Canon Michael only uses prompt notes for his sermons. Here are his notes for our Remembrance Service which was held on the 10th of November 2024.
Summary of Canon Michael Lloyd Rees Sermon. (Due to the quality of the recording, ear/headphones are advisable).
At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns fell silent.
And so at the eleventh hour on the Sunday closest to the eleventh day of the
eleventh month, just as will happen today, we fall silent too.
Silence, Emptiness, Flatness, Anti-climax. For many, that’s what that moment
represented. Because, after all, for war to have ended, there had to have been a war. Two minutes for which there are no words. No words to remember the horror of the violence that human beings can inflict on one another. No words to describe the trauma that stayed with those who came back, for the rest of their lives. No words to explain why the war to end all wars didn’t end all wars.
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).
In the aftermath of the First World War politicians from various countries wanted to find a way to prevent such death and destruction from happening. They had a vision of a world where nations would not be threatened by competing empires, disputes would be resolved through discussions, and the threat of war would be minimised by working together to guarantee security and agreeing to disarm.
1) After the First World War politicians recognised what was wrong with the
world, realised they needed to change, and had a vision for peace.
2) The kingdom of God has come near in the person of Jesus, who calls people to repent from their old ways and share his vision of a better world.
3) God longs for people to turn away from oppression, conflict and violence and to live in peace.
4) Like the fishermen, we are called to help spread the good news and work
for peace.
Amen.
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