November is a very important month for Remembering. It starts with All Saints Day when we can remember those Christian men and women, many of whom were persecuted and suffered because of their faith, where we see the grace of God so powerfully at work in their lives.  

We have also on the 30th October had our own Service of Memory when we remembered those dear to us, loved ones, family and friends no longer with us. Those we loved, those who have nurtured us in life and faith.

This year has also been a year tinged with remembrance. When we celebrated the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and looked back and remembered her long reign. There may be many of us who have our own memories of the Queen. Those who saw her Coronation, who have been to see her when she visited communities up and down the land. I have my own memories as a child seeing the Queen visit Rugby and more recently going to London to the Jubilee celebrations.

The nation, of course, remembered following the death of the Queen in September. 

November is also the month when we remember the dead of the two World Wars and other conflicts, where men and women have lost their lives fighting for their country, against tyranny and oppression, to bring freedom. Conflicts for such causes that still continue around our world today. 

November is also the month when you will notice the liturgical colour change in Church. For so long now we have had the colour green gracing our altars and stoles worn, but now we change to the colour red. The change to red also reflects the changing colours of the seasons as we well and truly leave summer behind and move through Autumn to Winter. Red is reflected in  the beautiful changing colours of nature. I think Autumn is a beautiful season. We have those misty dewy mornings with the sun trying to pierce through the gloom and on sunny days the long fingers of the rays of the sun give us beautiful afternoons. A season of coats and thick jumpers, of walks, afternoon tea with hot scones, as we watch nature prepare itself for the approaching winter. 

So the church in red celebrates the Kingdom season. It is a season that brings to an end the Church’s liturgical year, ending on the Sunday before Advent with the feast of Christ the King. The Church’s year then begins again with Advent, this year on 27th November. The Kingdom season means we can focus on Christ who through our faith, through our prayer, study, service, should indeed reign in our lives, being the reason and centre of all we do. It is in Christ that we have hope as we remember, sometimes with a sad and heavy hearts, that those who have gone before us are now at peace and in the care and love of God. 

Glenn