A Service to Mark the 75th Anniversary of VE Day

Winchester Cathedral 8th May 2020

WELCOME TO ONLINE WORSHIP

To find information on other and future services visit:

www.facebook.com/winchestercathedral www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk www.twitter.com/wincathedral

Many of us will be unfamiliar with online worship and it will probably seem strange at first. These strange times call for new patterns and Archbishop Justin has challenged us to become a different kind of church. We are still the people of God. God hears our prayers.

This service commemorates the 75th Anniversary of VE Day and gives thanks for the service of a generation in winning the peace we now enjoy.

You can follow along at your own pace. Titles marked with can be clicked to be taken to a short video of the marked section.

If using a PC, you may like to press and hold ‘ctrl’ while left-clicking on the title, to open the video in a new tab on your web browser. This way you can keep the order of service open and not have to click ‘back’ each time to resume your place in the order of service.

Try to actively share in the service - join in the words in bold and sing out the hymns. You may not want to stand or kneel as usual but find a comfortable position that helps you and perhaps think about how you hold your hands, maybe holding them palms upwards to offer thanksgiving and to receive God’s love and blessing. May God bless you as we worship Him together.

Please donate to our work

Winchester Cathedral needs your help. Our doors are currently closed to visitors and with no regular Government or Church of England funding we are losing significant income every day. We need £12,000 each day in order to serve the diocese, county and nation in the future. Click here to make a gift today. Any donation is greatly appreciated, thank you. A Message from HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire

I was delighted to be invited by the Dean to introduce this very special VE day Service.

At 3pm on the 8th May 75 years ago, Prime Minister Winston Churchill informed the nation that Nazi Germany had formally surrendered to the Allied Forces. Although there was caution in his words due to the war continuing in the Far East, he encouraged people to pause and celebrate the victory in Europe, which he later described as “the peoples’ victory”. Ever since then, VE Day has been remembered throughout the world as a momentous turning point in the final chapters of World War II which was to end three months later with the surrender of Japan.

This day was important because it signalled the end of a long hard struggle. The war had left whole countries in ruins, half a million homes destroyed, and many millions of lives disrupted.

On this day we can thank those who took part, many of whom are infirm and have another fight on their hands with covid-19. I am sorry we are not able to celebrate together as many communities had planned to do, but we should nevertheless remember what VE day meant to the nation in 1945.

Unlike war, the battle against the current pandemic is bringing countries together to share their expertise in order to reduce the danger as quickly as possible. And it is on the frontline that we are seeing the huge bravery and daily dedication of men and women in maintaining vital services for the most vulnerable people.

Such human traits of courage and self-sacrifice are still clearly visible in our Armed Forces and public services today, and it is these services, combined with the many wonderful voluntary and community support groups, that will, no doubt, see us through once again to better times ahead.

At this time of reflection, I know these commemorations will provide an opportunity to honour those who made extraordinary sacrifices to secure freedom in Europe. They must never be forgotten.

Nigel Atkinson HM Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire Video message to the County of Hampshire

ORDER OF SERVICE

OPENING HYMN sung by the Junior Choir

He who would valiant be 'gainst all disaster, let him in constancy follow the Master. There's no discouragement shall make him once relent his first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories, do but themselves confound--his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might, though he with giants fight; he will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit we know we at the end shall life inherit. Then, fancies, flee away! I'll fear not what men say, I'll labour night and day to be a pilgrim.

Words: John Bunyan (1628–88) Music: From ‘Pilgrim’, Michael Hurd (1928-2006)

THE WELCOME

The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester, greets the people.

INTRODUCTION AND RESPONSES

Heaviness may endure for a night: All But joy comes in the morning.

God has been our refuge and our strength: All A present help in time of trouble.

Dear friends, we have come together on this day to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe, when the sounds of war fell silent on this continent.

We come together conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people, and war between nations.

And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for the years of peace that the nations of Europe have enjoyed since the Second World War. We gather joyfully today, as those who gathered on that first Victory day, glad of each other’s company, and grateful for the laughter and love that follows times of sadness and loss.

But above all things, let us pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, as we join our voices together and say:

All Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING Zechariah 8.3–8 Read by Canon Mark Collinson, Canon Principal

Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts? Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.

RESPONSES

Your salvation is near to those who fear you, All that glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other, All that glory may dwell in our land.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. All Your salvation is near to those who fear you, that glory may dwell in our land. Cf Psalms 84, 89

ADDRESS Canon Roland Riem, Vice-Dean and Canon Chancellor

ANTHEM sung by the Choristers

Panis angelicus Thus Angels' Bread is made fit panis hominum; the Bread of man today: Dat panis cœlicus the Living Bread from heaven figuris terminum: with figures dost away: O res mirabilis! O wondrous gift indeed! Manducat Dominum the poor and lowly may pauper, servus et humilis. upon their Lord and Master feed.

Words: from ‘Sacris solemniis’ St Thomas Aquinas (c.1225–1274) Music: César Franck (1822-1890) English translation by John David Chambers (1805–1893)

PRAYERS The Very Reverend Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester

AN ACT OF COMMITMENT Canon Andy Trenier, Canon Precentor and Sacrist

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and women: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.

All Lord God our Father, we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering, and for the praise of your name. Guide us by your Spirit; give us wisdom; give us courage; give us hope; and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.

O Lord our God, as we remember, teach us the ways of peace. As we treasure memories, teach us to hope. As we give thanks for the sacrifices of the past, help us to make your future in this world, until your kingdom come.

All Amen.

COLLECT FOR PEACE

Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace; and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THE SOVEREIGN

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and all who are in authority under her; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom His world rejoices; who from our mother’s arms hath blessed us on our way with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; and keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed, and free us from all ills in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given, the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven, the One eternal God, whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. Amen.

Words: Martin Rinkart (1586–1649) Tune: Nun danket 413 NEH tr Catherine Winkworth (1827–78) Melody in Johann Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica c 1647 Harmony chiefly from Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang 1840

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM

ALL God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen! Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!

THE BLESSING The Right Reverend Tim Dakin, Bishop of Winchester

God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all people, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants, life everlasting; and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you always. All Amen.

Sir Francis Drake’s prayer

O Lord, when thou givest to thy servants to endeavour in any great matter, Grant us also to know that it is not the beginning but the continuing of the same until it be thoroughly finished that yieldeth the true glory, through him for the finishing of thy work laid down his life, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Royal Air Force Collect

Almighty God, who has promised that they who wait upon thee shall renew their strength and mount up with wings, as eagles, we commend to thy fatherly protection all who serve in the Royal Air Force. Uplift and support us in our endeavour, that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth and a sure defence to our homeland. Help us to fulfil our several duties with honour, goodwill and integrity, and grant that we may prove to be worthy successors of those who by their valour and sacrifice did nobly save their day and generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.