We're going to begin our worship by singing to God's praise in Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 46 in the Scottish Psalter, page 271 of the psalm book.
We're going to sing from verse 1 down to verse 7.
Psalm 46, page 271.
God is our refuge and our strength in straits a present deed.
Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
Though hills amidst the seas be cast, the waters roaring make and troubled be.
Yea, though the hills by swelling seas do shake.
We'll sing verse 1 to 7 to God's praise and we stand to sing.
Amen.
God is our refuge and our strength in straits a present day.
Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.
Though hills amidst the seas be cast, though waters roaring make and troubled be.
In all the hills by swelling seas do shake.
A river is whose streams to glad the city of our God.
God is our refuge and our strength in the city of God.
The Lord of hosts upon our side doth constantly remain.
God is our strength in the city of our breve, Amen.
The Holy God of hosts upon our prime
Our gracious Father in heaven, we thank you for the privilege that is in coming to worship you today on such a glorious day, a beautiful day.
Outside, we pray to know the blessing of your peace inside here as well, that you will be with us, Lord, and with all who gather to worship you this day.
We thank you that together we come to look to you and to praise your name, even as we have sung, that you are our refuge and our strength, our help in times of trouble.
And today, as we remember, Lord, so much that goes on in our world and has gone on in the past, especially on this Remembrance Sunday, we thank you for the freedom we enjoy, especially for those who gave their lives that we might have that freedom.
And we pray that from the youngest to the oldest here, we will have a great sense of thankfulness for all that we have, all that is from your hand.
And we pray today, Lord, that we will be still before you and just know that you are with us.
So bless us, we pray, Lord.
Look down upon us.
Bless the young ones as they will go through to the Sunday school in a few moments.
Lord, be with them there and watch over us all as a people here, pardoning all our sins as we ask it all in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Boys and girls, before you go through to the hall for Sunday school classes, I just want to say a few words to you.
Today is Remembrance Sunday and yesterday was Remembrance Day, the 11th of November.
It was a significant date in our calendar because we look back over a number of years and to this day and we remember those who have given such a great sacrifice for our freedom.
Many lost their lives in conflict in the past and today we remember too that around the world there are many conflicts going on.
And we do look to God to help in these times and that he might give us peace.
But there's something that we see at this time that reminds us just to pause for a few moments in remembrance.
And that is the poppy.
You'll see it, people wearing it today and you'll see it in different places.
I'm sure you've seen it during this week.
The poppy is seen at this time and it just reminds us of people who have given their lives.
I wanted to show you a poppy that was made for the church here.
It was by someone who comes to the Friday at the Free.
And a few weeks ago they gave us this.
And it's a number of poppies that have been knitted and then sewn together to make one big wreath.
And then in the middle, maybe you can't see it, but this black strip has words on it that says,
Lest we forget.
We are to remember what many people did for us in the past.
And that is really what the poppy is about.
It's a reminder for us.
It was first used in 1921.
Not long after the end of the First World War.
And the poppy was significant because after the war ended, there was a number of fields,
especially in France, where so much devastation was left.
It was just a place of mud.
And they were thinking, could anything grow here once again after all these years of war?
And the first thing that started to grow on the ground was the poppy.
And some of the fields ended up just full of poppies, red in color.
And it's a powerful reminder to us, especially when you even think of the color red,
when you think of sacrifices made, number of people who died in conflicts over many years.
And somebody said at the end of the First World War,
when you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we give our today.
And again, it's just a powerful reminder to us of the sacrifice that was made for us to enjoy freedom,
to be able to come to church, to be able to live our lives,
to be able to go to Sunday school, to enjoy our freedom.
But our greatest reminder today of our freedom is that another one gave his life,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our freedom from sin came at a price.
And again, the color red reminds us of that,
that Jesus shed his blood on the cross,
that we might have freedom from our sins.
So today, we do remember those who gave their lives and continue to give life for our freedom.
But above all, we remember the Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for our peace and for our salvation and our security,
that through him we might have life and life eternal.
So may God bless us today as a people and as a nation and indeed as a world
as we think of these things and pray for God's peace and presence for all his people.
