成人论坛

Opening anno: And now on 成人论坛 Radio Four it鈥檚 time for Sunday Worship, which this Remembrance Sunday comes from Cardiff.听

1. Intro [CATH AND DAI]
Welcome to this morning鈥檚 Sunday Worship, which comes to you from Urban Crofters church in Cardiff. We鈥檙e Cath and Dai Woolridge, and together with the Sound Of Wales band - we鈥檒l be taking you on a journey of remembrance. We consider Armistice Day, the Great War and how we first came to remember those who gave their lives in service to others. But we also remember those affected by the tragic conflicts that surround us today. It can be easy for our hearts to be weary and souls heavy laden, but may we turn to God - the one who in Christ, we can find rest in.

2. Prayer
Father God, as we take time to reflect and remember in these challenging times - we fix our eyes on you 鈥� the author and perfector of our faith. May we remember you are a good God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. In the midst of the storm, may we say (in the words of our first song) 鈥� it is well with my soul.
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3. SONG 1- It is well [Jess/SOW]
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4. Reflection [Dai]
The eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month. It鈥檚 1918, and after 4 brutal years of fighting from Flanders to the shelling at the Somme - of close combat, trench warfare and a bombardment of unprecedented brutality on both sides, where millions lost their lives 鈥� the piercing sound of war is muted and in its place? An unfamiliar sound 鈥� a silence, a ceasefire, an end to the Great War, (a war that H.G. Wells once said, would end war).

We call that day armistice day,听 and this Remembrance Sunday we take a moment to stop, pay tribute and remember. We remember World War 2 - the fight against tyranny, - those who fought on the seas and oceans, on the beaches, in the air and on the landing grounds 鈥� how they never surrendered, and how so many never returned. We remember those who lay down their lives. We take a moment to remember 鈥� those who gave up their tomorrow, so we may have our today.听

Yet we also remember the countless conflicts ever since 鈥� the fallen comrades, and the wrong place at the wrong time innocent civilians. We grieve with the grievers, the ones who lost loved ones. When we remember so much hurting, we remember our desperate need for hope. May we remember to hold on to the God who holds onto us. And may we take a moment to remember.

5. Exhortation [Han]
听"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old,听Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.听At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,听We will remember them."

6. Bible reading - Job 2:11-13 [Jess]
Our first Bible reading is from Job chapter 2, verses 11-13.
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When Job鈥檚 three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.鈥�

7. Reflection [Dai]

Reflecting on the last few years, we have witnessed huge suffering in our world 鈥� from the pandemic, to war in Ukraine and now conflict between Israel and Gaza.听 We also see conflict closer to home, with senseless knife-crime killing on our streets 鈥� like Eli-anne in Croydon, where a 15 year old took a bus ride from school but never made it home, or bustling Brixton where Keelan was taken from us in broad daylight 鈥� we remember those who suffer at the hands of those who wield a blade 鈥� those who are no longer with us, and the families and friends who somehow have to come to terms with their loss, in a new heart-breaking reality.

I was recently at a weekend retreat and over dinner, I was chatting to an elderly man on what it means to lament, and he mentioned Job.

鈥楧ai, Remember when Job was suffering greatly, and for 7 days his friends came to comfort him? Do you know what they said? Not. One. Word.鈥� (he said)

It鈥檚 only when they opened their mouths, that the wheels came off!鈥� (he added).Sometimes there are no words. Lamentation is a deep cry of sorrow. Sometimes it looks like fury filled questions and frustrations, sometimes it鈥檚 tear soaked, or just numbness because to feel just hurts too much. I recently took part in an evening of lament poetry in support of a family who lost their son to a senseless stabbing. Sometimes there are no words, and there we were 鈥� poets offering our words when there really were no words at all. This beautiful irony wasn鈥檛 lost on us.

8. [Prayer]
For those of us who are hurting, may we know you God as our comforter. When we have no words 鈥� May we turn to you and find comfort in the words from Philippians 4 - may we know a peace in Christ that protects us, and passes understanding.

9. SONG 2 - ABIDE WITH ME 听

10. Reflection... [Begin Again] [Cath]
Remembrance is a time where we remember those who gave up their tomorrow for our today, and it鈥檚 a time where we lament for those who are in conflict now. And while I could never fully grasp the heartbreak of losing loved ones in conflict, nor have I experienced the devastation that comes from war torn trauma -听 I can draw from my own grief journey, and have come to realise that the practise of remembrance has been so important for me as I continue to process the pain. This is my story......

