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Remembrance Day Sermon - St Margaret's Halstead

Sunday 12th November 2006, The Rev'd Hugh Thomas, Curate

Readings: Psalm 46 & Mark 4:35-41

This famous poem was written by Colonel John McCrae who was Canadian Medical Officer from Ontario after the Battle of the Somme in November 1916.  Like so many, he had travelled across the world to be in the War.  He later died in January 1918 before knowing the importance of his poem.  He is buried at Wimerieux near Boulogne.

In the 20th Century there were x2 great and tragic world wars and it is from the remembrance of the poppies in the fields of France of the First World War that the Royal British Legion takes its emblem.  It also reminds us that we all, who have either survived a war or even not been part of one have a duty to “hold the torch high” from the fallen of the past.  ……  And that is what we are here today to do - to remember with respect, with gratitude and with love those who lost their lives in wars. 

Today, over 60 years after the end of the Second World War, we remember those who died during the period 1939- 1945 and give thanks for the eventual ending of that major world conflict – perhaps the last global conflict of that type that has befallen the world.

I originally started drafting this sermon over a year ago, and should have delivered on Remembrance Sunday last year.  However, sadly, my father was taken into hospital and then died.  That made me realise that my own linkage with those who were directly affected by the 2nd World War was diminishing.  But is that true.  Should it?  I think not.  We are all, and should be affected by those whose suffering and actions enable us to sit here in comfort today.  

The Royal British legion, which was founded in 1921 after the First world War, now has over 11 million people, both ex-service people and their dependants who are eligible for their important support.  That underlines perhaps more than anything that war and the effects of war is not something of the past, but of the present also

Last year I also got many details from the MOD about the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. 

Operation TELIC in Iraq  - Last November on the ground I counted x15 regiments represented, including the Coldstream Guards, the parachute regiment, the Royal Irish regiment and the Kings Royal Hussars.   97 brave servicemen had lost lose their lives by Nov last year

Today, as the serving officers will know far better than me the total number of UK personnel deployed on Operation TELIC as a whole is higher – around 8,500 – as this includes personnel involved in the operation but not in Iraq itself (for example Royal Navy ships in the Gulf).

UK Forces are also deployed in Afghanistan in support of an UN-authorised, NATO-led mission, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), and as part of the US-led international coalition.  UK operations in Afghanistan are being conducted under the overarching name Operation HERRICK. 

UK Forces in theatre (as at 8 September 2006)

CURRENT FIGURES - The UK has deployed around 5,600 Service personnel to Afghanistan in total, with around 4,300 of those in the South and 1,300 in Kabul.

When I came to revise the details from my original draft sermon of last year, I was struck by the enormity of the  current military operations. 

I had always imagined over the last few years before I was ordained that whenI did get to preach for the first time at a Remembrance Sunday service I would be reflecting upon past events and wars.  But this seems not to be the case.  I am  now reflecting on militaty operations now as much as remembering the brave actions of our forces in years gone by.

I recently found myself driving past a number of  military bases in Wiltshire (on a detour due to traffic jams around Stonehenge) and it stuck me that these were large military bases with significant populations of personnal and dependants…..  and there were very few people around.  Were they all involved in these operations ?

Last week I also attended a lecture by x4 Army Padres as part  of  my ongoing training.  What struck me then also was the scale of the operations, and the speed and frequency with which deployments in various parts of the world have greatly increased over recent years- due to the major commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In addition, in our increasingly unstable world,where terrorism is  a very real threat (just think of the security checks when passing through Heathrow airport and the visibility of armed police).  For this reason also, the army and the other armed forces seem to be much  more visible and at readiness  have been the case in years gone by.

In addition to the military actions, in Africa British troops are providing relief and promoting peace and security in various places including Ghana, the Congo, Sierra Leone and Nigeria.  

In the course of my planning for today, I established that there were some x19 Significant Armed conflicts going on in the world today – from Iraq and Afghanistan already mentioned to conflicts in Indonesia, India, Phillipines and Colombia.  In some places there is more than one conflict in the same country or region. 

So what have we learned in the x60 years since the end of the Second World War? Why are there still wars,  still costing lives today and touching the lives of so many?

Well, as I stand before you this morning, I will not pretend – I do not know.  BUT what I do know, is that the God in which we believe is, in the words of that wonderful Psalm 46 “… our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble”.  Ours is NOT a God of the past ages, distant when things go bad or wrong (by our standards).  But our God is with us just at those moments, to guide and protect us and those we love (and those we remember this day).  “We will not fear, though the earth should change, the mountains shake and the mountains tremble”. 

I have not experienced directly the effect of being near bombs and explosions- but I have heard from people who  have  - and they have often described it as the whole earth “trembling”.  I also heard from the army Padres of  how strong burly men would seek out the padre to pray with them when they felt they were going into danger.  One padre described the effect upon him of leading a regiment in prayer at a brief service held in the late evening before the invasion of Iraq.  An awesome experience for all concerned.  As he said  “… there are not many atheists in shell holes …”.   When the young men and officers get into battle, they quickly realise that there is a God who they need to protect them.

These are real scenarios happening in our world today. Experienced by the military people of our country– NOT in the past.   These brave men and women are sent into danger by governments which WE elect. They have no choice but to follow their orders – that is what they signed-up for to the sovereign and all of us.  In equal measure, WE have no other choice or obligation other than to hold them up continuously in our prayers.  Like the Army Padres that I met – I will not venture into the political question of the correctness of the decisions for military action.  A Pulpit is NOT the place for politics !  It is  the place for the reflection of the word of God

Remember the account of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee that we heard.  When the storm was brewing, His disciples got scared and woke up Jesus.   And what did Jesus do ?  He calmed the storm after having rebuked the disciples for lacking in their faith.  “ Why are you so afraid ?  Do you still  have no faith ?”  He said. 

In these days of heightened concern over current ongoing wars, conflicts and terrorism we are all probably scared.  Our military personnel are thrust into the centre of the danger by following their duty – but that doesn’t make them immune to the same feelings. 

Now, perhaps more so than in many years in the past, we all need to really listen to the words of Jesus.  “Be still” He said to the storm.   God, in Christ, was and is a “refuge and a strength” in times of trouble- whether we are currently in the military or not. 

At the same time, on this Remembrance Sunday, we also give thanks for all those in the military recently and in times  past – from the days of the  Battle of the Somme, through the Second World War -  who, in following their duty at the time have paid the ultimate price of their life on earth.  They had little or no choice in following their orders.  And so we should respect their sacrifices today not break faith with them - as John McCrae says in his  poem.