Remembrance Sunday is a time for giving thanks for those who have given their lives fighting for peace – indeed our world war memorials, both at Christ Church and Emmanuel, display the names of those who lived in our parish who died. As we give thanks, we also pray for those situations of strife in our world; the closest of which is the war in Ukraine. It seems fitting therefore that the “Christmas shoeboxes” are going to refugee families from Ukraine this year. This Sunday we will pray for those who will receive them and pray that some will respond to the accompanying booklet “The greatest journey”.

As well as praying for peace in our world, we also think about what it means to deepen peace in our church community. “Love one another” was Jesus’ command both to his disciples and to us in John 13. It may sound the simplest and easiest thing to do . . . . that is until we get involved with a church community and realise it isn’t always such plain sailing! So – how do we do it? We recognise the importance of such a command – but where do we find the strength to carry it out? We’ll look together at John’s gospel chapter 13 where Jesus gives us the way forward.