When a young boy, my family subscribed to a weekly comic which routinely told ‘war stories’. These were daring tales of soldiers and sailors who overcame mountainous odds, defeated enemies, and often won medals. This stirred the hearts of young lads. As the years rolled by, I noticed that the stories became more varied. We heard about spies, or radio operators, or scientists – all of whom eventually contributed to victory in the Second World War.
And, more years further on, we now hear tales of the Women’s Land Army, or the Lumberjills (as the Women’s Timber Corps were affectionately known). There were plenty of others who contributed their part to the war effort, many of whom stayed at home and undertook mundane ordinary tasks which were vital to keep the country alive and flourishing. In this week of Remembrance Sunday, all these people deserve to be remembered. Of course, we must recall those who made the final sacrifice. Yet they were not alone. Many made a “living sacrifice” as Paul names it in Romans 12: “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
In addition, it is right that we remember those who have opposed injustice through their peaceful objection. Think of Rosa Parks who in 1950s Alabama courageously stood firm (or should it be “sat firm”?!), against racial prejudice. And here in the 1960s, there was the determined brave efforts of those involved in the Bristol Bus Boycott. There are many forms of evil in this world, each of which demands a different type of resistance. We may not personally be able to address each one of this world’s troubles; but we can choose what our particular contribution can be, to advance God’s kingdom. When we remember, we honour those who made for us the possibility of a better today. We honour the past partly by choosing well today. As the Kohima Epitaph says:
When you go home
Tell them of us and say:
For your tomorrow
We gave our today
Sunday 10th November – Remembrance Sunday
08.00am – Holy Communion, All Saints
10:00am – Remembrance Sunday Holy Communion followed by civic act of remembrance in Fishponds Park, St Mary’s
10:45am – All Age Remembrance Service with Scouting Groups – All Saints
7.15pm – Generations Youth Group, All Saints
The Week Ahead
Tues 12th Nov
10:30am – Music for Toddlers, St Mary’s Parish Room
Weds 13th Nov
09:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thursday 14th Nov
10:00am Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
Friday 15th Nov
11:00am – Living after Loss – Bereavement Group
Saturday 16th Nov
12.00 – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches, St Mary’s
Sunday 17th Nov
10:00am Sung Holy Communion with Baptism, St Mary’s
10:30am Holy Communion with Hymns, All Saints
Best wishes
Bob
St Mary's, Fishponds 