ANZAC DAY
We hear from the Lord’s own lips, “No one has greater love, says the Lord, than those who lay down their lives for their friends, “ and today re commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of those who served in times of war… and those who risked life and limb for those they loved…..
and also our prayer to the lord is this “Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for you. Listen to the prayers of your servants, and guide us in the way of justice”
(Lord have Mercy) (plainchant)
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray
Lord our God, boundless provider,
source of peace that the world cannot give,
kindly hear our constant prayer
for those who bore witness to your own fidelity
by giving their lives for those they loved.
Resurrect them in our true homeland
and perfect that peace for which they longed and died.
A reading from the prophet Isaiah
The people that walked in darkness
has seen as great light;
on those who lived in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase;
they rejoice in your presence
as men rejoice at harvest time,
as men are happy when they are dividing up the spoils.
For the yoke that was weighing on him,
the bar across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor,
these you break as on the day of Midian.
For all the footgear of battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
is burnt
and consumed by fire.
For there is a child born for us,
a son given to us
and dominion is laid on his shoulders;
and this is the name they give him:
Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.
Wide is his dominion
in a peace that has no end,
for the throne of David
and for his royal power,
which he establishes and makes secure
in justice and integrity.
From this time onwards and for ever,
the jealous love of the Lord of hosts will do this.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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R. I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living.
O God give your judgement to the king,
to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice
and your poor in right judgement. R.
May the mountains bring forth peace for the people
and the hills, justice.
May he defend the poor of the people
and save the children of the needy. R.
In his days justice shall flourish
and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
from the
SECOND
A reading from the letter of
In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and had made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God. In his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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Alleluia, alleluia!
· Happy are those who have died --/in the Lord;
· let them rest from their labours, for their good deeds --//go with them.
Alleluia.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him
and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you
while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.
Peace I bequeath to you,
my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say:
I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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homily:
today, we remember the ultimate sacrifice made by the men and women who fought and died in times of war. We also remember those who served during the war and returned home forever changed by their unimaginable experiences.
“No one has greater love, says the Lord, than those who lay down their lives for their friends.”
The church continues to pray “for those who bore witness to God’s own fidelity by giving their lives for those they loved.”
I return to that extraordinary poem of which a paragraph has become immortalized as THE ODE…. the poem, written by Laurence Binyon in 1914 captures the importance of remembering and commemorating as day such as Anzac day….
elsewhere in that same poem he writes a passage that echoes our belief that those who have made sacrifices in the service of others remain not only in our hearts and memories… but, although hidden from sight… live on…. in the everlasting life of God’s kingdom where there is true peace… no more suffering, no war… no pain…. our constant prayer is that God’s Kingdom Come, not only in heaven, but that the peace and justice of God’s Kingdom will take hold and express itself more and more on earth…. and that the freedoms and values that our past generations have sacrificed everything for …. will be assured for all… and forever……
“Where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;
As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.
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Let us pray for peace in our world, and in our hearts and homes. Lord Hear Us.
Let us pray for all the service men and women, who served our nation with bravery and honour. Lord Hear Us.
Let us pray for those men and women who died in time of war, defending the freedom and people they loved. Lord Hear Us.
Let us pray for all those who have been injured or in any way physically or emotionally affected by war. Lord Hear Us.
Let us pray for those who presently serve in armed forces, that they may be protected and strengthened. Lord Hear Us.
Let us pray that the ANZAC spirit of self-sacrifice, bravery and support may always live in the memories and hearts of all Australians. Lord Hear Us.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Father, first giver of life,
in this holy exchange of gifts
give us the body and blood of your Son
to transform the lives of all
who give themselves wholly for others.
Preface for Anzac Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
He chose to die
that he might free all men from dying.
He gave his life
that we might live to you alone for ever.
In our joy we sing to your glory
with all the choirs of angels:
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Father, source and lover of peace,
feed the flame in human hearts
so that those who have feasted
on the body and blood of the risen Son
may look forward to the lasting banquet
in our final home.
****ODE - RECITED BY MICHAEL -
LAST POST/ REVEILLE)
SOLEMN BLESSING:
The Father of mercies has given us an example of unselfish love
in the sufferings of his only Son.
Through your service of God and neighbour
may you receive his countless blessings.
Amen.
You believe that by his dying
Christ destroyed death forever.
May he give you everlasting life.
Amen.
Peace is God's gift to the world:
May the Holy Spirit be the breath of life
to those who labour in its cause.
Amen.
May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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