Remembrance Day 2024 – A Brief Reflection

Today is Remembrance Day, an observance I was first introduced to during my first assignment in England. During that assignment and a subsequent assignment ten years later it was my honor to officiate at a number of Remembrance Sunday Services in local English churches. In England, November 11th was initially observed as Armistice Day in commemoration of the end of World War One. King George V requested two minutes of silence to be observed in acknowledgment of the war’s fatalities. When World War Two began, Armistice Day was not observed and in its place, a time of remembrance and worship was initiated on the second Sunday of November.

This year, Denise and I are in Victoria (the capital of British Columbia) and we attended a Remembrance Sunday service at Knox Presbyterian Church in Victoria. Before the service of the Lord’s day began, they marked the observance of Remembrance Sunday in worship. The following was the opening prayer of gathering:

God of justice and peace, we gather at this solemn time of year, aware of the costliness of human history. In the face of hostility between nations and neighbours, you have come to us in Jesus Christ, carrying no sword, calling us to serve as peace makers. In this time of worship, renew in us the hope that you will turn swords into ploughshares, and lead the world you love away from making war for pride or profit. By the power of your Spirit, renew your promise of peace with justice for all your peoples.

God of justice and mercy, we confess that the world around us is in a mess. Nations turn disputes over territory into acts of aggression. Old enemies stir up conflict with their rivals. Threats of violence keep us all on edge. We confess we have not learned from past
conflicts what leads to peace with justice among nations and neighbours. Forgive us and lead us in a better way. May it be so. Amen.

Given the state of the world and more specifically the United States of America, there is much to mourn. I found myself weeping during the service as I remembered not only the horrors of war, but the horrors that have been unleashed in the country and world. Hatred, Fear, Nativism, White Supremacy, Misogyny, christian nationalism, racism have been given free rein and are causing death and destruction at will.

While those whom we have met and talked to offer us profound sympathy over what we are experiencing, sadly they tell us that the same things are alive and well in Canada. This brings me back to Remembrance Sunday’s service and the gathering prayer. We confess that we have not learned from past conflicts what leads to peace and justice among nations and neighbours.

As we seek to live a life of nonviolence and peacemaking may God forgive us and lead us in a better way. May it be so. Amen.