Today's Service: 8 November
Remembrance Sunday
Our services continue with "visiting" preachers.
Today's is by Maranny Jones.
This is best viewed in Landscape orientation
You will appreciate the sound better if you use earphones or an external loudspeaker, whatever type of device you view on.
Service for Remembrance Sunday
We had hoped to meet this morning to remember together but instead we are in another lockdown. I got my poppy today and was pleased to get it; I will be wearing it on Sunday as I join in with Zöe and follow the online service(s).
There is an opportunity during our service to light a candle as an act of remembrance if you wish or you may want to focus on a photograph. Whatever you choose to do, we are remembering together although apart.
Welcome to our Service of Remembrance.
Isaiah 2:4, King James Version:
4And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more.
Hymn 620: For the Healing of the nations
tune 'Oriel' , with Intro.
1. For the healing of the nations,
Lord, we pray with one accord,
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords.
To a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.
2. Lead us, Father, into freedom,
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how, through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.
3. All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned:
pride of status, race or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life's brief span.
4. You, Creator-God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind;
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.
Fred Kaan (1929 - 2009)
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father we meet together but apart, but always in your presence
as we commit ourselves to work in penitence and faith for reconciliation between the nations,
That all people may, together, live in freedom, justice and peace.
We pray for all who in bereavement, disability and pain continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror.
We remember with thanksgiving and sorrow those whose lives, in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been given and taken away.
We remember those who in recent days have been the innocent victims of terrorism.
Father God, take away our fear, as we pray for the day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation.
Amen.
Reading Ephesians 6.10-17 (NIV)
The Armour of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
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
The Act of Remembrance
(click to start video)
Jesus said, 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.'
John 15.13
(Light candle)
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you planned:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
Ever-living God
we remember those whom you have gathered
from the storm of war into the peace of your presence;
may that same peace calm our fears,
bring justice to all peoples
and establish harmony among the nations,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Hymn 477: Let there be love shared among us (sung 2 x)
(tune: Let there be love, no Intro., piano accomp.)
Let there be love shared among us,
let there be love in our eyes;
may now Your love sweep this nation,
cause us, O Lord, to arise.
Give us a fresh understanding
of brotherly love that is real;
let there be love shared among us,
let there be love.
Dave Bilbrough
Prayer of Confession
Heavenly Father,
we ask forgiveness for the times in our lives
when we have been selfish,
thinking only of ourselves and our own needs;
for the times we have preferred to tread the easy path,
rather than the one that leads to you;
for the times we have failed
to see your image in our brothers and sisters.
In your mercy
free us from all our sins
and move our hearts to praise you
with every moment of our being.
We make these and all our prayers
in the name of Christ,
your Son, our Lord.
We say together the Lord's Prayer:
Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver is from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection
What does a poppy or, maybe, a photo of a relative or friend in military uniform, medals or papers kept in a box have in connection with you and me today?
The connection is that although we may not be a soldier, sailor, and airman ourselves we all know someone who is or was. My father was in the merchant navy in the great war of 1914-18. That is over 100 years ago. Although he wasn't killed in action his ship was torpedoed and sank, leaving him in the water for many hours, which did eventually shorten his life
My father in law served in the Second World War, you will know of someone whose story has been passed down, not always because they died but more that they lived their lives with sometimes terrible memories of times they had been through.
It is important we remember, because many who served in any war, may not have died but their lives probably are never the same again War leaves scars both physical and mental. Help for Heroes and the Invinctus Games are a present-day reminder of the toll of war. 
What connection does that have with us today and what connexion is there with poppies? We are remembering all those who gave their lives in wars and even today new names are being inscribed on war memorials. All of us have a connection with someone who fought in the war, be it father, grandfather or grandmother, family friend and neighbour .
There are people who don't see the point of wearing a poppy, some wear a white poppy instead, as a symbol of peace. White and Red can bloom equally well side by side, the young men who fought in the wars, died for peace, not glorification.
Some people also argue that the two minute silence is outdated but if you are in a supermarket at 11am on the 11th of November, even in a state of lockdown you will be moved by the total silence and even those who may disagree would be unwise to break the silence.
