LET US PRAY
Prayer For Remembrance Day 11th November
We pray, remember and reflect on the courage of those who fought for our freedom. For the service men and women who have died in the violence of war, each one remembered; may God give peace.
For those who love them in death as in life, offering the distress of grief and the sadness of loss; may God give peace.
For all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering family, friends and all who pray for their safe return; may God give peace.
For civilian women, children and men whose lives are harmed by war or terror, calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds of humanity; may God give peace.
For peacemakers and peacekeepers, who seek to keep this world secure and free; may God give peace.
For all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership, political, military and religious; asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve in the search for reconciliation and peace; may God give peace.
O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know, who lost their lives in conflict throughout our history. We recognize the ongoing war and violence that continues to plague humanity in many places. We pray for peace, which those we remember fought valiantly to achieve. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever. In Your name we pray. Amen.
Scripture
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 15:12-17
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Context of What is Remembrance Day
At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month each year we remember the moment in 1918 when World War I came to an end and the guns on the Western front fell silent after more than four years of war and millions of deaths. On this day every year, we are invited to remember, and never forget. We are called to pause, and to take a minute’s silence to remember the terrible power and price of war, and those places where Australians have been casualties of war and conflict. On Remembrance Day, we remember Australian men and women who have served in war and peacekeeping activities. Remembrance Day does not glorify war – it honours the memory of all those who laid down their lives for Australia. As a mark of respect to those who have served, we stop to observe one minute’s silence. This year will mark the 105th anniversary of the Armistice, which ended the First World War. One thing we can do for the people who fought for our country, is to continue the tradition of remembering them. On this one annual day of Remembrance, just for one minute, let us consider in silence what we are called to be, for a better world and for each other.
Mrs Barone
