St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh
Midweek Devotion 10th November 2022
Led by Rev Douglas A O Nicol
The Psalmist wrote:
‘The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in time of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.’
(Psalm 9, verses 9 and 10)
Let us worship God:
Scripture Reading
Our Bible reading comes from the Second Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 13 to chapter 3, verse 5:
But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God the Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will go on doing the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Reflection
In our reading today we have a record of the thanksgiving and prayers of the Apostle Paul – penned by him to a young Church at risk of persecution only about twenty years after Jesus had been crucified. It is an appropriate reading as we approach Remembrance Day tomorrow.
‘Remembrance’ is a time of giving thanks and for prayer, and for many these thanks and prayers will be very real. I for one look back to the wars of last century remembering a Grandfather who died in battle in the first weeks of the First World War when my mother was but a toddler, then with vivid accounts in my mind of the Second World War when my late father-in-law was the navigator of a tank which came ashore during the D-Day landings, and then experiences of service in Iraq and Afghanistan from my son-in-law who is still a serving Army officer.
As we give thanks for past service let our prayers focus on all who today are suffering from conflict … remembering especially all caught up in the conflict in Ukraine, and all nearer home who experience conflict in their homes, work or community.
Prayer
Let us pray:
God of light and love,
you desire that all your people
should live in your peace.
Grant us the humility to seek your forgiveness
and the will to practise it
in our dealings with others.
Help us in days to come
to seek the good of the world,
to work for the increase of peace and justice,
and to show tolerance and open-mindedness
towards those whose characters and customs
differ from ours.
Receive our prayers
for the well-being of all people,
especially those who mourn and are sad,
and for all in distress,
both known to us and unknown.
And now, rejoicing in the communion of saints,
we remember those whom you have gathered
from the storm of war
into the peace of your presence,
and give you thanks
for those whom we have known,
whose memory we treasure.
May the example of their devotion inspire us,
that we may be taught to live
by those who learned to die.
And at the last, grant that we,
being faithful till death,
may receive with them
the crown of life that never fades;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, in 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, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever,
Amen.
Benediction
God grant to the living, grace;
to the departed, rest,
to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth,
and all people,
peace and concord;
and to us and all his servants
life everlasting.
And the blessing of God almighty,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
Amen.
Organ Music
Louis Vierne Epitaphe