Prayers of the Community

By Glenda Thomson
Remembrance Day
November 11, 2003

Let us pray:

 Almighty God, we gather today with heavy hearts to honour those who sacrificed their lives in foreign lands for the ideals of freedom and justice and social equality.

 Some amongst us were here seventy‑five years ago today when this congregation marked Armistice Day in this glorious chapel for the first time. We are mindful that the pledge to end all wars has yet to be fulfilled and we commit ourselves to continue the struggle. We pray for your divine guidance in our quest.

 We pray for the souls of those lost in the struggles to end tyranny – in World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Cold War; and in continuing conflicts in the Balkans, the Middle East and southwest Asia.

 We pray also for those who, in serving alongside fallen comrades, lost their health and their innocence; for the men and women of this congregation, veterans, who speak to us by their very presence of our commitment to carry forward the torch of peace.

 We pray for all who continue to serve Canada around the globe, both in and out of uniform – soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, nurses and doctors, aid workers, journalists and teachers. We hold them in our hearts and pray for their safe return.

 Gracious God, support us and guide us in fulfilling the vision of the prophet Micah – to beat swords into ploughshares, spears into pruning hooks.

 God of grace, hear our prayer.

 As we bow our heads here, we are united with men and women across this great and wonderful country and with those serving Canada in Afghanistan, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, the Golan Heights, Cyprus, Jerusalem, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Senegal. We join them in praying in the words of our Lord, Jesus Christ:

 Our loving God, who art in heaven. . . .