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This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission, as it was prepared before the service was broadcast. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors that were corrected before the radio broadcast.
It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world,

Opening Announcement
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 It’s ten past eight. Sunday Worship on this Remembrance Day comes from Christ Church, Ballynure in Co Antrim. The preacher is the Right Rev the Lord Eames and the service is led by Right Rev Ken Clarke

BISHOP KEN CLARKE
Good morning and welcome to this Service of Remembrance from Christ Church in Ballynure in County Antrim about 15Ìý miles from Belfast.

We’re here to worship God whose purposes are good,
whose power sustains the world,
Who loves us with an everlasting love despite our failures
And whose Son Jesus Christ laid down his life for the world.

And as we thanks him for all that he has done for us
We remember those who lived and died in his service
And the service of others
We pray for all who suffer through war and violence
Thinking today of all whose lives were overturned
By the Remembrance day Bombing in Enniskillen
Thirty years ago
And we seek his blessing on our livesÌý
Praying that the world will come to acknowledge God as Lord and King.

So we pray:
Lord, as we worship you,
Help us to remember your power as we admit our weaknesses.
Help us to remember your mercy as we acknowledge our failures.
Help us to remember your love as we admit our slowness in responding to all you have done for us
Through Jesus Christ, our LordÌý AMEN

We pray for peace as members of The New Irish ChoirÌý sing O God of love, O King of peace

MUSIC 1 O God of Love O King of Peace (Rockingham)

God our Father, we worship and adore you- the god of Power
Though life is insecure, though our courage fails, though the future often seems uncertain, there is no change in you, no wavering in your purpose.

We worship you the God of mercy and love.
Though men and women have disobeyed you and doubted your power; though they destroy each other and create chaos in your world,
you have never lost your patience with us
but in Jesus Christ call us to a better way and higher things.

Lord we confess we have sinned against you in thought and word and deed.
We acknowledge that we are unworthy of all you have done for us
We can forget all about you and the sacrifice you made for us in Jesus Christ.

We are slow to follow him, and unwilling to follow his example.

We forget too the sacrifices other people have made for us.
We take too much for granted- grabbing rather than giving
hoarding rather \than sharing.

Lord ,We seek your forgiveness,
because of what you have done for us in Jesus Christ.
So assure us we pray for your pardon and peace to all who confess their sins and turn to you through Jesus Christ in whose name we offer all our prayers.Ìý AMEN.

BISHOP CLARKE
Today we are aware of the great sacrifice made by vast numbers of peopleÌý in the two World Wars of the last century and in other conflicts. The total number of those who died is impossible to take. Near this church there is a war memorial with the names ofÌý xx people from this village who were killed and behind the every name of those who were killed, there is an individual story and a particular memory. This is one of milliions of stories:

READER: April 1916… and in Roan Cottage, Armagh, Lena McBride sits at the kitchen table, pen in hand, about to relate the daily goings-on to her son.
Ìý
READER: She’s good at writing to him… and he’s not bad at replying.Ìý He’s been in uniform for nine months now… but she wishes he was back home, cuttin’ and polishin’ leather, making good sturdy boots and shoes… he’d served his time at it an’ was doing well before he left for the war.

ETTA: Lena touches a photo frame – he made it for her with an off-cut of leather from the workshop – her son Willie… smart in his new uniform.Ìý Seems no time since he was a wee lad… sure he still is.Ìý Lena starts the letter…but he’ll never read it.Ìý Tomorrow, he will die.

READER:ÌýÌý Dear Mrs McBride… the enclosed photograph… was found near your son’s body. I need not tell you how much we all miss your son, and I am pleased to be able to tell you that I had recommended him to my company commander for bravery in carrying a message under very heavy shell fire…. You may rest assured that he died in a manner which will always to be an example to his comrades – doing their duty In the days to come.Ìý Lieutenant John A Kelly

READER: It was nice of him to return the photo… good of him to remember. Lena McBride would never forget…

READER: Was it her son who inspired Scottish songwriter Eric Bogle? Who knows… does it matter?Ìý The name – Willie McBride – is still remembered.

READING

A reading from Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
ÌýÌý in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
ÌýÌý or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
ÌýÌý from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn us back to dust,
ÌýÌý and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’
For a thousand years in your sight
ÌýÌý are like yesterday when it is past,
ÌýÌý or like a watch in the night.

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
ÌýÌý like grass that is renewed in the morning;
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
ÌýÌý in the evening it fades and withers.

Turn, O Lord! How long?
ÌýÌý Have compassion on your servants!
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
ÌýÌý so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
ÌýÌý and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be manifest to your servants,
ÌýÌý and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
ÌýÌý and prosper for us the work of our hands—
ÌýÌý O prosper the work of our hands!

MUSIC 2 LORD FOR THE YEARSÌý (Lord of the Years)

READING
A reading from the 8th chapter of St Paul’s letter to the Romans
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
‘For your sake we are being killed all day long;
ÌýÌý we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

MUSIC 3Ìý Still, my soul, be stillÌý (Getty)

BISHOP CLARKE
Lord God we remember and thank today all those to whom we owe the life and the privileges we possess.
We thank you for those who lived and suffered and died to give us the freedom of conscience, speech and worship we enjoy.
We thank you for those who lived and suffered and died so that the barriers which divide us from each other may be broken.
We thank you for who died in war, on land, at sea and in the air
for those who were wounded in body or mind so that life was never the same again.
We thank you for those who in every generation have laid down their lives for their friends.
And above all we thank you for Jesus Christ- that he loved us and gave himself for us;
That he bore the Cross with all its pain and shame.

