Almighty God, before whom stand the living and the dead, we your children, whose mortal life is but a hand’s breadth, give thanks to you:

For all those through whom you have blessed our pilgrimage, whose lives have empowered us, whose influence is a healing grace, we lift up thankful hearts.

For dear friends and family members whose faces we see no more, but whose love is with us for ever, We lift up thankful hearts.

For the teachers and companions of our childhood and youth, and for the members of our household of faith who worship you now in heaven, We lift up thankful hearts.

For those who sacrificed themselves, our brothers and sisters who have given their lives for the sake of others, We lift up thankful hearts.

For the men and women who have served our country, for our relatives and friends who have taken up the title soldier, for all those named and unnamed who bravely gave of themselves for the cause of our country; We lift up thankful hearts.

Even in the memory of their death, we pray in the hope that you bring; a hope we have because you judge between the nations, you arbitrate for the many peoples of the world, such that, even in the midst of current conflicts, In Syria. in Afghanistan, in Iraq, In Korea, In Venezuela, in the Mexican Drug war; that even in the midst of all these conflicts, We say with assurance this day, that the day is surely coming when we will beat our swords into plowshares, our spears into pruning hooks; that the day is surely coming when nation shall not lift up sword against nation and neither shall they learn war anymore.

For war is our reality and we give you thanks this day for those who bravely stepped up, giving of their very lives for us. But while war remains our current reality, we know it is not our forever reality, for you are of peace and you gave us the prince of peace that we might be peace for the world.

Inspire our hearts to peace this day. We confess to you this morning that we have not always been about peace for sometimes conflict looks attractive and war looks like the answer. Guard our hearts and our minds as you offer us your forgiveness. Show us the ways of peace and resolve the situations that lead us to desire conflict and war. For you are of peace, and for this, we lift up thankful hearts,