Remembrance Sunday

 The link for this week's streamed worship is  here 

Remembrance Sunday and All Saints Sunday coincided this year. At SPPC we began the service with the Act of Remembrance, laying the wreath, sing the national anthem. Compared to services at the cenotaph it is a small commemoration, but at least we were able to be there in person.

This Remembrance Day, Thursday, the community service will take place at the cenotaph in Sidney but attendance by the general public is discouraged, due to concerns about COVID 19.  However, it will be filmed and my be watched on Mary Winspear video feed. At the time of writing, there was no direct link to the service on the their website, but here is their youtube link.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlAI0v2LVBmsx7vwgDrvUg

  

 Year after year, as our World War veterans age and pass away the pledge of "at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them," takes on a special poignancy. 

    The line is taken from the poem, "For The Fallen" by Laurence Binyon. Written at the end of the Great War, 1914-1918, and born of his experience as a worker in a field hospital, it is a heartfelt tribute to lost friends. 

    No doubt Binyon believed this "war to end all wars" would free future generations from the sorrow of armed conflict. Sadly, history has proved that premise false. Men and women in uniform continue to sacrifice their lives in the name of humanity. For Canada, those who died in the war in Afghanistan are the latest addition to our memorials. As citizens of a free country we should never take that sacrifice lightly.

    Powerful as Binyon's poem is, we also have the authority of scripture to guide and comfort us.

John 15:13 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

Matthew 5:4 

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

While we honour those who have sacrificed for home and country, for family and friends, and for peace, we must not forget that Christ, our Redeemer, paid the ultimate price for the whole world. 

John 3:16

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.