Last November, after a 10-year battle to conceive I finally got pregnant. My husband and I had so many expectations on what this our life would look and feel like as proud 鈥榩arents to-be鈥�. But it was not to be. Unfortunately we lost our little one. And just recently we lit a candle to remember 鈥� to pay tribute to the life we didn鈥檛 get to meet.听

Disappointment and grief have rattled us and expectations, were crushed.听
But two words have echoed around my heart in this process, when I call to mind a hopeful perspective 鈥�.BEGIN AGAIN. Whatever disappointments we face today may we know that each day is an opportunity to BEGIN AGAIN.听

There鈥檚 a verse in The Book of Lamentations that has been so life giving for us as we grieve. It goes like this:

鈥楤ut this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope

The steadfast love of God never ceases. His mercies are new every morning鈥�. I love how time has been creatively carved out into daily portions. Dusk is always followed by dawn.听Just as there are seasons in nature, so there are seasons in our lives.鈥� and so seasons are also echoed in our own journeys. If you are longing for a spring like landscape, but are left feeling as though you are trudging through a bleak winter 鈥� may you know that winter can also have beautiful days.

Even in the bitterness of grief, the deep disappointments, the wintriest winter 鈥� we remember a 鈥榖egin again鈥� perspective, which chases rainbows through the rain! I believe that whatever yesterday held, the sun will always rise again. And as you 鈥榖egin again鈥� this new day, know that God is near to the broken-hearted.

11. LINK TO SONG: SOW are going to sing now the hymn 鈥楴earer My God to Thee鈥�.

12. Song 3 - Nearer My God to Thee
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13. Reflection [Dad story] [Dai]

Remembrance Sunday was always a significant day in my Dad鈥檚 diary. I remember we鈥檇 go to the memorial and we鈥檇 join many in a 2 minute silence, for those he knew who were no longer with us. It was a mixture of emotions for Dad, who served in the Welsh guards and held both great pride in serving his country, yet suffered great trauma after what he experienced. Like when a car bomb went off and hurled Dad from one side of the road to the other, breaking the vertebrae in his back in several places, or the PTSD he had to endure for as long as he was with us.

This is the 10th Remembrance Sunday since Dad passed. It鈥檚 become a moment where I have taken the mantle and remember on his behalf, paying tribute to what was important to him. But it鈥檚 also been a moment where I remember him, personally. Where I reflect on the good times, and the times in our life he didn鈥檛 get to be a part of.

Journeying through grief with faith in God 鈥� is a journey through lament, and a journey to trust.听

A verse that has been a great blessing, and a balm to my grief sores is found in John鈥檚 gospel. In chapter 11, we learn that Jesus鈥� friend Lazarus died and when Jesus arrived at his house, he was met with the tears of sisters Mary and Martha 鈥� who couldn鈥檛 escape the gut-wrenching reality that their brother was gone. Where is God in the brokenness? When life feels too painful? In our darkest hour, where is God? Verse 35 tells us exactly where he is with what happens next, in just two words 鈥� Jesus. Wept.听

This verse has been a great source of comfort to me, because it reminds me of where God is in the suffering.听

He鈥檚 not far away from our brokenness, he鈥檚 up close in the person of Jesus.

May you know that when we weep, we don鈥檛 weep alone, because he weeps with us.

14. POEM 1135 written by Dai Woolrdige

To those who chose to be so brave,听To those who rest within the grave,To the ones who fell and did not rise,听With bayonets in hand and fear in eyes,To those who lay on Flanders fields,To those blanketed in poppy seeds. To the trench diggers, barbed wire bargers and front foot chargers,To the privates, lieutenants and 鈥榗amped at war鈥� tenants,To the ones who didn't make it back aliveMay they know John 11:35

To those fighting at sea, sand, or land,To those who see war at first hand,To the Normandy landers,To the beach stormers, And Cliff climbersTo those who lived at the sword and died at the sword,May their hearts bindTo two words from John 11:35

To those with battles back at home,To those isolated and alone,To those who grieve and know loss of sleep,To those with pain that cuts so deep.To the bed ridden and rage driven,To the unforgiving and unforgiven,To those whose joy was long left behind May they know John 11:35

To those who fight for what is right, To those who long to re-unite, To those who know their time is close, To those who know that pain the most.To those who feel there's nothing left, To those fighting 鈥榯il their final breath, To the last post players, And the hope less/full swayers, To the 鈥榣ight searches 鈥� may they find, At the end of the tunnel is John 11:35.

To the ones who have given up on faith,To the ones who feel that nowhere鈥檚 safe, To the ones who see through a suffering mist,To the ones who doubt that God exists,To the screamers, tear-ers and silent speakers,To the guilt built and shame keepers, May they know that He weeps with-us, To those that re-play trauma in their mind, May they know John 11:35

May we all know, John 11:35
Jesus wept.

