November Message

NOVEMBER MESSAGE

A Time to Remember

On Sun 9th NOV or Tue 11th NOV there will be acts of remembrance at our war memorials and/or services in some of our churches to remember people from our villages who lost their lives in past wars. Full details of the times of these events can be found on the page about Events coming up.

As we remember those who died in former conflicts we also turn our thoughts to places in our world where people’s daily lives are lived in fear and great hardship because of ongoing wars in those areas. This time last year I mentioned the conflicts in Ukraine and in the Middle East. As I write this there is encouraging news about a possible cease fire in Gaza. We pray that further progress might be made with the peace process by the time that you receive this magazine. News about the war between Russia and Ukraine is less good but we continue to pray for the situation there as well.

Make me a channel of your peace,

Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;

Where there is darkness, only light;

And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

(Sebatian Temple © 1967 OCP Publications)

O God of all hope and peace, we bring to you the needs of our broken and hurting world. Our hearts are breaking with images of lives lost and torn apart by grief in Israel and Palestine. We pray for an end to violence and warfare so that the challenging work of rebuilding may begin. Help us, O Lord, to affirm our common humanity so that in our differences we may build together for justice and peace through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Brian Turner … Churchwarden St Mary’s Knockin.

(The words in the prayer were taken from Church of England website)