THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

By Rev Peter Ratcliffe

This week we remember those who have died in wars and conflicts the world over. I think the most significant of these wars was the Second World War when this country at one time stood alone for the survival of Christian civilisation against Nazi tyranny, the Holocaust and pure unadulterated evil.

In one way, it was amazing that this country won the Battle of Britain when faced with an all-conquering powerful enemy which had overrun Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. This battle of Britain was preceded by the deliverance of Dunkirk where cloud cover restricted the Luftwaffe from seeing British ships and the English channel was so calm that even small boats were able to cross the channel and bring back hundreds of thousands of soldiers to the British mainland to fight the Nazis again.

At the time of the Dunkirk crisis, when the British army were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, King George VI called for a National Day of Prayer. Millions of people flocked to churches. There was a queue of people a quarter of a mile long to get into Westminster Abbey for a special prayer service. The result of that call to prayer was the deliverance of the vast majority of the British army on the beaches from Dunkirk.

For a fuller treatment of God’s hand in history, of His providence, I recommend the book, “Beyond the Odds: Providence in Britain’s wars of the 20th century.” by  John Scriven.

What all this means for us today is that in an uncertain world, troubled by covid, political turmoil, and an overheating planet because of climate change, there is Someone we can trust in life and death, Jesus Christ, the one who holds the future. I finish with a modern hymn.

“God sent His son, they called him Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive

He lived and died to buy our pardon

An empty grave is there to prove our Saviour lives.

Because He lives, we can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because we know he holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives.

CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE BRO TEIFI LOCAL MINISTRY AREA

14 November 2021: REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

St David, Blaenporth  5.00pm Compline

St Cynwyl, Aberporth 10.45am Remembrance Service

St John’s, Betws Ifan 9.30am Holy Communion

Cardigan 10.45am Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph

St Davids, Carreg Wen 10.45am Holy Communion

St Cristiolus, Eglwyswrw  10.30am Remembrance Service

St Llawddog, Cilgerran 10.45am Remembrance Service at Castle Gates.

St Thomas, St Dogmaels 10.45am Remembrance Service at Memorial

St Brynach, Nevern 9.30am  Remembrance Holy Communion

Tuesday, 16th November 10.30am  Cymun Bendigaid yn Eglwys Llandudoch

Wednesday 17th November  10.00am Holy Communion in St Mary’s Church, Cardigan.

Capel Ebeneser Castell Newydd Emlyn. Dydd Sul y pedwerydd ar ddeg o Dachwedd, bydd gwasanaeth wrth y senotaff y tu allan i Eglwys y Drindod am 11.00, i goffau y rhai a gollodd eu bywydau mewn rhyfeloedd . Felly ni bydd oedfa yn Ebeneser.