hi everyone i have been asked to give a reading at the remembrance service at church with the scouts.

does anybody have any epitaphs with relate to the bible that could be read with the reading.

Is this any use?

Opening Sentence

Psalm 121: 1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.



Collect Prayer for the Day — Before we read we pray
Almighty father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subjected to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

God our refuge and strength, bring near the day when wares will cease and poverty and pain shall end, that earth may know the peace of heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of justice, and no strength known but the strength of love: guide and inspire all who seek your kingdom, that peoples and nations may find their security in the love which casts out fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.



First Bible Reading
Micah 4: 1-8
In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. "In that day," declares the LORD, "I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.

(This is the word of the Lord -- Thanks be to God)

Second Reading
Romans 8:31-end

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Gospel Reading
1 Corinthians Chapter 15:50 end

I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

(This is the word of the Lord - Thanks be to God)

Rifleman Robert Foster

Mrs. Foster, Ballymarlow, Ballymena, has been notified that her son, Rfn. Robert Foster, Royal Irish Rifles, has been killed in action on 7th September 1916. Before joining the colours. Rfn. Foster was employed for a number of years as a tailor by Mr. T. Harper, Springwell Street.

He was only nineteen years of age and his death will be regretted by his many friends. The news of the death of Rifleman Foster was received in a letter from a chum. After paying a high tribute of respect to the deceased and telling of the great esteem in which he was held by all who knew him, he states that Rfn. Foster was killed through the explosion of a shell, which also killed and wounded several others who were on duty at the time.

He finishes up with the following verse:-

He is dead, ah! No, he only sleeps;

His body wrapt in solemn gloom,

Till God's last trumpet wakes him up,

And calls him from the silent tomb.

- His loving chum.

Ballymena Observer, October 20, 1916

Pic attached: Robert Foster

What a wonderful liturgy

Geoff

My personal favourite is from Ecclesiastes 12:7. "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it"

However, if you are looking for actual epitaphs on headstones, these are some I saw on my recent trip to Gallipoli.

"Nothing in my hands I bring Simply to the Cross I cling"

"This is the record that God Hath Given to us Eternal Life in His Son"

"They shall be mine saith the Lord in that day when I make up my Jewels"

"Jesus said Young Man I say unto thee Arise St Luke 7-14"

"There the wicked cease from troubling and there the weary are at rest Job 3-17"

"Simply to the Cross I cling"

"He laid down his life for his friends St John 15 Chap 13 verse"

"Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life 2 Rev 10 verse"

"He is not here but has risen"

"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world Matt 28.20"

"O Lord thou hast covered my head in the day of battle"

"To my dear son, Blessed are the pure in Heart for they shall see God"

"From thee I desire to receive all that thy eternal life can give"

"Worthy is the lamb that was slain Rev.V.12"

I have further details (and photos of varying quality) if any should be what you are looking for.

Best regards
Judy

My favourite from the Song of Solomon

"Until the day break, and shadows flee away"

I have seen this on many memorials and gravestones dating back to the early 19th century

\Spoons

QUOTE; ""Nothing in my hand I bring - Simply to the Cross I cling" this is from the hymn 'Rock of Ages, cleft for me' by A.M. Toplady.
Good for a tear in the eye, any time.

"Not My Will, but Thine, Be Done"

Hallo, there is an excellent Army Chaplains site called Labarum which has full resources including remembrance click here: Labarum, on the left click on Remembrance

tahnks you lot this is all great i will be asking my scout to be picking out one or two for them to read this has been a great help thank you very much

Salfordian,
nothing wrong with the readings you list, but just being technical the Corinthians reading isn't a Gospel. It would be an either/or with the extract from Romans, as a second reading.

For a Gospel reading (if required) it has to come from Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - the four Gospels.

Perhaps the best known Gospel for Remembrance is John 15 verse 13 - "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends".

LST_164

Come on Dibbers, that's unfair, you have got inside knowledge, lol,

Kevin

On my great uncles headstone:

There is no death for the gift of God is eternal life

I know it is not popular with clergy, but one hymn that always gets me on Remebrance Sunday is
"I vow to thee my country".
Bruce

Indeed it isn't. However the following hymn from the Labarum site I mention above is I feel very fitting:

ETERNAL FATHER

A version of "The Naval Hymn" for all three Services


Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to thee,
for those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, the Universal Lord,
who suffered death by nails and sword,
from all assault of deadly foe
sustain thy soldiers where they go;
and evermore hold in thy hand
all those in peril on the land.

O Holy Spirit, Lord of grace
Who fills with strength the human race;
Inspire mankind to know the right,
Guide all who dare the eagle's flight;
And underneath thy wings of care
Guard all from peril in the air.

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee,
Praise from the air, the land and sea.

From Sergeant A. Wilson's headstone in Shrewsbury. He died April 6th 1918

A little while, and then
Shall come the glorious end

Neil