Well, we'll say the Lord's Prayer together now.
Let's say the Lord's Prayer.
Amen.
Well, there's again, sing to God's praise.
This time we're singing in Psalm 139a.
This is in the Sing Psalms version.
Psalm 139a.
And we're going to sing from verse 13 down to verse 18.
This is on page 181 of the psalm book.
Psalm 139a and at verse 13.
A reminder to us that the Lord knows all about us and all his people.
For you, O Lord, created me.
You wove me on your loom.
My inmost being you have formed within my mother's womb.
Because I'm wonderfully made, with all your praise I'll tell.
Your workmanship is marvelous.
And this I know full well.
We'll sing from verse 13 to 18 to God's praise.
For you, O Lord, created me.
You hold me on your loom.
My inmost being you have formed within my mother's womb.
Because I'm wonderfully made, with all your praise I tell.
Your workmanship is marvelous.
And this I know full well.
When in the secret place my frame was made before my birth.
You saw my body yet conformed within the depths of earth.
And all the days that I should live, which you ordained for me,
Were written in your book, O Lord, before they came to me.
O God, how precious are your thoughts.
I scarred them from afar.
And as I seek to grasp them all,
How numberless they are.
Were I to count them they would be,
More than the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am with you.
Still safe within your hands.
Amen.
Well, we'll turn together to read in God's word now in the Old Testament
in the book of Ecclesiastes.
And we're reading in chapter 3.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
You know, the book of Psalms and Proverbs and then Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
And we can read the whole of this chapter together.
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to break down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together.
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to seek and a time to lose.
A time to keep and a time to cast away.
A time to tear and a time to sow.
A time to keep silence and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
What gain has the worker from his toil?
I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.
He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also he has put enmity into eternity into man's heart.
Yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
I perceive that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.
Also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil.
This is God's gift to man.
I perceive that whatever God does endures forever.
Nothing can be added to it.
Not anything taken from it.
God has done it so that people fear before him.
That which is already has been.
That which is to be already has been.
And God seeks what has been driven away.
Moreover I saw under the sun that in the place of justice even there was wickedness.
And in the place of righteousness even there was wickedness.
I said in my heart God will judge the righteous and the wicked.
For there is a time for every matter and for every work.
I said in my heart with regard to the children of man that God is testing them that they may see that they themselves are but beasts.
For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same.
As one dies so dies the other.
They all have the same breath and man has no advantage over the beasts.
For all is vanity.
All go to one place.
All are from the dust and to dust all return.
Who knows whether the spirit of man goes upwards and the spirit of the beast goes down into the earth.
So I saw there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work.
For that is his lot.
Who can bring him to see what will be after him.
Amen.
And may God bless that reading of his word.
Let's again just bow our heads in a word of prayer.
Let us pray.
Lord our gracious God as we continue in your presence today.
We thank you that your promise is of your presence with your people.
We have such great promises in your word that never will you leave us.
Never will you forsake us.
We have sung of these promises in Psalm 46 that God is our refuge and our strength.
And all of these things remind us that we need you.
And where would we be without you?
And even in times of trouble and conflict as we remember today.
We thank you that you are the God of heaven and earth.
That you are the God who is sovereign over all things.
That you are the one who rules on high and has plans and purposes even that we cannot comprehend at times.
We cannot see or understand.
And yet we look to your word and we thank you that you remind us through it.
That as we look to the things in this world from our own perspective that we seek, where we seek understanding we cannot find it.
But yet when we look above, when we look to you as God of heaven and earth, that you are able to help us.
That you are able to give us a peace in the midst of trouble.
A peace that passes all understanding.
For your word is a word of life.
You have made us for a purpose, Lord.
You have formed us.
You have marked our days.
And we pray, Lord, that you will help us even as we live and breathe in this earth.
That we would seek to do all for your glory.
That we would seek to draw near to you and come and offer up worship and praise to you.
That even today as you remind us through your word of a time for everything.
That you will help us, Lord, to seek understanding and wisdom.
Not in our own selves or in anything of this world.
But in you.
That your spirit will minister to us and help us to have understanding.
And we do pray today, Lord, for our world.
