Welcome
Remembrance
Every year at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, our country observes a two-minute silence remembering and honouring those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. I wonder how many of us still remember to stop amongst our busy lives and take this moment to reflect? Growing up, I recall the time when busses and cars stopped at this moment each year. Of course, with so much more traffic this would not be practical today. However, with the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ Day earlier this year maybe more of us will pause afresh on Remembrance Sunday, November 9th.
A Service will be held in each of our churches when silence will be kept. This time of quiet is not just about those who perished in the two World Wars but also the more than 7,000 British Service personnel killed since 1945.
One of the themes in the Bible is the importance of remembrance. There is so much strength in remembering God’s goodness; something the Bible frequently draws to our attention. The times when we feel tired, weak, anxious, fearful or when we have challenges to face are the times to remember God’s graciousness to us. Equally, when we are rejoicing or appreciating the beauty of nature around us are the times to acknowledge God’s enduring love. His Son, Jesus, also invites us to remember who He is and what he did for us.
There is so much loss in forgetting, whether the fallen of two World Wars and many other conflicts or the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and me.
Steve Beynon
