, by Isaac Watts and revised by John Wesley.
509, Your kingdom come O God, by Lewis Hensley.
549, Be still my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
494, Beauty for brokenness.
In Sing to the Word (2000), Bishop Edward Darling suggests these hymns are also suitable for Remembrance Sunday observance:
502, God! As with silent hearts we bring to mind
535, Judge eternal, throned in splendour
538, O Lord, the clouds are gathering
527, Son of God, eternal Saviour
One hymn not included in the Church Hymnal is ‘I Vow to Thee, My Country,’ based on a poem by Cecil Spring Rice, who had deep family roots in Co Limerick.
Some additional prayers and Liturgical Resources, including the Collect and Post-Communion Prayer:
Collect:
Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things
in your beloved Son, the king of all:
Govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Post-Communion Prayer:
God of peace,
whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom
and restored the broken to wholeness of life:
Look with compassion on the anguish of the world,
and by your healing power
make whole both people and nations;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Act of Remembrance:
They shall not grow old,
as we that 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.
We will remember them.
Silence is kept
When you go home
tell them of us and say,
for your tomorrow
we gave our today.
The Act of Commitment:
Let us commit ourselves to responsible living and service.
Will you strive for all that makes for peace?
We will.
Will you seek to heal the wounds of war?
We will.
Will you work for a just future for all humanity?
We will.
Merciful God, we offer to you the fears in us
that have not yet been cast out by love:
may we accept the hope you have placed
in the hearts of all people,
and live lives of justice, courage and mercy;
through Jesus Christ our risen redeemer. Amen.
The Litany of Reconciliation (Coventry Cathedral):
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Father Forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
Father Forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Father Forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
Father Forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
Father Forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
Father Forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Father Forgive.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Some additional prayers:
May God grant to the living Grace,
to the departed Rest,
to the Church and the world peace and concord,
and to all us sinners Eternal Life, Amen.
Additional photographs:
This resource is illustrated with appropriate photographs that may be used on service sheets and parish notices. These additional photographs are also suitable for use.
However, please note when using the photographs, that for copyright reasons they must be credited to Patrick Comerford. This is especially important if you decide to use them on a parish Facebook page or website.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
Material from the Book of Common Prayer is copyright © 2004, Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.
The hymn suggestions are provided in Sing to the Word (2000), edited by Bishop Edward Darling. The hymn numbers refer to the Church of Ireland’s Church Hymnal (5th edition, Oxford: OUP, 2000).
For resources for Sunday 10 November 2019 as the Third Sunday before Advent, follow the link HERE.
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