For Christians the act of remembering is something that not only
happens each and every Sunday, but also each day of the year.
We remember, not only the saints and martyrs of the Christian faith,
but we remember those who are sick, and also the dying. We remember those
who grieve, and those who have asked us to pray for them in our daily prayers.
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On the Sunday before Remembrance Day, it is the custom of the Anglican Church
to participate in an act of remembrance. As we gather we "re-member"
ourselves to those brave men and women as we remember their
ultimate sacrifice of war that we might live in freedom and peace.
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Remembrance Sunday is a time of solemn prayers and worship,
as we give thanks for those who have fought and died in the two
great wars, also the Korean War, and more recently in Afghanistan.
We also remember those who have survived the horrors of war
and as lives unfold, left to struggle with the memories of war.
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War, every war, robs young men and women of the rest of their lives.
War robes wives of their husbands, and husbands of their wives.
War robs children of fathers and mothers and mothers and fathers
of their sons and daughters, and siblings of brothers and sisters ....
and the list, never ending, just goes on ... and on.
In preparation for tomorrow's sermon, and remembering, as John O'Donohue
once wrote, "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor" the first week in my role
as "interim" prist and pastor, and wandering around Holy Trinity Church,
Fonthill, reading the many plaques commemorating the lives of people,
mostly members of the Church, there was a beautifully crafter memorial
chair, placed beside the Altar, dedicated to the memory of Private
Edward J. Hare, 20th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force.
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Edward J. Hare was 43 years of age when he "killed in action" on May 10th, 1917.
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Private Edward J. Hare, born in England July 25th 1874, was the beloved husband of
Isabel F. Hare, who gave the chair as a memorial, dedicated to the glory of God and
in loving memory of her beloved husband. There is no indication they had children,
however, his widow, Isabel, had the these words engraved on the memorial chair:
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"There was a call for men: he answered."
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Then, as the evening sun was setting, and my thoughts were already on tomorrow
morning, as when we will gather, in religious freedom, peace and prosperity to remember, not only our stories of faith (the Gospel is about a widow) but to also engage actively
in a sacred act of remembrance .... remembering all those who gave their all.
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At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.
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I wrote this reflection back in 2015.
Blessings! John.
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