In our silence we remembered the past but we are also looking to the future.
So as old and young we come together before God asking that he takes the very best of our lives; and binds us into one people of faith, whose love of Jesus and care for each other; help us to build dreams, dreams of world peace and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, you and I can put on the armour of God, the shield of faith, helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God and work for a day when that dream becomes a reality.
The words of a hymn by Graham Kendrick written in 1993 are perfect for today and I never sing them without feeling extremely moved. You can't sing them without thinking about them. I am going to finish this reflection by reading them. They are challenging words. Are we ready face that challenge?
Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair
Graham Kendrick (born 1950)
Lord in the suffering, this is our prayer
Bread for the children, justice joy peace
Sunrise to sunset Your Kingdom increase.
Shelter for fragile lives cures for their ills
Work for the craftsmen, trade for their skills
Land for the disposed, rights for the weak
Voices to plead the cause of those who can't speak.
God of the poor, friend of the weak
give us compassion we pray
melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love from a spark to a flame.
Refuge from cruel wars, havens from fears
Cities for sanctuary Freedoms to share
Peace to the killing fields scorched earth to green
Christ for the bitterness, his cross for the pain
Rest for the ravaged earth, oceans and streams
Plundered and poisoned, our future our dreams
Lord end our madness, carelessness greed
make us content with the things that we need.
Lighten our darkness, breathe on this flame
until your justice, burns brightly again
until the nations, learn of your ways
Seek your salvation and bring you their praise.
God of the poor, friend of the weak
give us compassion we pray
melt our cold hearts let tears fall like rain
Come change our love from a spark to a flame.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession for Remembrance Sunday
On this Remembrance Sunday,
we remember past wars:
those who fought in them;
those who lived through them;
those who died in them.
Silence
We pray for the victims of past wars,
remembering before you, loving God,
those who died in battle,
or from the consequences of injury or disease,
and those who mourned or still mourn them.
We remember those permanently maimed or disabled,
and those psychologically scarred or disturbed.
We pray for an end to the suffering of war.
Silence
We pray for the victims of current conflicts,
remembering before you, loving God,
children trained to hate and fight,
families turned into homeless refugees,
and lands laid waste and made barren.
We remember those blinded or crippled
and those driven insane by nightmare experiences.
We pray for an end to the destructive hatred of war.
Silence
We pray for the peace of the world
remembering before you, loving God,
areas where there is armed conflict ...
and all those who are working for peace.
We remember that you have called us to strive together for the coming of your kingdom of love and peace.
We pray that you will equip us for the task
with the faith that knows
that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
In the name of Jesus, Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Hymn 543: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
tune: Mannheim), with Intro.
1. Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o'er the world's tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us
for we have no help but thee;
yet possessing every blessing,
if our God our Father be.
2. Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us;
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary,
through the desert thou didst go.
3. Spirit of our God, descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
nothing can our peace destroy.
James Edmeston (1791-1867)
Sending out and Blessing
Father in heaven,
we dedicate ourselves
to serve you and all peoples,
in the ways of peace,
to work for the relief of want and suffering
and for the glory of your name.
May your Holy Spirit guide us;
grant us wisdom and courage;
give us hope and keep us faithful in your ways
through all our days.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit be with you and all those to whom you are a blessing
Thanks to Meg Thomson for creating the Act of Remembrance video and to Meg and Dot for making Northgate's presence felt with the door display below.
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via Facebook)
These are available to view later as well. (via YouTube, for those without Facebook, and also Facebook)
The streamings are proving to be a great success - well done, Zöe!
The recorded streamings are now, thanks to Harry Marshall, available to all on YouTube - search for 'Northgate URC Darlington'.
Ask Harry to invite you to the Northgate Facebook Group 
and you will get a notification of the live stream.
- Or you can just search for 'Northgate URC Darlington' in Facebook.
The URC denominational church audio Services (podcasts) at https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ are excellent, with well-delivered prayers and readings using a selection of voices and well-presented hymns.
Do give these a try - they are excellent.
(Just start the sound playing and scroll down to the written words)
Why not put the time aside for Zoe at 10:45, our preacher's service after that and follow up with the podcast - you will feel as if you had been IN church, as well as WITH church.