And we pray, O Lord, in the midst of a day of remembrance.
That you will hear your praying people.
That you will look down upon us and hear a people who cry.
A people who weep.
A people who mourn.
And we pray, Lord, that you will come in your power.
That you will come to bring peace and to bring comfort.
In the midst of such devastating situations.
We do pray, Lord, that you will remember us as a people.
Even as you have done in the past.
When you have brought times of conflict to an end as we remember today.
We give thanks, O Lord, for the many occasions that you have brought nations and people.
Through such difficult days.
Such dark days.
But you are a God who has been able to bring peace when it seemed impossible.
And even today, as we think of things that are impossible for ourselves.
We thank you that all things are possible with you.
And so, Lord, hear our prayers.
Hear us, Lord, and look down upon us.
And do us good, we ask.
And we thank you that today is a day to rejoice.
Today is a day when we are reminded of your great power.
A power that is life and resurrection.
That on this first day of the week we come to worship you as our Lord and as our God.
Thankful for your Son, Christ Jesus.
Who you sent into this world.
That he would lay down his life for his people.
And that he would take it up again.
And that he would ascend on high.
And that there is a promise that he will come again.
That he will come, O Lord, to fulfill all scripture.
That he will come to fulfill all promises of peace and life and life eternal.
That he will come to bring his people together with him.
To wipe away all the tears.
And to fill our mouths with joy and singing and gladness.
And we thank you for the promise of hope that is in your word.
And we pray today that as your word is preached and proclaimed.
Far and wide.
That people will have ears to hear.
And that your spirit will work in power among us.
As a people here and throughout our nation and throughout the world.
That your word will bear much fruit.
And we do thank you, Lord, that in all our different needs.
Our needs are there many.
That we can come to you in prayer.
You are the one who hears.
And you are the only one who can help.
In so many different situations we find ourselves.
We think of those who are mourning and grieving at this time.
And we commit them to you, O Lord.
We ask your blessing, your comfort, your help towards them.
We think of those who are unwell in hospital or homes.
Or at home, their own homes.
Lord, we pray for your help towards them.
It may not be that healing will come.
But we pray, Lord, for your healing of the soul.
For you to bless as only you can.
To give hope in the midst of such uncertain times.
We pray for our people as a whole throughout our communities, Lord.
That you will look down upon us.
That you will bless us, Lord.
That you will work in our midst.
Bringing young and old.
Boys and girls.
Men and women.
To profess Christ Jesus as Lord.
Again, O Lord, we pray that you will revive our hearts.
That you will stir us up, O Lord.
That you will hear our prayers.
And so we thank you, Lord, that you are the God who is with us.
That you have not abandoned us.
That even in moments of silence, Lord, you speak to us.
For there is power even in silence.
But we thank you, Lord, that you have spoken from the very beginning.
That you created all things by the word of your power.
And we thank you, too, that you have spoken to us and speak to us even now.
Through your son, Christ Jesus.
And we pray that as we hear your word even now.
That you will speak to us all.
That you will help us to hear.
And repent and turn to you.
And so we ask all these things acknowledging our sins.
We know, Lord, how far short we fall.
And we seek forgiveness for all our sins.
We sin daily in thought, word, and indeed in action as your word says.
And we just ask your forgiveness, Lord, that you will restore us.
And that you will bless us.
So be with us now and continue to go before us throughout this day.
And throughout the days ahead, according to your will.
That you will direct us in your paths.
And hear our prayers.
And all we ask, we ask in Jesus' precious name.
Amen.
Let's again sing to God's praise.
Before we turn back to our reading in Ecclesiastes.
We're singing in Psalm 76.
In the Sing Psalms version, Psalm 76.
Page 99 of the Psalm book.
We can sing from verse 1 down to verse 9.
Psalm 76 from verse 1 down to verse 9.
In Judah's land, God's name is known.
In Israel, he is great.
In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
His home in Zion set.
He broke the fire.
He arrows there.
The military might of those who with their swords and shields against us came to fight.
We'll sing Psalm 76 verse 1 down to verse 9.
Psalm 76.
In Judah's land, God's name is known.
In Israel, he is great.
