THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Alan Johnston (LLM)Remembrance, Sacrifice and FreedomThere are probably two periods of the year which truly make you think. The first is Easter and probably the second is the week which has just ended. A week that involves both Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day. Both periods possibly contain many of the same thoughts and help us to reflect on understanding what has been done for us. Remembrance Sunday is a time for collective reflection on all those individuals who gave their lives to provide us with the freedoms we have. It was fantastic to see so many, young and less young, stood around the war memorial last Sunday.It is difficult for many of us to really appreciate the horror of war, even though in my lifetime I can remember the Falklands, the two Iraq wars and Afghanistan. At the same time we are also fully aware through TV and the media of the wars around the world, we only need to think at this time about Gaza and Ukraine, but we can also think of previous conflicts in Syria and the Balkans to name just a couple. In all these wars there is often a sense of injustice at the heart and the desire for freedom is crucial for many. Thankfully these wars never came close to our shores. It remains important, however, to reflect on those individuals who sacrificed their lives so that we may be free.That same message is true in the Easter story. Jesus, sacrificing his life that we too may also be free. Not so much free from tyranny and oppression, but free from death. Of course it is easy to also point out that Jesus’ death and resurrection freed us from the tyranny and oppression, that is imposed on us by sin, but it is that victory over death which truly resonates with Remembrance Sunday.So as that period of remembrance and reflection has passed, we now move swiftly towards Advent (which starts on 30th November) as we see the Christian story unfold in a matter of months. Advent is when we prepare for the coming of the Lord, we celebrate that coming at Christmas, this is followed a few months later by Holy Week culminating in Good Friday and Jesus’ sacrifice. But sorrow is quickly turned to joy as we celebrate Easter, followed by Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit and our new lives in Jesus, and that fulfilment of freedom. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Rachel ReidRemembering and HopingBetween the ghoulish consumer fest of Halloween and the tinsel, festive food orders, and debt-inducing gift-giving of Christmas, there is a brief focus on poppies in our supermarkets and cities, with volunteers from the Royal British Legion sitting at tables by the check outs selling paper poppies, plastic ones for cars and enamel brooches. Knitted poppies adorn walls and cascade from church towers.So far, Remembrance Day has escaped the commercialism of Christmas and Easter. Schools and workplaces observe a 2 minute silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, to remember all those who served in the armed forces and sacrificed their lives for their country. The choice of date and time marks the beginning of the end of the First World War, when the Armistice was signed in a railway carriage in the Compiegne Forest near Paris. Everyone thought such a conflict could never happen again, as Europe lost so many of its young men, dying horrific deaths in the mud and carnage of battle. This was the war to end all wars.We all know what came next. Another World War a mere 21 years later, born out of the smouldering resentment arising from the harsh conditions imposed by the Allies on Germany. And although war has never come to our shores since then, and most of us have never known war, there have been countless conflicts in the past 80 years. Today the dogs of war are busy in many places, in Ukraine, Gaza (despite the ceasefire) and Sudan to name but a few.What is wrong with the human race?Why must we tear each other to pieces, bomb and blow up the innocent, hug hate, fear and cruelty close?You might say that we nice people in the villages outside York don’t do such things. But who can say they have never spoken a spiteful word, never simmered in resentment, never envied anyone, and never rejoiced when someone got their comeuppance? We all have a tendency to sin. As Christians we ask for forgiveness, and we are commanded to forgive others.The night Jesus was born some shepherds heard a host of angels singing in their high, ethereal voices, glorifying God, announcing Jesus’s birth and declaring peace on earth. God’s heart is for peace; peace in our hearts, peace in our churches, peace in our homes and peace between nations. As Christians we have an unbreakable hope that one day, when Jesus returns, wars will cease, death and sorrow will be no more. And we live in the light of that hope, carrying God’s spirit within us, working for his peace in our own lives and in our communities. So as we remember with gratitude those who died defending our country, let’s look forward too, to that day when God himself will wipe the tears from our eyes and we will see him face to face.RachelLet’s give thanks for: Those who sacrificed their lives to defend our country The ceasefire in Gaza Peace on our shores Those who work for peace The hope of Jesus’s returnLet’s pray for: The war in Ukraine, that a just resolution may be found The people of Sudan as they suffer a cruel and merciless civil war Ourselves, that we might be peacemakers Our churches, that they may be places of peace for our communities
