laudable Practice

There are six stained glass windows in the nave of the parish in which I minister. Five of the windows are dedicated to sons of the parish who died in the Great War. As I stand in the pulpit, to my right is the Roll of Honour of those of the parish who responded to the call of King and Country in 1914. Engraved crosses beside the names of the fifteen parishioners who fell in that conflict. On the cover for the font is a plaque holding the thirteen names of those from the parish who died in the Second World War.  Each Remembrance Sunday, the names of fallen parishioners from both world wars are read. A poppy wreath is placed before the war memorial. Still silence is observed between the Last Post and Reveille. Such is the case with very many parish churches across these Islands. Our churches prayerfully hold the memories of the fallen. Memorials in stained glass and stone are found in our churches. Mid-November is marked by the solemn rituals - communal and national - of Remembrance...

The horrific and unprovoked attack on Ukraine is an act of great evil. So said the Archbishops of Canterbury and York last week, when Putin's regime commenced its invasion and occupation of Ukraine.  The welcome moral clarity of the statement, however, sharply contrasts with the ' Prayers in a time of war in Ukraine ' provided by the Church of Ireland’s Liturgical Advisory Committee.  Of the four prayers proposed, only one actually refers to Ukraine. Despite the title given to the prayers - "in a time of war" - you would be easily forgiven for thinking that this prayer refers to Ukraine in peacetime: O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend to your merciful care the people and government of Ukraine that, being guided by your providence, they may dwell secure in your peace. Grant to their leaders and all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mind...