Thread by @DisabilityJ

1) WELCOME
Remembrance Sunday
November 10th

2) Thank you for joining us at our weekly live Twitter service loosely based around The Ordinary Office.
We pray that you feel at home here and comfortable in the company of the many who gather in this virtual sacred space “alone yet together “ this remembrance Sunday.

3) Dave here, before we begin please listen to this song by one of my oldest friends, Allan Taylor, as a theme for this evening.

4) 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.

5) Tonight we gather here in this online place to remember all those lost to conflict and war and those who returned to us damaged in body and mind and we bring them all before you now Lord

6)Let us begin.
In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

All respond by Tweeting
the reply AMEN

7) So many of us are damaged and broken either through war or simply through our disabilities. Tonight we celebrate this online space, may it become a home to us and all who are in some way broken.

8) So many of us have been disabled in body and mind, through war, through conflict and some of them gather with us this night. Help them to feel comfortable and safe in this place.

9) To those who feel unwelcome

All respond by
Tweeting the reply
WELCOME

10)To those who feel shut out

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Tweeting the reply
WELCOME

11) To those who feel estranged
from church

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Tweeting the reply
WELCOME

12) To those who feel damaged
by bad
theology and teaching

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Tweeting the reply
WELCOME

13) To those who feel abandoned
or adrift

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Tweeting the reply
WELCOME

14) To those who simply want to be here

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WELCOME

15) To those who are simply curious

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WELCOME

16) To those who join us from church
communities to show us your support.

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WELCOME

17) To those who read this
at a later date or time.

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WELCOME

18) To those who’s experience of war has left
their faith in tatters.

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WELCOME

19) To anyone who feels they have been
overlooked by us, please believe us
when we say, you are welcome!

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WELCOME

20) To those who feel shut in by dark nights and winter weather

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WELCOME

21) Father we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this world, and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future

22) So take this scattered, rag, tag and bobtail band of pilgrims, each making our own way.
Unite us in this online place, draw us close as we gather here, alone and yet somehow together.

23) Enable us to put aside whatever hurt we carry just for the next few minutes that we may be able to hear your voice more clearly free from the pain of past hurt.

24) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14.27

25) So we take a moment, to compose our thoughts, to shake off the tensions of the week and the emotion that this day has stirred in us and welcome you in to this virtual space, to be right here in the midst of us.

26) Take away all uncertainty, heal all memories of conflicts of the past and remove our fears of conflict in the future, teach us to live in your peace.

27) We praise You,  Lord,  because we’re ALL fearfully & wonderfully made.
In your house there is room for all, there are no rejects.
There are no able-bodied, no disabled, no casualties of war:
there are only His beloved children
all made in His image.
Beautiful in His eyes.

28) Even if the only company we’ve had today has been that of those we’ve shared prayer with online, the only memorial service on TV or radio, we thank you for bringing us through this day and join with all the others of this community, alone yet together.

29) For the times we have turned
away in anger.

All respond by Tweeting the reply
LORD HAVE MERCY

30) For the times we have blamed you

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LORD HAVE MERCY

31) For the times we have ignored you calling

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CHRIST HAVE MERCY

32) For the times we have closed our
hearts and minds

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CHRIST HAVE MERCY

33) On those we have lost

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CHRIST HAVE MERCY

34) For all the scars of war.

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CHRIST HAVE MERCY

35) We pray for those who have been injured or disabled through war.
For those who have lost homes
and security through conflict;
for those who have lost beloved relatives in wars; for those who face danger and take risks for peace.

36) Even in the dark of night,
You leave a light on for me,
and are always watching over me.
 
Lamplighter! lover, friend,
You are the keeper of my dreams.
 be ours this night.

37) When our feeble faith deserts us
and fear runs amuck, lend us yours.

We know that will be enough
As it has been so many times before

38) Add your name as a reply here
so we can keep you in our prayers this week.

39) With apologies for a lack of subtitles take a few moments
to hear another poignant song from old friend Allan Taylor.
The man, my friend and his music have seen me through many dark days.

40) Here I am God, Alone!
Haunted by images of conflict and war, restore a spirit of peace within me.

41) We put our trust in you Lord as we grapple with the paradox of being on a journey with no known destination, where the future is intentionally hidden from us and the only known is not knowing.

42) We come to this online place where so many gather, alone & yet strangely together. In our loneliness, our brokenness, our feelings of being cut off, cast adrift & yet find much comfort here as we build this online community, an expression of your eternal love.

43) In the midst of our brokenness you give us life and call on us to reflect that life back to your church. Stay close to us, teach us to be satisfied only with your presence. Grant that we may bring healing and light to the broken places we encounter on this journey.

44) Father we thank you for this time together tonight, be with us as we learn to live with each other, with all our brokenness and pain, with our loneliness and isolation and bring us comfort in being alone together.

45) Father we thank you that although we are scattered, isolated or alone we have been able to be together in this virtual space, to share in your fellowship and love.

46) A BLESSING
Father, have mercy on Your people and open our hearts to peace and love.
Reward all who have died in the pursuit of peace
and grant that we may continue to work for peace and justice.

47) GO IN PEACE

In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

All respond by Tweeting the reply AMEN

48)

Please follow this link to end with this very special
version of the Last Post

49) Please could you now go to
anordinaryoffice.org.uk/index.php/nigh…
and click the
AMEN
button to let others know you have
been praying with them tonight.