Order of Service

All sing the Hymn

All remain standing for the Bidding

We have come to remember before God those who have died for their country in the two world wars and the many conflicts of the years that have followed. Some we knew and loved; we treasure their memory still. Others are unknown to us, but their remembrance, too, is precious. With thanksgiving we recall service offered and sacrifices made. We come with proper penitence for the destruction that war brings to individuals, families, and nations. We pray for all those, both civilian and military, who have died or continue to suffer the effects of combat. We thank God for the hard-won freedom from strife that we enjoy in this land. We pray for a time when such sacrifice may never again be required. But we humbly ask that men and women might always be found who count their lives worthy above all because they serve the greater cause of justice and concord. Trusting in God's grace, we dedicate ourselves anew this day to creating a world in which healing, peace, and virtue flourish.

Lord of the nations, saviour and judge of all: remove from human hearts all bitterness and hate, grant to those who have died in war your mercy and forgiveness, and bring us all to the peace of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who suffered and died, and now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The choir sings the Kontakion of the Departed

Give rest, O Christ, to thy servants with thy saints: where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life everlasting. Thou only art immortal, the Creator and maker of man: and we are mortal, formed of the earth, and unto earth shall we return: for so thou didst ordain, when thou createdst me, saying, Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. All we go down to the dust; and weeping o'er the grave, we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Give rest, O Christ, to thy servants with thy saints: where sorrow and pain are no more; neither sighing, but life everlasting.

Kyiv melody translated by William Birkbeck (1869–1916)

At 11.00 am there is kept the Two Minutes' Silence

The choir sings

All remain standing

Let us pray.

The Last Post is sounded

Reveille is sounded

All sing the Hymn

All sit for the Reading, Isaiah 65: 17, 19–22, 24–end

Thanks be to God.

The choir sings Psalm 46

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Chant: after Martin Luther (1483–1546)

The Reading, Romans 8: 31–35, 37–end

What are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Address

The choir sings the Anthem

Many waters cannot quench love,
   neither can the floods drown it.
Love is strong as death.

'Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends.'

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness. Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Words: Song of Solomon 8: 7a, 6b; John 15: 13a; 1 Peter 2: 24; 1 Corinthians 6: 11b; 1 Peter 2: 9; Romans 12: 1
Music: Greater Love Hath No Man, John Ireland (1879–1962)

All kneel or remain seated for the Intercessions. At the end of each petition there is said

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

As we look for the coming of the kingdom in all its fullness, Lord teach us to pray,

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. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The choir sings the Anthem

My soul, there is a country
Far beyond the stars,
Where stands a wingèd sentry
All skilful in the wars:

There above noise, and danger,
Sweet Peace sits crowned with smiles,
And One born in a manger
Commands the beauteous files.

He is thy gracious friend,
And (O my soul, awake!)
Did in pure love descend,
To die here for thy sake.

If thou canst get but thither,
There grows the flower of Peace,
The Rose that cannot wither,
Thy fortress, and thy ease.

Leave then thy foolish ranges,
For none can thee secure,
But One who never changes,
Thy God, thy Life, thy Cure.

Words: Henry Vaughan (1621–95)
Music: from Songs of Farewell, Hubert Parry (1848–1918)

All stand for the Reaffirmation

Let us commit ourselves anew to the service of God and a faithful remembrance.

Lord God, in this act of remembrance, we commit ourselves anew to faithfully serve your will in the cause of peace and justice, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your holy name. By the power of your Spirit, grant us wisdom, courage, and hope to offer our lives to the sacrifice and service of the common good. Amen.

All sing the Hymn

Christ is the world's true Light,
   its Captain of salvation,
the Daystar shining bright
   to every man and nation;
new life, new hope awakes,
   where'er men own his sway:
freedom her bondage breaks,
   and night is turned to day.

In Christ all races meet,
   their ancient feuds forgetting,
the whole round world complete,
   from sunrise to its setting:
when Christ is throned as Lord,
   men shall forsake their fear,
to ploughshare beat the sword,
   to pruning-hook the spear.

One Lord, in one great name
   unite us all who own thee;
cast out our pride and shame
   that hinder to enthrone thee;
the world has waited long,
   has travailed long in pain;
to heal its ancient wrong,
   come, Prince of Peace, and reign.

Words: The Light of the World, George Briggs (1875–1959)
Tune: Nun danket 494ii NEH, in Johann Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, c 1647

The Blessing

God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest, to the Church, The King, the Commonwealth, and all people peace and concord, and to us sinners, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

All sing the National Anthem

God save our gracious King,
long live our noble King,
   God save The King.
Send him victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us:
   God save The King.

Music after the service

Prelude and Fugue in C minor BWV 546, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)