November 2007

The Reverend Philip Banks writes:

The Season for Remembering

“War seemed very simple in the past. You knew what it was about and who the enemy was. When war was won, it would end, armistice would be signed and slowly normal life would be rebuilt. But war isn’t simple any more. Is it really in defence of the nation? What is it really for? Who is the enemy? Will it ever end, and how will we know? In a “war against terror” there is unlikely to be any armistice – and after 11 September 2001, can anything ever be described as ‘normal’ again? And if war isn’t simple, can we justify asking young men and women in uniform to make that supreme sacrifice? On what altar exactly are we laying ‘the dearest and the best’?”

As I reflect once more on this ‘season of remembering’ which we begin this month, I am struck again by these words of former SAS chaplain, James Morton, writing in a church periodical. It seems to me that his are apt reflections in the complex world which is ours today. It is an age when we each have a new level of ‘intimacy’ with the men and women who are our troops – they are not just ‘statistics’ from the Ministry of Defence – rather we see them, travel to the front line with them and look over their shoulders through the TV camera lens. We can feel with them as they travel through the dusty streets of Iraq, or express their fear as conflict approaches. And we have shared the hurt that shows in their eyes at the death or injury of a comrade. And we know all along – or we should do - that they are there in our name.

As we gather together again this year on Remembrance Sunday in Coggeshall, we know that we will be doing so in union with churches across the land – and also with British troops across the globe, who will gather with their chaplains at the same time. With them we will give thanks for the sacrifice of those who have gone before, and honour the dead. With them, let us dedicate ourselves to God and the values of his kingdom, to our nation and to the peace of the world; and let us pray for the world’s leaders and its peoples, for good relationships, fair dealings and above all for the wisdom needed to build lasting peace and justice for our children and grandchildren in the generations to come.

This year our Remembrance Sunday Service begins at 10.45am as usual, and you are welcome to join the Remembrance Day Procession starting at Christ Church at 10.15am, arriving at St Peter’s in time for the service to begin. Children are welcome to the service and can join in ‘Ten o’clock Club’ which meets during the service in the meeting rooms.

The ‘season of remembering’ begins with our ‘All Souls’ service when, in a more personal way, we give thanks for our own families and friends who have died – those who have departed but have been close to us in this life - as parents,  children, relatives or friends. This quiet, candle-lit service is at 5.15pm on Sunday 4^th November, and many people find it a helpful and moving way to remember loved ones each year (more details are later in this issue of The Link). Do come to this, and encourage anyone who you think would find this helpful to join us too.

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