Remembrance

Housegroup Notes for - 14 Nov 2021

Remembering and Living to Pursue Peace  

John 15: 1-17, Micah 4: 1-4

Introduction:-

As we spend time in November remembering those who have made sacrifices for others, in some cases giving their lives so that others may live, it is worth considering why people might be willing to make this choice.

Few of us alive today took an active part in any of the 20th century world wars. And yet it is from childhood growing up that the Act of Remembrance was embedded in our family culture. “We will Remember them”

And as the poet said :- “When you go home – tell them of us and say”, “For your tomorrow we gave our today.”

John 15: 13 also says. “Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends.”

People will do many things for love. True love which passes all understanding shows in a totally selfless way how we can serve one another and bring about peace and tranquillity to our world.

Spend a moment in the group reflecting on why people might make the choice to give up their lives for others…………………

e.g.      To save a loved one who is in great peril.

            A sense of duty to Queen and country and to family members.

1.     Think about why it is that we want to remember these selfless actions.

2.     Do you think you would be capable of being so selfless?

3.     Does it worry you?

Reading:-   John 15 : 1- 17 – read it slowly and carefully and try to take in the deep meaning within the passage.

·       How did (and does) Jesus show his love for us?

·       If the Father is the Gardener how do we see that in our daily lives?

·       What does it mean that Christ is the vine, and we are the branches?

·       How can we remain in Him?

It is good to have a time of Remembrance and living to pursue peace so that we can avoid bad things happening again. If we are aware of how much damage our actions can do and how many people can be hurt by what we say we may think twice before we do it again.

Take the example of using racist language. In the news lately it has become clear that people in the past thought this was simply banter and that it was ok to be rude about other people and their cultures. Now today things have changed. As we realise that this is offensive to others and degrading, we can then make changes for the good of all. We need to be mindful of how our speech and actions can hurt and offend and choose to make changes for the good of all.

Take some time in your group to consider how we as a church and a nation may need to reflect and work better towards bringing Peace in our time.

Reading 2.  Micah 4 : 1- 7

·       Do you long for peoples to stream to the Lord’s temple?

·       How will he teach his ways?

·       Do we have a part to play in encouraging others to come to church?

·       Does the Law of the Lord still apply today?

·       Are we upholding it?

Verse 3. “They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation nor will they train for war any more.”

·       How can we work together to do our part in bringing about this vision of peace and goodwill?

·       Are there wars still in the world? Why?

·       What can we do?

What about the other side of the coin?  Forgive and Forget

·       Should we let bygones be bygones?

·       Is there a place for accepting that the past happened and cannot be changed?

·       Consider the subject of slavery – people are trying to take away statues commemorating slave owners for the good they did for this country – is this the right thing to do?  Is there a Christian viewpoint on this?

As we work together as groups to bring God’s love and peace to all, let us take time to pray and consider our part in it all.

We may not have been called to lay down our lives for others, but we are certainly called to be peacemakers:

Matthew 5: 9 says “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.”   Let us pledge ourselves this week to do all we can to work for the common good. To make peace with all and not let the sun go down on our anger.

Let us choose to follow Christ and to love one another every day.

And let us remember so that, if it is within our power, wars and conflicts will cease.

You may like to read this poem together:-

They shall grow not old,

As we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,

Or the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

And in the morning,

We will remember them

We will remember them.

Prayers:-

As we remember those who died in war for the cause of peace
Lord, make us peace makers

    As we look to the future of our children and grandchildren.
Lord, make us peace makers

         As we think of the war torn, blood-stained, sorrowful world:
Lord, make us peace makers

         Lord, hear our prayer and come to us in perfect love, to drive away our fear; in the name of the Prince of peace,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.