Rev John Hudson, Methodist Minister, Keighley Shared Church writes

Once again it was a privilege to be part of Keighley’s Remembrance Day Service and Parade last Sunday. Many attended this or similar events, not only in our own local area, but throughout the land. In the face of current conflicts and tragic losses of life it is not surprising that while generally speaking church services these days are not well attended this annual event shows no sign of diminishing in its appeal.

Do we now put to one side our acts of remembrance or do we take seriously the challenge to “strive for all that makes for peace, seek to heal the wounds of war and work for a just future for all humanity?” The answer from most people would surely be that however hard it might be these words, taken from the Remembrance Day Service itself, express our hopes for a better world. The difficulty comes when we ask the additional question: “How?”

Christians will point specifically to the teaching of Jesus, sometimes called “The Prince of Peace”. By word and example Jesus holds before us a lifestyle which offers a path to peace. “Turn the other cheek”, “Walk the extra mile”, “Feed the hungry” are some phrases that come to mind. In short, Jesus encourages us to put other people and their needs before our own and to “seek first the Kingdom of God”. His teaching can be summed up in what is often described as “The Golden Rule”: “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. It is interesting that similar words can be found in the teachings of the world’s major religions.

At the end of this month, churches will celebrate Advent Sunday. This marks the beginning of preparations for Christmas when the birth of Jesus is remembered. If we have taken Remembrance Sunday seriously and want to build a better world, both locally and globally, then some return trips to church might be a useful step forward? As we seek an alternative to war then prevention, as they say, is better than cure!