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November 2018

Remember, remember the 5th November or so the nursery rhyme, the Gunpower plot begins. November is now upon us. The clocks have gone back and it is getting darker earlier and the loud whizzes and bangs and colourful flashes of rockets and fireworks will soon begin to light up the blackness of the night sky to commemorate when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up King James and the Houses of Parliament.

Bonfire night celebrations always seem to go on for weeks now rather than just one night these days – sometimes even on the 11th November on Remembrance day when it is more appropriate perhaps for a time of silence and quiet reflection to remember when the guns finally fell silent over the western front 100 years ago and there was peace marking the end of the first world war.

November is all about remembering. On Remembrance Sunday, people all around the country and all around the world, come together to remember and say thank you to all those members of the armed forces past and present who have been wounded or have paid the ultimate sacrifice and have given their lives in conflicts and war to bring us the relative freedom we enjoy today. We can choose to wear a red poppy. The poppy is a symbol of remembrance and hope.

As Christians, we are reminded that we also have our own symbol of remembrance and hope – the cross – in which we remember the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made dying for us and then raised again for the forgiveness of our sins. We have the freedom to meet together every Sunday to say thank you for all He has done for us. We have the reassurance of a wonderful saviour who is at work in our lives and hearts through the Holy Spirit changing us and moulding us into the people He wants us to be.

In Matthew 5:9 – Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called Children of God.” Jesus wants us to be the peacemakers in a world where tensions, conflicts and war are sadly still prevalent and to show others how God wants us all His children to live together in peace.

We continue to ‘remember’ in our thoughts and prayers those in the church family who are unwell and in need of God’s special touch of healing at this time May they and you all know God’s peace, joy and love in the days and weeks ahead.

Blessings and love, Robert