In between Harvest and Advent we have a number of services all around the act of Remembrance: whether that’s remembering personally those that we have loved and lost over the years, or nationally, as we collectively remember those whose lives were lost in wars in the past, but also those whose lives are affected by wars of the present.
We started this season with our Wave of Light, Baby Loss Service. It was the first time that we had done this service, and it won’t be our last. It was a service marked by simplicity, as we gathered to mark the loss of too many lives lost too soon.
This was then followed by our Memorial Service; An opportunity to remember those whom we have loved and lost over the years. We read out names and lit a candle in memory of people whom regardless of how long ago they died, still leave a indentation in our lives.
Finally, we came to our Remembrance Sunday Service today. Here we took our gaze beyond those whom we know, to remember lives given in wars both in the past, and also around the world today. It was wonderful to be join by Edward Moorhouse who played the Last Post and Reveille with poignancy and skill, and equally wonderful to be joined by our uniformed groups as well – they did themselves very, very proud! Our Junior Church went and explored the theme of Remembrance with activities led by Dee and Nick – it’s always wonderful to see how thoughtful our young people are, as well as how creative!
All this was brought to an end with sausage and bacon sandwiches – just what we needed as the heaven opened and the rain began again!