As the shops are preparing for Christmas, the shelves are laden with mince pies, chocolates, stollen, Christmas puddings and Christmas cakes.
I don’t remember seeing so much of this when I was a child, but before all the Christmas celebrations tonight is Guy Fawkes night.
As a child, I remember going out asking “Penny for the Guy”, not really understanding the meaning behind it.
November is a month for remembering.
We remember Guy Fawkes, who was one of the main participants in the gunpowder plot and tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill King James I.
The plot failed when he was caught with 36 barrels of gunpowder on November 4, the day before the planned attack.
The event is remembered annually in Britain to commemorate the failed plot with bonfires and fireworks.
More importantly, on Sunday, we remember those who gave their lives in the world wars.
For them there was no homecoming.
We remember the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our freedom and protected our way of life.
It is very poignant in our family as my sons lost their great-uncle in the First World War.
He was 19, and the boys have his medals as a reminder of his life given in service.
Sadly, so many families have been affected as a result of ongoing wars, and we remember them too this Remembrance Sunday.
Their lives were the price paid for our freedom, for our tomorrows; they gave their today.
Jesus sacrificed his life too for each one of us, not because of anything he had done, but because our sin took us far away from God.
He came to earth to serve and was willing to take the punishment for each one of us on the cross of Calvary.
When we celebrate communion, we take of the bread and the wine, which symbolises Christ’s blood, shed and broken for our sins; we remember the price he paid.
As we see the town adorned with poppies, let us remember those who gave their lives in active service as they served their country.
For those who gave their lives, we remember with heartfelt gratitude and say, “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.”
John 15 v 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Anna
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