Lest, Lest we forget


November 12, 2021


Good afternoon.


The pictures below are from the cenotaph in Elmira yesterday. About 40 wreaths of remembrance were laid out. With Covid in mind, there was no service this year, and by this morning all but three wreaths were gone. The community is invited to remember in their own way. Since my dad did not serve, and my family doesn’t have a military history, what should I be thinking about ? I struggle with this every Remembrance Day. I do not want to forget my struggle with it.


A few years ago, the Township put in these benches with figures on them. I took a picture of the one with a white dove of peace on it. I sat for a few minutes on the bench thinking about what makes for a peaceful world.  And what can I do to be a peacemaker and an advocate for other peacemakers ? There are many good things happening in our world, but we have much to do to make the world a safe place for everyone. 


 “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:17-18
.

Paul wrote to many churches to encourage and strengthen them in their peacemaking. There were ethnic differences in the early church. There were language challenges. There were food questions. There were rich and poor issues too. We know Paul was a strong leader, but he wanted the groups to get along so they might have a strong witness to the communities where they lived.


Prayer
   God of peace and justice.
   Call us to active peacemaking
   in this, our broken world.
   We ask you to make us
        strong
        compassionate
        caring
        loving
So that the world will know who you are, 
          through us
          your community.

Fred








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lifted up by unseen Hands
Trust, silent enters my fears
     Monica Pieper Landoni 2021