Commemoration of Remembrance Day at West Vancouver Parish
The St. Stephen’s congregation were summoned to a memorial service commemorating Remembrance Day on Sunday, November 13t by Haydn’s “Trumpet and Organ Prelude” performed by Minister of Music, Dr. Annabelle Paetsch and trumpeter Paul Dubnick. Bagpiper Mike Chisholm then led the introduction to the service on the pipes. The congregation sang “God Save the King” standing at attention in the sanctuary.
Rector of the parish, the Rev. Kenneth Vinal read the Collect for the day that led into two very appropriate Biblical readings from Isaiah and Thessalonians. In place of the usual psalm, a Canticle, “Surely it is God who Saves me”, was sung. St. Stephen’s has been blessed by the donation of a harpsichord, a gift from Sharon West, that was used to accompany the canticle. Paul Dubnick added another layer of melody to many of the hymns.
The Rev. Kenneth Vinal’s sermon dealt with the honour of sacrifice and the sad fact that death was often the price to protect country and our way of life. After communion, The Act of Remembrance was initiated by a procession to the War Memorial Plaque, where the rector read out the names of the members of St. Stephen’s congregation who gave their lives in past wars. Carol Harrington recited “In Flanders Fields” before Paul Dubnick’s playing of the “Last Post”, the two minutes silence, and “Reveille”. The liturgy concluded with a Prayer of Commemoration for the Fallen followed by “O Canada” and the piper playing “Highland Cathedral”, “Hymn to Joy” and “the Gay Gordons”
Refreshments in the lounge hosted by Jan Harvey were greatly appreciated by the congregation.