It is with great sadness that we add a note of explanation at the beginning of this weeks message . Sadly, Ian died shortly after preparing this message, together with this weeks printed service and video sermon. It now stands as his final message and service. Let it be a fitting memorial to his years of ministry; to the many ways that God spoke through him and to the love and esteem in which he was held, both in the Ipswich Circuit and further afield.
Dear friends,
Two major events happened last week which immediately drew my attention. The first was the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War in Europe. Coverage of the event in Ipswich seemed pretty light although I’m sure there were events held which did not receive much publicity. The next day I saw there was an internet notification that a member at Alan Road now resident in a Care Home had thoroughly enjoyed the singing they had held in the Home on VE Day itself. Well done to her! Much publicity had been given throughout the day to our local primary school’s celebration of the event and the rather solemn “official” event organised jointly by the Royal British Legion and the Ipswich Council and of course there were the two national events of the military procession and fly-past on the Monday followed by the Service of Thanksgiving and BBC VE Day Concert on the Thursday, both with some veterans present.
The second event was the appointment of the new Pope. The pontiff, who will be named Pope Leo XIV, is the 267th Holy Father, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe. The 69-year-oldis also history’s first American pope. Pope Leo the XIV, became the Pontiff when the white smoke issued from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Rome indicated we had a new Pope after just two days of voting by the Cardinals eligible to vote. I wish him well in what may be a difficult task.
But the difference between these two events was the amount of publicity given to each. The election of the new Pope had an enormous amount while the 80th anniversary of the ending of the War in Europe, while having a lot of publicity, seemed only for one week. I know the BBC had been publicising the event for the last few weeks but for “Joe public” most of that will have happened with limited interest.
We need to give thanks to those veterans who fought so bravely for us. Living and dying, yes 660 people from Ipswich alone died in this terrible conflict. Veterans who struggle today, who fought for our freedoms and values, need to be honoured today and supported every day. The debt we owe to veterans can never be fully repaid so we need to do whatever we can for them. They, and the members of the Armed Forces who work today for our freedom, and people throughout the world, are my heroes. God bless them all.
Ian