In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
His home in Zion set.
He broke the fire.
He has pitched his tent.
In Israel, he is great.
He broke the fire.
In Israel, he is great.
In Salem, he has pitched his tent.
Salem, he has pitched his tent, his home in Zion set.
He broke the fiery arrows there, the military might of those who with their swords and shields against us came to fight.
Your splendor is more glorious on hillsides rich with praise.
Brave men were stripped of hope, their squirt asleep in death they lay.
Not one of those great warriors could lift his hands to kill.
At your rebuke, O Jacob's God, ride there and heart lay still.
For you alone are to be feared before you who can stand.
Who can injure your anger, Lord, the judgments you command.
From heaven your verdict was thrown out, and was hashed in awe.
When you arose to save the poor and vindicate your law.
Amen.
Well, let's turn back to our reading in Ecclesiastes chapter 3.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3, and it speaks here about a time for everything and how our times are in the hands of God.
For everything there is a season and a time.
For every matter under heaven, a time to be born and a time to die.
And so it goes on down to verse 8 where it speaks of a time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
Newspaper headlines today are designed to catch your attention.
So as you're looking online or as you're looking in the shops, you'll see the front pages.
And you'll be drawn to them by a headline that stands out.
And in order to do this nowadays, sometimes maybe truth is stretched.
Or even at times maybe a downright lie is told in order to draw attention towards that.
But there are times, however, when front page headlines do shock.
And they shock us to the point where we maybe hope that it is a lie.
That it is not true.
The headlines in newspapers at times of war are often such a time.
A time when we hope this headline may not be true.
May the suffering that we're seeing not actually be happening.
And today as we come on a day of remembrance,
when we remember the sacrifices that have been made for us as a people,
as we remember those who lost their lives and conflicts passed,
and to this day who put their lives on the line so that we might enjoy peace.
Our thoughts go back.
We reflect looking back perhaps over many years.
And when you look at newspaper headlines over the years,
there have been times when they have shocked this nation's and many nations in the world.
For example, the newspaper headline on the 5th of August 1914
was Great Britain at war with Germany.
Germany.
From that date until the end of the First World War,
four years later,
the suffering was immense and there was a horrendous loss of life that ensued.
But then, just a few years later,
25 years later,
on the 3rd of September 1939,
the newspaper headline once again had these same words on the front.
Great Britain at war with Germany.
And another conflict ensued over a long period of time,
and again,
many lives were lost.
And these are headlines that our nation has seen at different times.
In 1982 with the Falklands War,
in 2003,
and 2014
with the Gulf War.
And they are headlines that we see in our news in this past year,
and even in these days in which we live.
These things cause us to pause.
And as we think of these things today,
the Word of God speaks to us.
It speaks into our situation today,
as it always does,
that even into the darkest of times,
God's Word is able to give light,
to give direction,
and to give hope.
And to give us a hope of a better future.
To give us hope of a peaceful end.
And above all,
to give us hope for eternity.
The Word here in Ecclesiastes,
as we're going to look at,
reminds us of the realities and the truths of life.
Things that we often cannot understand.
Things that we maybe see no reason for,
and just don't have the answer to.
God's Word helps us.
Helps us in some measure to see
that He has a plan and a purpose in all things.
And the opening words of Ecclesiastes,
if you go back to chapter 1,
they're a little like a newspaper headline
that's there to shock us as well,
when it says in verse 1,
the words of the preacher,
the son of David, king of Jerusalem.
Then verse 2, it just stands out to us.
Vanity of vanities, says the preacher.
Vanity of vanities.
All is vanity.
Another translation is
meaningless, meaningless,
all is meaningless.
And surely you would expect
something more from the Word of God
than to say,
meaningless, meaningless,
all is meaningless.
Well, there are two phrases
that are used in these opening chapters
of Ecclesiastes
that help us to see a real contrast.
And one is,
as it speaks here of
under the sun,
as it says in chapter 1,
verse 3,
what does man gain by all the toil
at which he toils?
Under the sun.
Under the sun is
when we look at things
in our own perspective,
when we look at things,
seeking to understand them
by ourselves.
