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One of the 255 British military personnel who died during the 10 week conflict was Major M Forge, who was a former pupil at Hereford Cathedral School. He was honoured among the fallen from other conflicts by the school, with words and music for remembrance in the Cathedral on Wednesday. He will be honoured again with so many, at 11:00 today with our nation’s two minutes silence.
For many families, in November 2022, war remains in the ‘here and now’. Ukrainian refugees are in many of our schools and many families in our diocese work within the military. Acts of remembrance for these families, may mean a much sharper and fresher grief for someone who has been lost relatively recently. Remembrance reminds us of the uncomfortable truth that, as long as there is conflict, there are others who may not come home.
Those who have made the ultimate sacrifice should not be forgotten, whether it was in Helmand or Goose Green or Juno Beach or at The Somme. Wherever and whenever they fell…we will remember them.
Prayer for the Armed Forces
Almighty God, stretch forth your mighty arm to strengthen and protect the armed forces: grant that meeting danger with courage and all occasions with discipline and loyalty, they may truly serve the cause of justice and peace; to the honour of your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Armistice Prayer
Ever-living God
we remember those whom you have gathered
from the storm of war into the peace of your presence;
may that same peace
calm our fears,
bring justice to all peoples
and establish harmony among the nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Thoughts and prayers are with the Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School, who have been the victim of a serious cyber-attack this week. We are grateful for the swift actions of professionals in school and support agencies who have brought expertise and support, including local authority colleagues.
Thank you to headteachers and governors from schools across the diocese, who joined us online at the briefing yesterday. It was good to share some time together online and consider recent events, such as the launch of the new SIAMS inspection framework. We now have about 70% of our CE schools, who have joined the diocesan partnership this year, but it is not too late to do so. Given all the changes, there will be a significant amount of new training needed in the Spring and Summer.
Thank you for all you are doing. Blessings for a restful weekend and for the week ahead in our schools as we count down to advent and the start of a new church year.
Andrew
Canon Andrew Teale
Diocesan Director of Education
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Pupils at Holmer C of E Academy have been presented with a Bronze Award from Christian Aid’s Global Neighbours Scheme for their global citizenship work.
