Welcome to our virtual service for VE day from Grindleton Rectory. The service makes use of three sources, the original service held in Westminster Abbey in 1945, the service held in 2015 and the resources offered by the Dean and Chapter for online use today.
ON Victory in Europe Day seventy-five years ago, services of thanksgiving were held throughout the day and evening around the country and across the world. We today share the spirit of that day of rejoicing. We give thanks for the valour and bravery of the sailors, soldiers, air personnel, and civilians who gave all they had, and for the determination and skill of their leaders. We pray that the peace they won through victory over cruelty and oppression may be a blessing in our day for Europe and for the whole world. Humbly, we remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives.
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
To his feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me his praise should sing.
Praise Him, praise him,
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favour
To our Fathers in distress.
Praise him, still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Praise Him, praise him,
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hand he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise Him, praise him,
Widely as his mercy flows!
4 Angels, help us to adore him;
Ye behold him face to face.
Sun and moon, bow down before him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Praise Him, praise him,
Praise with us the God of grace!
Isaiah 58: 6–9a, 11–12 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
O give thanks unto the Lord for he is gracious
For his mercy endureth for ever
O thank the Lord of Lords
For his mercy endureth for ever
Who only doeth great wonders
For his mercy endureth for ever
Who remembered us when we were in trouble
For his mercy endureth for ever
And hath delivered us from our enemies
For his mercy endureth for ever
O give thanks unto the God of heaven
For his mercy endureth for ever
O give thanks unto the Lord of Lords.
For his mercy endureth for ever
ROMANS 8: 31–39 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:
2 Beneath the shadow of thy throne,
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.
3 Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting thou art God,
To endless years the same.
4 A thousand ages in thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly, forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home
Trusting the promises of God, and with faith in his mercy, let us pray to the Lord. Let us give thanks for the selfless and courageous service and sacrifice of those who brought peace to Europe, and for the good example they have given us;
let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
We pray for nations still devastated by war, for their people and their leaders, and for those who suffer the effects or memories of past wars; for veterans, for those who mourn, and for all innocent victims whose lives have been shattered by the cruelty of others; Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Let us give thanks for those who work for peace and liberty throughout the world, for the Armed Forces of the Crown, and for all who strive to bring an end to injustice and oppression; let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
We pray for those in our own day who have grown weary or lost hope as a result of violence or terror; for all refugees and displaced people, and for those who seek to address the causes of discord and distrust;
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Let us give thanks for the reconciliation of former enemies, for the flourishing of goodwill between them, and for the many blessings we enjoy as a result of the sacrifices which have made for peace;
let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.
We pray for the young people of our own day and for all who will shape the future of this nation, that they may be inspired by those who have gone before them to serve as they have been served; Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
A short time of reflection and silence is offered.
We pray that the world might never again know such violence and destruction.
Will we pledge to work for peace and reconciliation in our homes and communities, and promote peace throughout the world?
With the help of God, we will.
Will we seek to work for a world in which hatred and injustice never have the final word, and where all people can flourish with dignity and hope? With the help of God, we will.
Will we promise to honour the sacrifices made, so that the whole human family might know good will, security, and freedom. We acknowledge how precious are the gifts which God has entrusted to us, and exercise the freedoms and responsibilities we have with gratitude and humility?With the help of God, we will.
May almighty God, who has given us the will to undertake these things, bless us with the strength to perform them. Amen.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above ye heavenly host
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Blessing and honour, thanksgiving and praise more than we can utter, more than we can conceive, be unto thee O most adorable Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by all angels, all people, all creatures for ever and ever. Amen and Amen. To God the Father who first loved us, and washed us from our sins, to God the Holy Spirit, who sheds the Love of God abroad in our hearts, be all love and all glory, from time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
God save our gracious Queen,
Long live our noble Queen,
God save the Queen;
Send her victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save the Queen.
Thy choicest gifts in store
On her be pleased to pour;
Long may she reign;
May she defend our laws
And ever give us cause
To sing with heart and voice
God save the Queen
Bowland Benefice 