But then as you go into chapter 3,
the first verse there says,
for everything,
there is a season,
a time for every matter
under heaven.
And there is the contrast for us.
No longer are we looking at things
under the sun,
and seeking to look at things
from our own perspective
and our own understanding,
but now we're beginning to see
how the Lord gives us
understanding and help,
even to understand
the difficult things in life.
For everything,
there is a season,
there is a time,
and a time for every matter
under heaven.
And this is under heaven,
seeking to help us
to understand things
from God's perspective,
to look to him
in the things
that we so often
cannot understand,
and to see
that we can trust him.
So that is what
we are looking at today.
In chapter 3,
we see that things
under heaven,
things that are
in the light
of God's providence
and God's control,
that everything
that happens
in our world,
as it speaks here
of a time for everything,
a time to be born,
a time to die,
a time to love,
a time to hate,
a time for war,
and a time for peace.
That we can see it
as God is still
in control,
God is still sovereign,
God is able
to help.
And so there's three things
I want us to take
from verse 1
to verse 15
in particular.
What we're looking at here
is a time
for everything.
And that's our first thought,
a time
for everything.
But the second thing
slightly changes that
it's everything
in its time.
So we don't seek
to rush things.
Much as we would love
things to change,
that God has
everything
in its time.
And then the third thing
I want us to think about
is a time
to reflect,
a time to think
about these things.
So first of all,
we see
a time
for everything.
The opening verses
in chapter 3
remind us
of the seasons
of life
that we go through.
Verse 2
through to verse 8,
it just shows us
the way our lives
so often go.
Although these words
were written so long ago,
they still speak to us.
Each of these phrases
that you read,
it still speaks to us
to this very day.
They're a reality
of our lives
in this world
for every generation.
And the words
open with
the main events
in our lives,
a time to be born
and a time
to die.
But then you'll go down
to verse 8.
Everything else
in between
we have as well.
But verse 8
ends with
a time
of war
and a time
for war
and a time
for peace.
Now when we think
of the wars
we remember today
and the lives
that were lost,
so many of them
were just
young men
and young
women.
And it's hard
for us
to understand.
It's hard
for us
even as you
go around
cemeteries
or you look
at war memorials
and you see
every name
inscribed there
and you see
their age
beside it.
Some just
teenagers
are in their
twenties.
So many
lost their lives
so young.
It's hard
for us
to understand.
And if you think
of our own
contexts
here in our
islands,
as you think
of how many
have gone away
from our
islands
never
to return.
It's hard
for us
to understand.
Death
is something
that is always
hard for us
to understand
no matter
the context,
no matter
the situation.
And Ecclesiastes
opens,
as I've said,
with the vanity
of life
as it seems
when everything
is meaningless,
the futility
of life
when we
give no thought
to God.
nothing makes
sense.
Nothing
we can
understand
in this
world at
times.
And if we
look at life
through our
own wisdom,
if we look
at life
seeking to
find meaning
by ourselves,
where does it
lead us to
but so often
just despair?
We just
cannot
understand.
If you
attempt to
think of
things apart
from God,
because we
look at this
world and we
look at
what has
happened in
our world
in the past
and we
look at
what's
happening
in our
world today
and there
are so
many,
so many
heartbreaking
things that
have happened
and are
happening
and we
struggle to
have answers
for them
and it
only leads
us to
grief
and to
despair.
There seems
to be no
meaning and
no hope
in it.
and even
as we
come into
chapter 3
and look
at things
as a
matter
under
heaven,
as we
begin to
see in
the light
of God's
works of
providence,
as we
begin to
see that
God is in
control,
still we
can struggle
to understand
and that
is where
faith comes
in,
to believe
in God
and to
trust
him,
to see
that with
him there
is hope
because God
has appointed
a season
and a time
for everything,
for our
lives and
for the
lives of
all people.
Think of
the words
that we
sang in
Psalm 139.
In
verse 15
it says,
you saw
my body
yet unformed
within the
depths of
earth and
all the
days that
I should
live which
you ordained
for me were
written in
your book,
O Lord,
before they
came to
be.
You see
there that
God has
everything in
his hands.
There is a
time for
everything.
