Remember the military guilds
Easter is just behind us and we are celebrating Jesus’ resurrection in a joyful, jubilant ringer’s way. Ringing out across the country. Just around the corner are VE day celebrations for 80 years since the end of World War II was declared.
Amongst the jubilation there is a darker message. Service personnel are still engaged in theatres of conflict across the world; many we hear about regularly, some we do not, so have people and nations learned any lessons from warfare?
St Paul writes in Ephesians 6:13-17: “Put on the shoes… ready to proclaim the Gospel, take the shield of faith… to quench the arrows of the evil one, take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.”
With these military symbols we are sent out to share our faith in the way we live, work and ring and celebrate the peaceful time this country has had in the last 80 years.
In our ringing world let us not ignore the military guilds, the oldest being the Royal Naval Guild founded 1948, the Army Guild founded in 1959 and reformed in 1966, and the Royal Air Force Guild founded in 1973, with their members having served, or currently serving our armed forces.
We are thankful for peace and pray that God will strengthen and protect the armed forces in whatever situations they face as they serve to protect our country, our way of life and secure our future.
Bear them in mind when ringing for VE day as we look forward!
Rhona McEune