Remembrance Day Sunday

This Sunday, our service centered on remembrance—honoring those who sacrificed their lives so that we might live

in freedom and peace. Yet as we look at the world today—with wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, Myanmar, and

conflicts closer to home, we see that humanity still struggles to learn the lessons of peace. The battles of our world

are mirrored in the battles within our own hearts: struggles with illness, fear, grief, doubt, and division.

The Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 6, reminds us that these battles are real but not hopeless. We are not left to fight on

our own. God has given us spiritual armor to help us stand firm. Each piece protects and strengthens us in a

different way:

The Belt of Truth helps us stay grounded in what is real and good, rather than being swayed by confusion
or fear.
The Breastplate of Righteousness calls us to live with compassion, fairness, and integrity, reflecting God’s
heart in all we do.
The Shoes of Peace remind us that Christ offers a deep peace that steadies us when the world feels chaotic,
enabling us to walk gently and confidently.
The Shield of Faith gives us courage to trust in God even when we can’t see the way forward.
The Helmet of Salvation protects our minds with the assurance that we belong to God, forgiven and made
new through Christ.
The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, equips us with wisdom, comfort, and strength for each day.
And holding it all together is Prayer, which keeps us connected to the One who fights beside us and within us.

We took time during the service to put this into practice, praying for those facing personal battles, including our

brother Andrew, who recently received a cancer diagnosis. As a church family, we surrounded him with love and

prayer, trusting in God’s healing presence and peace.

Later we reflected on the life of Julian of Norwich, a woman who lived through repeated outbreaks of the Black

Plague in the 14th century. In the midst of great suffering and loss, she received a message from God that has

carried through the centuries: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” This

doesn’t mean everything is fine right now. It means that in Christ, the story isn’t over. God is still at work. His love

will outlast every battle, and one day peace will reign fully and forever.

As we closed by singing “It Is Well with My Soul”, we were reminded that no matter what we face - global or

personal - we can live with hope and confidence in Christ. For He is the One who has overcome the world, and in

Him, truly, all shall be well.

Paul reminds us that our struggles aren’t just “flesh and blood.” What kinds of battles: internal or external,
feel most present in your life right now?
Which piece of God’s armor stood out to you most this week? Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation,
God’s Word, or prayer? And why?
What might it look like to practically “put on” that piece of armor each day?
Paul says to “pray hard and long.” What helps you stay consistent in prayer, and what makes it difficult?
Julian of Norwich lived through immense loss yet still heard God say, “All shall be well.” What does that
phrase mean to you in your current season of life?
Does believing that “all shall be well” change the way you face hardship or uncertainty? How?

All Will Be Well

The Mustard Way