And so
when it
says there
is a time
to be
born and
a time
to die,
when it
says there
is a time
for war
and a time
for peace,
we see
that some
are born
for a
time of
war,
some are
born for
a time
of peace,
and some
are born
for both.
Everyone's
providence
in life
is different.
And it
can all
seem
meaningless,
but here
the only
solution to
meaningness
in life
is to
see the
sovereignty
of God,
that he
is in
control,
that there
is indeed
a time
for
everything.
As I
shared with
the children
before they
went through,
these words
are often
used at
time of
remembrance
for our
tomorrow.
They gave
their
today
a time
for
everything.
They
sacrificed
that we
might have
a freedom
to live.
We don't
always
understand
this life,
but God
is in
control.
The poem
The Weaver's
Shuttle
speaks so
powerfully
into our
sort of
lack of
understanding.
As it
says,
not till
the loom
is silent
and the
shuttles
cease to
fly,
shall God
unroll the
canvas and
explain the
reason why.
The dark
threads are
as needful
in the
weaver's
skillful
hand as
the threads
of gold
and silver
in the
pattern he
has planned.
As we
think of
meaning
that God
gives to
life,
the things
that we
don't
understand,
ultimately
it brings
us to
the cross
and to
see there
even the
darkest of
days.
As there
was darkness
at midday
as Jesus
was crucified,
nothing
seemed to
make sense
even to
God's
people then,
but God
had a
plan and
a purpose.
He is
the
resurrection
and the
life.
There is
a time
for
everything.
The
second
thing we
see here
is that
everything
is in
its
time.
Written
3,000
years ago,
these words
in Ecclesiastes
still speak
powerfully
to us.
What was
happening
then still
happens
to this
day.
In
chapter 1
verse 9
it says,
there is
nothing new
under the
sun.
And even
as we
look in
the world
in which
we live
today,
we say
there is
nothing new
under the
sun.
As we
think of
man's
inhumanity
to man,
there is
nothing new
under the
sun.
Still
people live
without any
thought of
God,
just as
they did
in the
days of
the
writer to
the
Ecclesiastes.
But when
we see
things as
under God's
sovereign rule,
as under
heaven,
in light of
who God
is,
God at
work in
every
period of
time,
in every
generation,
moving things
on by
his will
and his
purpose,
we see
that he
is in
control.
In
chapter 1
it speaks
of the
cycle of
life almost
in the
sense of
going round
and round
in a
circle.
When you
look at
verse 4
through to
verse 9
of chapter 1,
you can read
it again in
your own time,
it says,
a generation
goes and
a generation
comes,
but the
earth remains
forever.
And so it
goes on to
speak about
our lives as
almost this
way the sun
rises, the
sun goes
down and
hastens to
the place
where it
rises.
There is
this constant
just going
round and
round in
life.
It almost
seems that
there is no
direction.
But here
in verse
11, we
see that
as we
see things
under
heaven and
in God's
control, in
chapter 3,
verse 11, he
says, he
has made
everything
beautiful in
its time.
In its
time.
That God
has time
in his
hands.
That
everything
is in
his time.
His promise
is that he
will make
everything
beautiful in
its time.
even the
most difficult
experiences
of life.
But it
is in
his
appointed
time.
Things
don't just
happen.
It isn't
just a
random
sequence of
events.
We are
looking at
things here
in light of
God who
has time
and everything
in his
hands, who
gives
direction.
the Bible
often speaks
of things
being at
the right
time.
Romans 5,
verse 6
says, for
while we
were still
weak, at
the right
time, Christ
died for
the ungodly.
We don't
rush God.
We don't
make him
move quicker
even though we
would want it
at times, but
at the right
time.
he will
make things
right.
God is
working.
God will
put things
right.
That is the
promise of
his word, even
in times and
situations that
seem to make
no sense to
us.
There are
numerous stories
told of
heroic actions
during times
of conflict.
I'm sure you
know many
of them.
One I
have heard
so often
and recall
so often
is about
a ship
called
the
Jarvis
Bay.
Back in
1940, in
the early
years of
the Second
World War,
the Jarvis
Bay was
part of a
convoy
making its
way across
to the
United
Kingdom,
across the
Atlantic.
