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Good morning.

Two decades ago British troops were patrolling the streets of Northern Ireland, as they’d been since 1969.

And yet on Monday the leaders of the G8 will meet for summit talks at Loch Erne in County Fermanagh. As powerful symbols of progress go, that takes some beating. I hope people will remember just how much progress there’s been since those dark days two decades ago.

And I hope due credit will be given to everyone who took risks, personal as well as political, to bring this change about. Not just the people whose names appear in headlines, but the minor heroes who showed major courage in local communities.

And much further afield, as the world focusses its attention on South Africa and Nelson Mandela, it’s important to remember the ordinary people who made sacrifices and took risks, as well as the great public figures – vital though their inspiring leadership certainly has been.

Remembrance is important, whatever community you come from – and whatever conflict you’re remembering. And difficult. A balancing act between recalling heroism and glorifying violence, between a search for what really happened and not being trapped in history - remembering what has been – and being free to say "Yes" to what will be.

Lord God,

Your love brings healing to those who will accept it.

Open our eyes to see that love at work in your world.

Open our hearts to hear your call for us –

to live justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you, our God.

Amen.