The end of World War II 
60th Anniversary Service

This order of service indicates when to sit and stand, but for those who might find this difficult it is sufficient to stand for the Act of Remembrance and National Anthem.
Processional Hymn 	Stand
The standards are presented.
For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
and singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia! 
Welcome and Bidding Prayer  	Sit
We meet to give thanks to God, rejoicing that this thanksgiving is not ours alone, but shared by people in this nation, in the Commonwealth and across the world, many of whom are taking part in services like our own. 
One of the greatest architects of victory, Sir Winston Churchill, said: “In war, resolution; in defeat, defiance; in victory, magnanimity; and in peace, goodwill”. The last of these is predominant in our minds today. 
Those who survived the war and those too young to remember join together today in giving praise to God for what was achieved sixty years ago. Out of suffering came the broad alignments of peace, and the desire that the world should never again be engulfed in conflict. 
Our first motives then for coming here today are those of remembrance and thanksgiving. Devoutly and sincerely, we give thanks to God for what has been, and for those who gave of themselves. But we cannot simply look backwards. We must continue to look for peace on earth for all people. 
Our proclamation is that we have a message of reconciliation for the whole world. Swords can be beaten into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. New divisions, conflicts and hatreds have assailed the world in the early years of the new millennium. We know we must not rest here; we go on in hope for the future. 
So we pray for the coming of God's kingdom on earth as in heaven and say together the words our Lord gave us: 
Our Father, who art in heaven, 
hallowed 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. Amen. 

Hymn 	Stand

	All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell,
come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
without out aid he did us make:
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.

O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his Name always,
for it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good,
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom heaven and earth adore,
from men and from the angel host
be praise and glory evermore. 
	
Reading    Sit
Let us now sing the praises of famous men,
   our ancestors in their generations. 
The Lord apportioned to them great glory,
   his majesty from the beginning. 
There were those who ruled in their kingdoms,
   and made a name for themselves by their valour;
those who gave counsel because they were intelligent;
   those who spoke in prophetic oracles; 
those who led the people by their counsels
   and by their knowledge of the people’s lore;
   they were wise in their words of instruction; 
those who composed musical tunes,
   or put verses in writing; 
rich men endowed with resources,
   living peacefully in their homes— 
all these were honoured in their generations,
   and were the pride of their times. 
Some of them have left behind a name,
   so that others declare their praise. 
But of others there is no memory;
   they have perished as though they had never existed;
they have become as though they had never been born,
   they and their children after them. 
But these also were godly men,
   whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; 
their wealth will remain with their descendants,
   and their inheritance with their children’s children. 
Their descendants stand by the covenants;
   their children also, for their sake. 
Their offspring will continue for ever,
   and their glory will never be blotted out. 
Their bodies are buried in peace,
   but their name lives on generation after generation. 
The assembly declares their wisdom,
   and the congregation proclaims their praise.
Ecclesiaticus 44: 1-15

HYMN   Stand
  
	Fight the good fight with all thy might,
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right;
lay hold on life, and it shall be
thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race, through God's grace,
lift up thine eyes and seek his face;
life with its way before us lies,
Christ is the path and Christ the prize.

Cast care aside, lean on thy Guide;
his boundless mercy will provide;
trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life and Christ its love.
	
	Faint not nor fear, his arms are near;
he changeth not, and thou art dear;
only believe, and thou shalt see
that Christ is all in all to thee. 

	Reading 	Sit 

	Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.  James 3:13-18

Sermon 	Sit	

Litany of hope
Let us pray with hope for the future of the world 
and for the needs of all people.
For peace and justice in our world,
for an end to war and conflict,
for the leaders of all nations and peoples,
and for those who make peace and foster reconciliation.
Lord, in your mercy
All	hear our prayer. 
For the unity of all Christian people,
for the Church of God in every land,
for all who seek God and the truth,
and for all who follow the way of conscience with integrity.
Lord, in your mercy
All	hear our prayer. 
For the healing of memories,
for those who suffer as a result of war,
for communities where past wrongs and violence persist,
for all in pain or distress and those who care for them.
Lord, in your mercy
All	hear our prayer. 
For friendship and trust amongst all,
for an appreciation of our interdependence,
for the new partnership between all the nations of Europe,
and for a world that is in harmony with itself.
Lord, in your mercy
All	hear our prayer. 
Merciful Father, 
accept our prayers 
that we know your peace in our hearts, 
and your love in our lives, 
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn 	Stand

A collection will be taken.

Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus
going on before!
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
forward into battle,
see, his banners go.

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus
going on before!

At the sign of triumph
Satan's host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise. Refrain

Like a mighty army
moves the Church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod;
we are not divided,
all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine,
one in charity. Refrain	What the saints established 
that I hold for true.
what the saints believèd, 
that I believe too.
Long as earth endureth, 
men the faith will hold,
kingdoms, nations, empires, 
in destruction rolled. Refrain

Crown and thrones may perish,
kingdoms rise and wane,
but the Church of Jesus
constant will remain;
gates of hell can never
'gainst that Church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise,
and that cannot fail. Refrain

Onward, then, ye people,
join our happy throng;
blend with ours your voices
in the triumph song:
glory, laud, and honor,
unto Christ the King;
this through countless ages
men and angels sing. 

Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus
going on before!

The Act of Remembrance 		Stand
	  
The chaplain says   

Let us remember before God, 
and commend to his sure keeping: 
those who have died for their country in war;
those whom we knew, and whose memory we treasure;
and all who have lived and died in the service of mankind.

Another shall say:

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.   

And all repeat                

We will remember them. 

Last Post

Silence

Reveille

The Chaplain shall say:

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.

Hymn 	Stand
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now am found,
was blind but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
	Litany of thanksgiving 	Stand
A reader shall say
Let us offer our thanksgivings to Almighty God,  for the victory achieved on land, at sea, and in the air,  and for the liberation of so many from the cruelty of occupation and oppression. 
Let us bless the Lord: 
Thanks be to God. 
For those who endured captivity, torture, or death 
that others might be free. 
Let us bless the Lord: 
Thanks be to God. 
For the heroism and courage of those who served in the armed services; who worked on the home front in civil defence, hospitals and relief agencies; in factories, shops and farms. 
Let us bless the Lord: 
Thanks be to God. 

Act of commitment 
A reader shall say
Will you honour all who bore the pains and adversities of war?
By the help of God, we will. 
Will you offer them your help and support, 
and protect their dignity and welfare?
By the help of God, we will. 
Will you remember the causes for which they endured adversity 
and for which many fought and died, 
by promoting peace, justice and harmony among all people?
By the help of God, we will. 
Will you always acknowledge how precious are the gifts which God has entrusted to us, and exercise the freedoms and opportunities 
you have with gratitude and humility?
By the help of God, we will. 
The Chaplain shall say:
May Almighty God, who has given us the will to undertake these things, 
give us also the strength to perform them: for his name's sake. Amen. 
The National Anthem 	Stand
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen.
Send her victorious,
happy and glorious,
long to reign over us:
God save the Queen.
Thy choicest gifts in store
on her be pleased to pour
long may she reign.
May she defend our laws,
and ever give us cause
to sing with heart and voice,
God save the Queen.
	
	Blessing 
	The Chaplain shall  say:
God grant to the living grace, 
to the departed rest, 
to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people, 
peace and concord, 
and to us and all his servants life everlasting, 
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, 
Son and Holy Spirit be with you all evermore. Amen.
 Recessional Hymn

	Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.
	O Christ, the Universal Lord,
who suffered death by nails and sword,
from all assault of deadly foe
sustain thy soldiers where they go;
and evermore hold in thy hand
all those in peril on the land.
	O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace
Who fills with strength the human race;
Inspire mankind to know the right,
Guide all who dare the eagle's flight;
And underneath thy wings of care
Guard all from peril in the air.
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Praise from the air, the land and sea.