On the
5th of
November
1940, they
came under
attack from
a battleship
called the
Admiral
Shear.
convoy.
The convoy
was in
great danger.
The battleship
was too
powerful for
the convoy
and one
by one
it was
starting to
take the
ships out.
But the
Jarvis Bay,
the captain
of the
Jarvis Bay,
decided to
take action
and he
turned the
ship towards
the battleship,
the Admiral
Shear.
And although
they only
had small
guns on
board,
they engaged
in battle
with this
battleship,
knowing it
was hopeless,
but hoping
that it would
give enough
time for
the convoy
to get
further ahead
and further
away.
And so
it did.
The convoy
escaped,
but it was
at a great
cost.
The Jarvis
Bay was
sunk,
and of
the 255
on board,
187,
were lost.
It was a
great loss
of life.
They turned
knowing it
was futile,
but in the
hope of
saving others.
The reason
I know
this story
so well
is because
I sailed
on a
ship in
my own
time at
sea called
the Jarvis
Bay.
It was
the third
one to
have been
built.
And on
board was
a memory
towards the
first Jarvis
Bay,
the story
was told
of the
original
Jarvis
Bay that
had made
that
sacrifice.
It was
a powerful
witness.
Even though
I wasn't
a Christian
at the
time,
it was
a powerful
witness.
But there's
nothing more
powerful than
the witness
of the
one who
gave his
life for
us on
the cross.
But all
of these
things,
they remind
us of
what it
says here
that the
Lord has
made
everything
beautiful
in its
time,
but it
says there
in verse
11,
he has
put
eternity
into
man's
heart.
Eternity
is before
us all
at such
times as
these.
It's
always
before us.
But on
a day of
remembrance,
as we
think of
the lives
given for
our
freedom,
eternity
becomes
more
powerful.
We all
have
eternity
before
us.
And
Thomas
Watson,
the
Puritan,
once said,
eternity
to the
godly
is a
day that
has no
sunset,
but eternity
to the
wicked
is a
night
that has
no
sunrise.
And that
is the
difference.
Eternity
for the
godly
is a
day that
has no
sunset.
We will
be in
the light
of the
Lord for
all
eternity.
But
eternity
to the
wicked
is a
night
that
has
no
sunrise,
no
hope
of
light,
darkness
for
all
eternity.
The
Lord
has a
time
for
everything
and
everything
in its
time.
But
where are
we when
we think
of our
freedom
today,
our
freedom
to
worship,
our
freedom
that is
offered
in
Christ,
the
eternity
before
us.
Where
are
we?
The
third
thing we
see here
is a
time to
reflect.
It's a
time to
pause
and
remember
and it's
a time
to reflect
for
ourselves.
As we
have stopped
in silence
for a
moment
today as
we come
under
the
word
for
a
time,
it
brings
to
mind
things
that
we
can
so
easily
forget.
We
don't
want to
go away
from
here
and
just
forget
all
that's
been
done
for
us.
We
don't
want to
go away
from
here
today
and
forget
all
that
the
word
of
God
is
saying
to
us.
That
there
is a
time
for
everything.
That
everything
is in
its
time.
God
has
put
eternity
into
our
hearts
so we
might
reflect
on
these
things.
We
don't
forget
our
past,
but let's
not forget
our
future
either.
We
may not
understand
his time
and his
purpose
as always.
There are
many things
we can
struggle
to
understand,
but we
remember
that we
will
step
out
of
time
and
into
eternity.
And what
we do
with our
time
now
is what
matters.
There are
times
of war
in this
world.
We are
seeing such
days
in other
parts of
the world
even
today.
But we
remember
as the
word
says
there is
a time
for
peace.
And that
is what
we pray
for today.
Peace.
Peace from
war.
Peace from
conflict.
But above
all,
peace in
Christ.
That we
might know
his peace
that passes
understanding.
One of the
most powerful
images of
wartime
is at a
time of
ceasefire.
A time
when peace
comes.
When you
see armies
marching
back from
battle.
Often
dirty,
tired,
carrying
wounded.
