Remembrance Service

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The Irish Adventure of Richard Kukura and Tommy Hulme and the fate of their Beaufighter JL710

St Mogue's Island Ecumenical Remembrance Service

Welcome – Councillor Peter McVitty

First reading (Jn 15: 9-14)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
Reflection on reading – Canon Tom Murray
Psalm 107: 1-9
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
His love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say this;
Those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
Those he gathered from the lands;
From east and west, from north and south.
Some wandered in desert wastelands;
Finding no way to a city where they could settle.
They were hungry and thirsty;
And their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
And he delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way;
To a city where they could settle.
Let them give to the Lord for his unfailing love;
And his wonderful deeds for men.
For he satisfies the thirsty;
And fills the hungry with good things.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning,g is now, and shall be for ever. Amen

Second reading (Luke 10: 25-37)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered: “Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and, Love your neighbour as yourself.”
“You have answered correctly.” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robber?”
The expert in the Law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
Reflection on reading – Revd Geoff Wilson

The Prayers – Oliver Brady & Isabel Rofé
Loving Father, we live in a war-torn world which knows much hurt, anger, pain and hatred. We pray for those parts of the world where blood is shed at this time because of differences which Jesus came to reconcile. May the love of Christ break into those places and replace darkness with the light of His love. In Jesus name we pray. Amen
And we pray for those parts of our own hearts which still harbour wicked thoughts which cause us to put up obstacles within our communities rather than build bridges. Help us to tear down those strongholds, through the power of your Holy Spirit and to build relationships with one another modelled on the love of your Son Jesus. And we pray this in His name. Amen

We give you thanks Father, for those who have served their countries throughout the world down through the ages. We give you thanks that people were prepared to lay down their lives so that we might experience freedom from the tyranny of oppressive regimes. May we never forget the sacrifice they made on our behalf and may we learn from their example. In Jesus name we pray. Amen

And we give you heartfelt thanks Father for the Good Samaritans in our community who saw the need of those airmen in 1943. Help us to be more like them as we too see the need of our neighbours before we see the things which separate us from them. Jesus told this parable for us today and we pray that we might live it out in our lives and communities for his sake. And we pray this in His name. Amen

Lord’s Prayer & The Grace – All

Closing remarks – Councillor Sean Smith