Evening Prayer – 11 November 2018

The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow

A day filled with snow, fireplaces, and worship

Time as well to pause and remember

In the US this is Veterans Day

In the UK this is Remembrance Day

I have felt the contradiction before

Today, as a Veteran, I remembered

I remembered officiating at services in England

Listening to the bell toll for each member of the lost generation

So many butchered and so many haunted by the horrors of that war

A War to End All Wars… really?

The Great War… really?

Ask a Veteran

Ask those who tried to survive in the midst of the horror

Ask civilians caught in the middle

There is nothing glorious about war

Lines from the Service of Remembrance haunt me

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.

We will remember them

I will remember the haunting cries of the dying

I will remember the haunting cries of the dead

I will remember the haunting cries of those caught in the middle

I will remember that war is never the answer

I will remember that hatred cannot drive out hatred

That only love can do that (MLK, Jr)

Lord, at the end of the day, I remember

I remember the call of Micah

Do Justice

Love Mercy and Kindness

Walk Humbly with you

I remember the call of your prophet Isaiah

We shall beat our swords into plowshares

We shall beat our spears into pruning hooks

We shall no longer lift up our swords against another

Our nations shall study war no more

Lord, especially on this night, this is my fervent prayer

Dona Nobis Pacem et in Terra

Grant Us Peace on Earth

A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…