And their
own wounds
are obvious.
And yet
because of
peace
there may
be joy.
And for
the
Christian,
that is
the promise
too.
That though
there are
many things
that we
suffer in
this world,
although there
is a
reality of
a time
to be
born and
a time
to die,
a time
of war
and a
time of
peace,
there is
a reality
of a
greater
day as
well.
A day
spoken of
in Isaiah
35,
verse 8
through
verse 10
where it
says,
a highway
shall be
there and
it shall
be called
the way
of holiness.
The
unclean
shall not
pass over
it,
it shall
belong to
those who
walk on
the way.
Even if
they are
fools,
they shall
not go
astray.
No lion
shall be
there,
nor shall
any ravenous
beast come
upon it.
They shall
not be
found there,
but the
redeemed
shall walk
there.
And the
ransomed
of the
Lord shall
return and
come to
Sion with
singing.
Everlasting
joy shall
be upon
their heads.
They shall
obtain gladness
and joy,
and sorrow
and sighing
shall flee
away.
There we
are reminded
of a
greater day
for the
Christian,
a day
that Isaiah
prophesied,
a day that
the book of
Revelation
speaks of
being fulfilled,
a day when
he will wipe
away every
tear.
Today,
we remember
those who
served and
who serve.
We remember
those who
gave the
ultimate
sacrifice,
who lay
down their
lives for
our peace
and our
freedom.
But above
all today,
let us
remember the
one who
gives us
peace.
The news
headlines so
often shock
us.
A war,
a time of
war when
a war has
broken out.
We see
these headlines
that shock
us.
We see the
devastation it
brings.
And we
pray for
peace.
Today,
that is our
prayer for
the world
in which we
live,
that we
may know
days of
peace,
days of
freedom.
But above
all,
let us
remember the
Lord.
There is a
time for
everything.
But everything
is in its
time.
And God
has put
eternity
into the
heart of
man.
So let's
not see
things as
under the
sun,
where we
struggle to
understand.
Let's see
things under
heaven,
that God
rules,
that he
is with
us,
and that
he will
give joy
and gladness
to his
people when
he takes
them to
himself.
Let us
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
we thank
you for
your word,
a word that
speaks in
every situation
and circumstance
of life for
us.
We thank
you that it
speaks not
just for
this day,
but for
eternity too,
for you have
put eternity
in all our
hearts.
And we
pray,
Lord,
that on
this day
of reflection,
on this
day of
remembrance,
that we
will give
thanks,
O Lord,
for the
freedom that
we enjoy,
that we
will realize
too that
the greatest
price of
all has
been paid,
that Christ
came to
lay down
his life
for his
people.
So help
us,
Lord,
to consider
these things,
to reflect
upon them,
to turn to
you in
prayer and
cry out,
O Lord,
have mercy,
have mercy
on your
world,
have mercy
upon your
people.
Come to
us,
Lord,
we pray,
and give
us your
peace,
as we
ask it
in Jesus'
name.
Amen.
We're
going to
conclude by
singing to
God's praise
in Psalm
72.
Psalm 72
in the
Scottish
Psalter,
page
314.
We sing
from verse
17 to
the end
of the
psalm,
words we
perhaps know
well and
often sing
at times when
we remember
the Lord's
death,
but too we
can sing
them today
knowing that
his name
will forever
endure.
His name
forever shall
endure,
last like the
sun it
shall,
men shall
be blessed
in him
and blessed
all nations
shall him
call.
We sing
from verse
17 to
the end
of the
psalm.
His name
forever
shall
endure,
last like
the sun
it
shall,
men
shall
be
blessed
in him
and blessed
all nations
shall
him
call.
Now
blessed
be
the
Lord
our God,
the
God
of Israel
for he
alone
doth
wondrous
works
in glory
that
excel
and blessed
be his
glorious
name
to all
eternity
the whole
earth
let his
glory
fill
amen
so
let
it
be
after the
benediction
I'll go to the door
to my left
we'll close
the benediction
now may
grace
mercy
and peace
from God
Father
Son
and Holy
Spirit
rest upon
and abide
with us
all
now and
forevermore
amen