A PRAYER VIGIL TO
MARK THE CENTENARY OF THE OUTBREAK OF WORLD WAR ONE
We gather in
the light of Christ to recall the effects of human violence, our need for
redemption, to voice sorrow for our own share in the world’s violence, and to
find the healing of the world in the light which shines most intensely at the
heart of the darkness.
Hymn: Make
me a channel of your peace (H and P 776)
A Reading
from Psalm 36
1 Sin whispers to the
wicked, in the depths of their heart;
there is no fear of God
before their eyes.
2 They flatter themselves
in their own eyes
that there abominable sin
will not be found out.
3 The words of their mouth
are unrighteous and full of deceit;
they have ceased to act
wisely and to do good.
4 They think out mischief
upon their beds
and have set themselves in
no good way;
nor do they abhor that
which is evil.
5 Let not the foot of
pride come against me,
nor the hand of the
ungodly thrust me away.
6 Your love, O Lord,
reaches to the heavens
and your faithfulness to
the clouds.
7 Your righteousness
stands like the strong mountains,
your justice like the
strong deep; you, Lord, shall save both man and beast.
8 How precious is your
loving mercy, O God!
All mortal flesh shall
take refuge
under the shadow of your
wings.
O God, the source of life, banish our pride and
enlighten us with wisdom, that we may be led by your light,
and come to see your glory in the face of Jesus
Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
The Christ candle is lit.
Reading: Lamentations 2:
1-3; 6-7
Reflection – using a
picture of a group of men on a wooden cart going off to war. What was the
outbreak of war like?
2 Corinthians 4: 6-11
For it is the God who
said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we
have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this
extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted
in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying
in the body the death of
Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For
while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that
the life of Jesus
may be made visible in our
mortal flesh.
Reflecting on the journey
to war and being sustained by God:
“Christ in
Flanders”
We had forgotten You, or very nearly —
You did not seem to touch us very nearly—
Of course we thought about You now and then ;
Especially in any time of trouble —
We knew that You were good in time of trouble-
But we are very ordinary men.
And there were always other things to think of —
There's lots of things a man has got to think of—
His work, his home, his pleasure, and his wife ;
And so we only thought of You on Sunday —
Sometimes, perhaps, not even on a Sunday —
Because there's always lots to fill one's life.
And, all the while, in street or lane or byway —
In country lane, in city street, or byway —
You walked among us, and we did not see.
Your feet were bleeding as You walked our pave-
ments —
How did we miss Your footprints on our pavements ? —
Can there be other folk as blind as we ?
Now we remember; over here in Flanders —
(It isn't strange to think of You in Flanders) —
This hideous warfare seems to make things clear.
We never thought about You much in England —
But now that we are far away from England,
We have no doubts, we know that You are here.
You helped us pass the jest along the trenches —
Where, in cold blood, we waited in the trenches —
You touched its ribaldry and made it fine.
You stood beside us in our pain and weakness —
We're glad to think You understand our weakness —
Somehow it seems to help us not to whine.
We think about You kneeling in the Garden —
Ah ! God ! the agony of that dread Garden —
We know You prayed for us upon the cross.
If anything could make us glad to bear it —
'Twould be the knowledge that You willed to bear it —
Pain — death — the uttermost of human loss.
Though we forgot You — You will not forget us —
We feel so sure that You will not forget us —
But stay with us until this dream is past.
And so we ask for courage, strength, and pardon —
Especially, I think, we ask for pardon —
And that You'll stand beside us to the last.
You did not seem to touch us very nearly—
Of course we thought about You now and then ;
Especially in any time of trouble —
We knew that You were good in time of trouble-
But we are very ordinary men.
And there were always other things to think of —
There's lots of things a man has got to think of—
His work, his home, his pleasure, and his wife ;
And so we only thought of You on Sunday —
Sometimes, perhaps, not even on a Sunday —
Because there's always lots to fill one's life.
