KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

Keep Calm and Carry on - you will find this slogan in all kinds of places and on all kinds of things. I recently bought a cushion with the words on. It was first used, I believe, during the War.

This weekend many of us will be remembering those who died for their country in various wars and those continuing to protect us in various lands throughout the world. As a child I used to attend the service at Kingsley Cemetery with my father who had served with Bomber Command as an instrument mechanic during the 2nd World War. In those days Kingsley had a branch of the Royal British Legion and on the Saturday before Remembrance Sunday I used to accompany my father to collect the Legion flag from either the church or one of the chapels where it had been kept until the following year when it would be taken to the other church for the year. Unfortunatley there is no longer a British Legion branch in Kingsley. I also remember helping my father count and bag the collection money, sugar bags were used in those days, different colours for the various coins, the counting was done in St Johns C of E School hall. My father often spoke with sadness of times spent talking to and praying with young pilots going out on missions and the dreadful wait to see how many returned from their missions.

(Ellesmere Port Cenotaph)

Tonight I am attending an evening of 1940s music and dance at the Royal British Legion Club in Culcheth near Warrington where Paul & Natasha Harper will be performing and on Sunday hope to attend the Culcheth Remembrance Parade at Newchurch.

I like the following hymn and thought I would quote it here:

For the healing of the nations,

Lord we pray with one accord;

for a just and equal sharing

of the things that earth affords.

to a life of love in action

help us rise and plege our word.

Lead us forward into freedom;

from despair your world release

that, redeemed from war and hatred,

all may come and go in pece.

Show us how through care and goodness

fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,

let it from the earth be banned;

pride of status, race, or schooling,

dogmas that obscure your plan,

In our common quest for justice

may we hallow life's brief span.

You, Creator-God, have written

your great name on humankind;

for our growing in your likeness

bring the life of Christ to mind;

that by our response and service

earth its destiny may find.

(Fred Kaan - Singing the Faith).