Remembrance Day

Today our church service was Remembrance Sunday. I didn't know what a big deal Remembrance Day is, but I was duly impressed. There have been people wearing the Poppy symbol all around, and many people wore them at church today. Additionally, there are activities planned everywhere. Parades, moments of silence, etc. So here is what our church service consisted of today:

Opening Hymn: Battle Hymn of the Republic
Opening Prayer
Sacrament Hymn: In Remembrance of they Suffering
Sacrament
1st Speaker: An excellent talk given by a British woman on remembering Christ in our life
Intermediate Hymn: I Vow to Thee, My Country, here are the words as they were handed out to all of us (there wasn't any music so we followed as best we could, it was quite lovely):

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there's another country, I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that lover her, most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;
And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness and all her paths are peace.

Final Speaker - Our Bishop. He spoke about the famous November 11th, 1918, where the armistice was signed to end WWI, which is what Remembrance Day commemorates (and the other wars as well). It made me feel really grateful for all of the brave, stalwart, immovable Brits who took some amazing stands during the two great wars, and for all of the sacrifices they, as a country, have made throughout history.

Oath of Remembrance - read by one of or military officers in uniform, the whole congregation stood and remained standing until the closing hymn:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Followed by 2 Minutes of Silence.

Closing Hymn: The Lord is my Shepherd
Closing Prayer

It was a very moving service, and I was glad to have been there for it.