Those who died on active service - 2013

Please spare a moment to pray for the families, friends and comrades of those whose names have been added and are today commemorated on the walls of the National Memorial Arboretum's  (NMA) 'Armed Force's Memorial' (AFM).

Having commended them to God's grace, love care and mercy we remember them with pride and, mourning their loss, look to the day when the words of Micah 4,

'God will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore,'

Come to pass.

Those who died on active service* commemorated today are:

ARMY 

Richard Walker 

David Shaw 

Nicholas Guya 

Jamie Webb 

Samuel Flint 

Robert Hetherington 

William Savage 

Lee Rigby 

Edward Maher 

Craig Roberts 

James Dunsby 

Michael Ihemere 

James Brynin 

Ian Fisher 

Richard Holloway 

ROYAL AIR FORCE 

Frances Capps 

Rimon Than

* the names are listed in order of the date that they died.

Remembrance and Welcome

Today is an extremely mixed bag as we remember those who have died in the service of this nation at the National Memorial Arboretum's 'Armed Force's Memorial'. The many names that will be read out, each representing not just a single person but the families, friends and comrades of that person too. So many who have given their life in pursuit of peace and for the protection of others, not just our own citizens, that the world might be just a little bit of a better place.

The Bible tells us that 'Greater love has no man that to lay down his life for a friend. This is indeed true and resides in the 'Selfless Commitment' element of our Values and Standards, the reality of what it means to be in uniform and, of course, in the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ, for each and every one of us.

As you go through your day today, please take but a moment and pray for those who continue to serve around the world, for those who have served and for those who have died in the service of our nation - and as you do, please pray for peace in our world and that it be seen 'in our time'

We will remember them

Aside from the NMA service, Tamworth also has cause to celebrate as Tamworth Baptist Church inducts its new pastor, Graham Criddle. Also today, Tamworth's Methodists have cause to celebrate too as Tim Flowers becomes Tamworth's new Methodist minister.

A cause for celebration indeed - please pray for Graham and Jo, Tim and Julia, their families and churches as a new phase begins in the life of their churches and in the wider Church family that is Tamworth Covenanting Churches.