15. SONG 4: Hill Song Remembrance

16. LINK: That was Sound of Wales, leading us in the song 鈥楻emembrance鈥� by Hillsong. Our second Bible reading is from Revelation chapter 21, verses 1 to 4.

17. Bible Reading Rev: 21: 1-4 [Dom]
鈥楾hen I saw 鈥渁 new heaven and a new earth,鈥� for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 鈥淟ook! God鈥檚 dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 鈥楬e will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death鈥橻b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.鈥�

18. Reflection [No more tears] [Cath]

That鈥檚 a beautiful passage of scripture and has to be one of my favourites, but dig a little deeper into the backstory of the time it was written in, and it鈥檚 even more extraordinary.听

The year is 70 AD. Jerusalem lies in a ruin of rubble, as the Romans tear down its temple and smash the city walls. Some 25 years later, we find the author John - seeing out his last days, banished on the remote island of Patmos for his faith in Jesus, reflecting on the havoc wreaked on his home. And the many friends who became martyrs for their faith too.听

The book of Revelation is complex and scholars have debated it鈥檚 meaning for centuries; but to me, this passage offers a beautiful snapshot of what鈥檚 to come... a new Jerusalem. A renewed world. A world like ours, but distinctly different. A world with no more tears.听 听We remember those who are no longer with us.

We remember those who are still suffering.

But we also remember to hold on to the one who gives us hope in its wholeness, even in the heartbreak.

We remember to look forward, to a day where pain will be passed tense,听and brokenness will be fixed, I鈥檓 counting down the hours 鈥榯il that day.

19. POEM - Counting down the hours [Dai]
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听[I鈥檓 counting down the hours 鈥榯il that day.] Where the realm of sin ceases to exist, but we exist in the realm of perfection.听Brokenness gets fixed and pain gets ripped off like a plaster that鈥檚 eternally disposed of.听A place where burdens are lifted, dismantled and returned.I鈥檓 eagerly awaiting paradise, Where tears only flow out of overwhelming awe and joy,听Where wars end, Where pain stops And baggage is taken off our shoulders.听

I鈥檓 counting down the hours 鈥檛il that day.听The day where we鈥檒l be welcomed in to the pearly gates of perfection by the author of resurrection life. The day where we鈥檒l meet again and see old friends - same friends yet filled to the brim with a new frame. Perfected with a new creation upgrade.One that will never fade, degrade, or deteriorate,听A place where organs don鈥檛 fail - to know fullness in the Orator who orchestrated Order, from the chaos.We鈥檙e not just counting down, We鈥檙e counting on.The one who doesn鈥檛 count our transgressions against us. But counts us righteous. Cos when we count on him, He Counts us his鈥� heirs And as we bring to mind, those who are home dry. May we know -听 they no longer count down the days They just count the ways, that the most ancient of days - shines his face and in his grace, lifts up his countenance upon them and gives them peace.

20. SONG 5: AMAZING GRACE听

21. [Final Prayer / exhortation] [Dai]
Father God. We take a moment to remember.听

As we call to mind the many victims of wars past and present, of conflicts in Israel and Gaza, Ukraine, and other areas around the world where there鈥檚 enmity and strife.听

We call to mind those who have sufferered and those who continue to suffer.We call to mind struggles closer to home and remember our own grief journeys. We remember those who are displaced and have no place to call home.We remember those who are no longer with us. We remember strangers we鈥檝e never met and loved ones we didn鈥檛 get to meetWe remember those who gave up their tomorrow for our todayWe remember the innocent who died on all sides, and didn鈥檛 get a say.We remember your promise to those who trust in youthat those who sow with tears of sorrow,听Will one day reap with tears of joy.

And when all of life feels like quicksand, you鈥檙e the rock of our rescue.That hope is found in you, Lord Jesus 鈥� Christ our cornerstone.

22. Lord鈥檚 Prayer and intro Gwahoddiad [Cath] And we join all our prayers in the one Jesus taught us:听

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

We remember then,听We remember now, We remember here, We remember that we do not weep alone.

And we remember to look forward to the day where there will be no more tears.

And as we draw this service of remembrance to a close, we remember the words from the Welsh hymn Gwahoddiad. 鈥楳i a glywaf dyner lais鈥欌�� I hear a tender voice.

Lord, may we hear and remember your tender voice,Calling now to me, Wash us in the blood that flowed on Calvary.

23. SONG 6 - GWAHODDIAD

24. Blessing听
May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, and may you truly remember, that you are loved beyond measure.

Closing anno: Sunday Worship came from Urban Crofters Church in Cardiff. The service was led by Cath and Dai Woolridge. The music was played by the worship band Sound of Wales. The producer was Geoff Ballinger.听