. 
1999 Remembrance was a little bit special in Lilbourne. We had
asked villagers to look out their memorabilia from the war years so that we
could put on a display in Church as the context of our remembering. All sorts of
mementos were forthcoming. Gas masks, ration books, photographs, helmets,
posters and old newspapers were on display. 
We had a photograph, identity tag and other mementos of John
Hipwell, a name on the war memorial and Uncle, Great Uncle and Great Great Uncle
of members of the congregation.
Rather than a formal sermon a member of the Church was asked
about what it is that makes remembrance important to him. He had seen action in
Cyprus and Port Said where he had lost comrades as a result of
"Friendly" fire. His concern includes that we should be thankful for
being alive, deeply grateful for the sacrifice those who are not, aware of what
soldiers are facing in places like East Timor today and working for peace in the
World.
The service, for all its remembering of the past, was concerned
also for the future. We baptised a baby called Jessica during the service. The
sacrifice of generations about which she knew nothing was for her freedom.
Likewise the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was so that she (and
each one of us) might become the children of God. | 
