November is our month of Remembrance, a time when we gather to remember people known personally to and nationally those who have given their lives to the freedom and well-being of others.
We started off with our Baby Loss Service and created a space to remember those babies who had been loved and lost far too soon.
Held in our Lady Chapel it was a gentle, calm space with some prayers, music and lots of space to remember – a poignant and special time. We then moved into our Memorial Service – gathering to remember those who we have loved and lost over the years, reflecting on the words ‘I miss you’ and the implications that has on so many parts of our life and identity. Then, joined again by Ted Moorhouse on the trumpet, and supported by our Uniformed Groups we gathered for our annual Remembrance Service where we remembered those who served in our armed forces over the years. The current conflicts around the world were a sobering reminder of how relevant this service is to us today.
This month’s newsletter is full of all the special services and events that we’ve got planned over the next few weeks. Amid the beauty, excitement and joy, we are mindful of those for whom this season present challenges and conflicting emotions. So, within the church is our Blue Christmas Tree – it’s a tree where
you can write down your prayers, or the names of those you are missing on it. Those names will stay on the tree until we take it down, and then all the cards will be kept until Easter when they are put on the Easter Bonfire – a symbol of our hope in Christ and the belief that one day all things will be renewed. So please do come and add the names of those whom you are missing and any other prayers.