Help us to remember all that our lives have cost and so to use them properly.
Help us to make our remembrance not only with our lips but also with our lives
Help is to be selfless- putting the needs of others before our own so that we go out of our way and pay a price to help other people
Help us to live as your disciples
That we may show mercy and make peace and long to see right prevail, recognising at all times our need of your love and your power, through Jesus Christ our Lord,ÌýÌý AMEN
After the Choir sings A Prayer of St Francis, Lord Eames, the former Archbishop of Armagh will preach.

MUSIC 4Ìý A Prayer of St FrancisÌý (Jonathan Rea)

LORD EAMES
Thirty years ago on a Sunday morning I stood outside a Cathedral in a provincial town in Northern Ireland. It was Remembrance Sunday and we awaited the arrival of a parade of ex service men and woman and youth organisations before beginning the annual Remembrance Day service. The plan was as it had always been for that parade to march to the Cathedral for a service once the traditional wreathes were laid at the town War Memorial.
That service never took place....
In a shattering few seconds a terrorist bomb exploded as people bowed their heads at the Memorial - lives were lost - bodies were scared - minds were marked for ever with ghastly pictures of the carnage
In those few seconds the town found its way into the history books of atrocious examples of inhumanity.Ìý What became known as the "Enniskillen Bomb" took its place in the long list of outrages in the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Thirty years later the memory for those of us who were there has not dimmed.
We have lived on in the years since and while a generation is growing up who can only read about that Sunday morning in history books that peculiar part of us we call 'memory' won't let those pictures of horror disappear.
At this time of the year the whole nation pauses to remember...to remember lives lost by generations of young men and women in war. We unite in the words "We will remember them". We do so as a way of showing respect. But because those generations like the dead of Enniskillen are no longer here with us we talk about remembrance.
It is said our memories help to make us the person we are. That may sound a bland conclusion but the truth is what we remember, how we remember it and how we recall things in our past all have an effect on us. Pictures of our past experiences which recall happiness. Can bring a sense of wellbeing even satisfaction. Recalling something we wish had never happened or which makes us ashamed won’t go away try as we may. Memories of READERs and faces we see no more and moments which changed our lives do affect the person we are now. Memory is a complex part of our lives. Sometimes we struggle to remember, At others reflections of our past flood our consciousness at will. Remembering can be a mixed blessing.

For the person of faith the past can be something of great value. For the Christian it is a wonderful privilege to thank Almighty God for reminders of His love and mercy. Even looking back on all of life's ups and downs allows us to see the hand of God at times we did not recognise it at the time. The pattern of the past can take on a different perspective when we look back on it all. Of course there will have been incidents we still find hard to accept let alone understand. Such memories test our faith. But if we thank God for His presence today thatÌý assurance has as much to say about those memories.

There are words which sum up the connection between remembering and our faith for the Christian. They apply just as easily to the good of the past as to those days we try to forget:
ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý "God the same yesterday, today and for ever..."

The God of our yesterday's is the same presence of reassurance, grace ...and forgiveness... as that strength we seek in the here and now.

Remembrance at this time of the year is a very special emotion. But whatever our reason this morning for thinking back the God of yesterday can still answer our greatest longing. .That presence reaches out to make sense of it all as we move on from the past.

So like those who shared that Sunday morning with me thirty years ago in Enniskillen just as with all who have memories we commit them to the God of the ages who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

MUSIC 5ÌýÌý HE WILL HOLD ME FAST (arr Rea)

BISHOP KEN CLARKE
On this Remembrance Sunday, let us bring before the God of peace our prayers for the world, the church and all His people.
Merciful God, we pray for peace in our hearts and homes,
In our nations and our world,
The peace which is your will,
The peace which we so badly need.

READER We pray for your world in this time of uncertainty and with war or rumours of war in so many places. May your Spirit rest on all who bear responsibility for government among the nations. Give them wisdom courage and strength that they may strive to make and maintain a true and lasting peace that the peoples of this world may dwell together without enmity and without fear.

READER We remember all in positions of responsibility in this landÌý for Her Majesty the Queen and all the Royal Family, the government, Members of Parliament and our local and City Councils.; those who seek to find the way forward in the political process in Norhern Ireland that they may have your guidance at all times and seek only what is best for all the people of this nation..

READER We remember to day those who are denied a full life because of the wounds they bear on their bodies and minds
those for whom this day brings great sadness. Loneliness and a deep sense of loss
We think of those who continue to suffer because of the Enniskillen bombing,
May they allÌý know that comfort and peace you alone can give.
Ìý
READER We remember all who still put their lives at risk for the sake of others - those who uphold the law, fire fighters, members of life boat crews and those whose work is dangerous that they may know your protection in all that they do.

READER We pray for children and young people remembering especially those who are hungry and poor,
those who suffer because of violence and war
those who face strong temptation
those who are unloved and lonely.
Make them strong we pray in the face of suffering and confusion and bless all who work with children in different ways that they may be conscious of the example of the one who said let the children come to me.

BISHOP KEN CLARKE
Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: Hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
And these and all our prayers we offer through Jesus Christ our Lord who taught us to pray.ÌýÌý

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallow'd 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.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
for Thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever.Ìý
Amen

MUSIC 6Ìý A Clare Benediction (Rutter)

BISHOP KEN CLARKE
Go out into the world in peace; Be of good courage;
Hold fast that which is good; Render no one evil for evil;
Strengthen the faint-hearted; Support the weak; Help the afflicted;
Honour all people; Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
And the blessing…