Loving God,
Let our hearts be full of the memories of friends, comrades and countrymen
who served and continue to serve under arms in wars fought for freedom.
We remember those who fell in battle and those who offered their bodies,
hearts and energies in fighting for a better world.

We ask Lord that you would grace us with your presence,
that you would help us in our pain
and that you would hear our prayers and have regard for our thoughts on Armistice Day.
Bless us and bless all those who have given the best of themselves for our country.
In Jesus name.
Amen

Dear Friends

November, the month of remembering - although it seems to me that the “remember, remember the fifth” bit is somewhat diminished. Due to safety restrictions and the fact that fireworks are now frequently heard going off any Saturday night, this once highlight of the year for some of us, has become something very organised and perhaps more remote.

Our son, Paul, used to love the 5th of November. When he was old enough, supplies were bought, friends were mustered and we were all marshalled into the playing fields opposite the old Manse to watch the proceedings. But of course it is never like the closing ceremony of the Olympics is it? Occasionally you would be fortunate enough to get a rocket which went spectacularly sky-ward and exploded in a burst of colourful spray. But most of the time what you heard were those immortal words, “is that it?”

But of course we know that remembering and November is not all about fireworks, for it is also that time for reflecting on the casualties of past battles and current warfare in our world. With a flourish of flags and a haunting lament on the pipes we will pause for a moment’s silence in memory of those who have given their lives on the battlefields.

“Is that it?” Surely not!

For if this remembering of the past is to mean anything to us, then it should change our future. If in our remembering we lament the loss of life in battle, then surely our aim should be to do things differently in the future, not to mention examine our sometimes lamentable care of those who have survived the battle.

It had been the hope of the Inverurie and District Churches Together to hold an ecumenical act of worship in the Town Hall on Remembrance Sunday this year. Sadly this is not going to happen and once again an opportunity to do things together has been lost. It is perhaps worth noting that the opposite of re-member is dis-member and is it not when we learn to work and worship together in the Church that we are more able to demonstrate to the world not only how to value the past and lament the battlefield, but also celebrate the vineyard.

With best wishes
Ian B Groves