And, all the while, in street or lane or byway —
In country lane, in city street, or byway —
You walked among us, and we did not see.
Your feet were bleeding as You walked our pave-
ments —
How did we miss Your footprints on our pavements ? —
Can there be other folk as blind as we ?
Now we remember; over here in Flanders —
(It isn't strange to think of You in Flanders) —
This hideous warfare seems to make things clear.
We never thought about You much in England —
But now that we are far away from England,
We have no doubts, we know that You are here.
You helped us pass the jest along the trenches —
Where, in cold blood, we waited in the trenches —
You touched its ribaldry and made it fine.
You stood beside us in our pain and weakness —
We're glad to think You understand our weakness —
Somehow it seems to help us not to whine.
We think about You kneeling in the Garden —
Ah ! God ! the agony of that dread Garden —
We know You prayed for us upon the cross.
If anything could make us glad to bear it —
'Twould be the knowledge that You willed to bear it —
Pain — death — the uttermost of human loss.
Though we forgot You — You will not forget us —
We feel so sure that You will not forget us —
But stay with us until this dream is past.
And so we ask for courage, strength, and pardon —
Especially, I think, we ask for pardon —
And that You'll stand beside us to the last.
Candles are lit
Look down, O Lord, from
your heavenly throne,
illuminate the darkness of
this night with your celestial brightness,
and from the children of
light banish the deeds of darkness;
through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray;
and in your mercy defend
us from all perils and dangers of this night;
for the love of your only
Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Hymn: We turn to you O God
of every nation (H and P 412)
Words of Sir Edward Grey:
On 3 August 1914, he
explained to the House of Commons, as Foreign Secretary, why Britain was now
obliged to go to war with Germany. His speech, with its heavy heart and its
clear argument, was greatly admired. Then he returned to the Foreign Office,
and worked till dusk. He looked up from his desk and saw the man lighting the
gas lamps in St James’s Park below. ''The lamps are going out all over
Europe,’’ Grey said to his companion, ''We shall not see them lit again in our
lifetime.’’
“It is fitting that Grey
is remembered for these words, because they are expressive of his character and
his predicament. Although a stay-at-home (he went abroad only once during his
11 years as Foreign Secretary), he believed in European civilisation, and
sought to preserve it. He was also constitutionally pessimistic: the events of
the Great War and its aftermath justified his pessimism.” (Charles Moore in the
Daily Telegraph)
All the candles except the
Christ candle are extinguished:
Almighty God, through your
love the universe and this world were formed and sun and stars set in their
courses.
In love your Son claimed
us as your children; and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the future you
have planned for us is revealed and assured.
We know your purpose is
that all should live as brothers and sisters.
On this day we declare our
sadness that the history of our world
is so marred by failure to
live in peace, that injustice, tyranny and oppression are ever rife.
Remind us that still your
call is given to us to show courage when danger threatens, fortitude in the
face of loss and pain,
hope when tempted to
despair and perseverance in defence of right values.
We give thanks for those
who have set us an example in their standing fast for the ways of truth and
justice,
and who held nothing back as
they strove to uphold freedom and secure our peace.
Forgive us our failure to
be all that we should be.
Instead refashion us into
loyal servants of your cause,
that your kingdom of peace
may indeed be established
through all the world to
the glory of your name.
Eternal Father, the
darkness is no darkness to you, and the night is as clear as the day. Accompany
and protect us as we enter the night; give us eyes which watch for the dawn and
hearts to learn again the lessons of love, that reconciled to one another and
to you we may walk through this world’s perils and sorrows as children of
light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In your tender compassion, O God the dawn from on high
shall break upon us. To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of
death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
May God the Holy Trinity
guard and defend you on
every side,
strengthen you to face
times of difficulty,
and keep you rooted in
faith and hope;
and the blessing of God
almighty,
the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit
be with you and all whom
you love,
this night and always.
Amen.
