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Remembrance.
Remembrance Sunday is upon us once again and Battle of Britain Sunday not that long ago. At this time of year, we remember before God in church and by war memorials all those who have fought and died to protect what they and we believe in. Covid will not stop us doing this. Indeed, much of what we say about our war dead can be equally said about the brave men and women in our NHS dedicated to looking after us. Doctors and nurses were a very significant presence in both world wars and subsequently not to mention the current pandemic.
Some of us will have recent memories of friends and comrades and some will have memories of the more distant past. God gave us our memory so that we could learn from experience, so we should use it wisely. What we remember now and more particularly how we remember it is very important because memories help to shape what we will be tomorrow. This applies as much to nations as to individuals. Nations can have very strong memories.
Those who do not or will not remember past experiences, particularly if the memories are unpleasant, deny their past and deprive themselves of any roots. Learning to live with bad memories can be more valuable than learning to live with pleasant ones. It is to give us common roots that the military is very keen on tradition and living up to it. For it is recognised that without these roots we have nothing to fall back on for support in time of trouble. How we remember yesterday makes us who we are today. What we do today in our crisis will determine who we become tomorrow both as individuals and as a nation. This applies today just as much as it did in previous generations.
"We are often tempted to ask ourselves what we gained by the enormous sacrifices made by those to whom this memorial is dedicated. But that was never the issue with those who marched away. No question of advantage presented itself to their minds. They only saw the light shining on the clear path to duty. They only saw their duty to resist oppression, to protect the weak, to vindicate the profound but unwritten Law of Nations. They never asked the question, 'What shall we gain?' They asked only the question, 'Where lies the right?'”
From a speech marking the unveiling of a WW1 memorial in 1925 by Winston Churchill.
Or perhaps putting it more succinctly:
Kohima Epitaph
“When you go home tell them of us and say:
“For your tomorrow, we gave our today.”
Yours
Tony Gilbert
Rector Three Valleys Benefice
We are indebted to Josie Sturgess-Mills, professional photographer, for sending us this magnificent photograph of St Nicholas, Hilfield with the comet.
Photo taken on June 20th
Three Valleys Team Ministry
For details of future services, please go to the Services page; for reports on what has happened, please go to the Recent Events page and we hope that there will soon be items on the Forthcoming Events page.]
"....Despite the announcements about re-starting our services in church, it is still far from clear what we will be able to do. Communions are likely to prove problematic for some time to come. The clergy team has met and discussed what we think will be possible and have the following suggestions. As you may know we propose to start gradually with only three services for each Sunday in the first month, one in each of the three components of the benefice. We propose to hold our first services on Sunday 12th July by which time I expect we will have received full guidance from the diocese. We would like to hold these first services in Folke for the WHV, Yetminster for the Wriggle Valley and Thornford for the Gifle Valley. These services will start at 10:00am. There will also be an electronic service for those who prefer not to expose themselves to any possible risk of a social gathering."
Some churches are now open for Private Prayer.
For up-to-date arrangements, as we receive them, please go to the Arrangements for opening churches page.
The Reverend George Moody is now writing a new blog called The Rectory Window (therectorywindow.blogspot.com) based on Mark's gospel. It will appear on an occasional basis.
See the Three Valleys Team facebook page as well for more information and to watch live-streamed services.
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A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy.
Sustain and support the anxious,
be with those who care for the sick,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may find comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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For a morning and evening liturgy, published by Lambeth, to be downloaded for use at home,
please click here
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The Reverend Tony Gilbert and his wife Nicola