HTB Queen’s Gate Community update 32
november
Welcome to our weekly newsletter. Unfortunately we are unable to join together in person during the month of November. However, we are so exited to be able to meet online via Zoom each week - please see full details below.
HTB Queen’s Gate zoom Sunday 8 November 10:45am
We would love to invite you to join us for a very special service to mark Remembrance Sunday at 10:45am via Zoom.
We will begin at a slightly later time this week in order to mark the Act of Remembrance together, so please do join us from10:45am. We are looking forward to having Rev’d Jemima Haley who will be sharing God’s word with us, as well as some live choral music, liturgy, prayers and time to catch up with one another in small breakout groups.
It is looking to be a very special morning together so we do hope to see you there!
Meeting ID: 816 0027 5692
Password: HTBQG
Remembrance Sunday: Why we wear poppies
On November 7th, 1920, in strictest secrecy, four unidentified British bodies were exhumed from temporary battlefield cemeteries at Ypres, Arras, the Asine and the Somme.
None of the soldiers who did the digging were told why.
The bodies were taken by field ambulance to GHQ at St-Pol-Sur-Ter Noise. Once there, the bodies were draped with the union flag.
Sentries were posted and Brigadier-General Wyatt and a Colonel Gell selected one body at random. The other three were reburied.
A French Honour Guard was selected and stood by the coffin overnight of the chosen soldier.
On the morning of the 8th November, a specially designed coffin made of oak from the grounds of Hampton Court arrived and the Unknown Warrior was placed inside.
On top was placed a crusaders sword and a shield on which was inscribed:
"A British Warrior who fell in the GREAT WAR 1914-1918 for King and Country".
On the 9th of November, the Unknown Warrior was taken by horse-drawn carriage through Guards of Honour and the sound of tolling bells and bugle calls to the quayside.
There, he was saluted by Marechal Foche and loaded onto HMS Vernon bound for Dover. The coffin stood on the deck covered in wreaths, surrounded by the French Honour Guard.
Upon arrival at Dover, the Unknown Warrior was met with a nineteen gun salute - something that was normally only reserved for Field Marshals.
A special train had been arranged and he was then conveyed to Victoria Station, London.
He remained there overnight, and, on the morning of the 11th of November, he was finally taken to Westminster Abbey.
The idea of the unknown warrior was thought of by a Padre called David Railton who had served on the front line during the Great War the union flag he had used as an altar cloth whilst at the front, was the one that had been draped over the coffin.
It was his intention that all of the relatives of the 517,773 combatants whose bodies had not been identified could believe that the Unknown Warrior could very well be their lost husband, father, brother or son...
THIS is the reason we wear poppies.
We do not glorify war. We remember - with humility - the great and the ultimate sacrifices that were made, not just in this war, but in every war and conflict where our service personnel have fought - to ensure the liberty and freedoms that we now take for granted.
Every year, on the 11th of November, we remember the Unknown Warrior.
Checking In…
We understand that cases are rising and this is impacting some more than others in our congregation. We are continuing with our phone calls to make sure every member of our congregation is in regular contact with another. Joanna and our team will be in touch more over the coming weeks so please do reach out if you are struggling as we would love to help.
Would you like a prayer partner or someone to chat with on the phone? Get in touch with Joanna via email: joanna.gill@htb.org
ARCHBISHOPS CALL TO PRAY
On Sunday 1 November, All Saints Day, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote to all the clergy in the Church of England. In this letter they stated their conviction that the first and primary response of the church at this time must be to pray, making this month of lockdown a month of prayer.
This will start on Thursday 5 November at 6pm, and last every evening in November.
The weblink to the resources is: www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-churches/call-prayer-nation. In addition, please find here a direct link to a simple printable prayer booklet - Prayer Booklet.
The HTB Love Your Neighbour campaign has so far helped deliver over 500,000 hot meals! Thank you so much to everyone who has continued to help as well as link up people for daily/weekly phone calls.
what’s on this week
Try alpha
Why not try Alpha online, or recommend it to a friend, new course starting on Wednesday 9th September.
HTB KC:8AM
Tuesdays 8.00 - 9.00am
We are coming together each Tuesday morning at 8am on ZOOM for 40 minutes of dynamic, faith-filled prayer. Join us as we cry out for God’s Kingdom Come on earth as in Heaven.
Find more information about HTB Prayer Online here.
HTB at Home
Don’t forget to tune in to HTB at Home this Sunday from 9:30am
HTB MORNING LITURGICAL PRAYER
Monday to Friday 8:30-9.00am
It's open to everyone and especially those who appreciate more liturgical prayer and worship opportunities using the Church of England Morning Prayer liturgy..
Zoom Meeting ID: 798 0837 8873
Password: prayer
“With many in our country on lockdown, it’s important that we support those who are feeling lonely and isolated, whatever age they are."
Archbishop Justin Welby
HTB Groups
Groups are a great place to build new friendships, deepen your faith and develop a community. It's easy to get involved, if you haven’t joined one already, please do sign up here and someone from HTB will get back to you shortly. We also run two wonderful groups specifically for Queen’s Gate and you would be most welcome to join:
Josh and Esli Lees: Aimed at (roughly) 20s and 30s, meeting fortnightly on Zoom, Tuesday 8.00pm-9.00pm. Email Josh at Josh.Lees@htb.org if you would like to join in.
Nic Shearer: Aimed at all ages meeting weekly on Zoom on Tuesdays at 7.00pm. Anyone is welcome to join, please email Nic: n.shearer01@outlook.com and you will be sent a link to join in. Newcomers are always welcome.
God bless,
Tom, Sarah, Bob, Shaun, Emmy and Joanna