Moderator Marks Remembrance Sunday in Killyleagh, Northern Ireland, Urging Peace and Grace

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rt Rev Dr Richard Kerr, took part in Remembrance Sunday commemorations in Killyleagh as part of his tour of the Down Presbytery. On Sunday morning, 8 November, Dr Kerr led worship, including an act of remembrance, at Killyleagh Presbyterian Church. He then laid a wreath at the village’s civic Act of Remembrance and preached at St John the Evangelist Church of Ireland.

In his remarks, the Moderator reflected on the importance of remembering those who have lost their lives through war and conflict. He encouraged Christians to be people of peace and grace, and reminded them of God’s compassion for all victims of conflict and of the hope found in Jesus Christ. Choosing to be peacemakers in a divided time is a calling set out in Scripture (Matthew 5:9).

His address focused on the suffering experienced during the First World War and during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Dr Kerr spoke of the importance of recognising instances of humanity amid the devastation of conflict. He cited the Christmas truce of 1914, when opposing soldiers briefly laid down their weapons. “Of course these incidents were all too brief and rare, but they provide us with a glimpse of something stronger than violence or war; a human face, a reminder, dare I suggest, of something of God,” he said.

The Moderator also addressed the lasting legacy of the Troubles, drawing on experiences recorded in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland’s *Considering Grace* and *Considering Lament* resources. “I have found it deeply sobering to read of the very real pain and trauma of my brothers and sisters in our denomination,” he said.

Dr Kerr said he had been moved by the honesty of people speaking about their grief and inspired by those who had rejected retaliation after the death or injury of loved ones. He also paid tribute to members of the security forces and healthcare workers who had served in some of the most difficult circumstances. He acknowledged that the experience of the Troubles differed greatly from person to person, and that for many the pain of conflict remained deeply personal. Quoting one survivor, he said: “For us, every day is Remembrance Day,” noting that those who have experienced loss continue to live with its consequences.

Turning to Psalm 3, Dr Kerr reflected on the grief experienced by King David and on the assurance that God remains present in times of suffering. “One thing we can know is that we don’t suffer alone. God understands us,” he said. “God’s own Son suffered. God understands. He’s not asking us to put on a brave face. He knows us. We can be honest with Him. And we can know that He is with us in our pain; because He has promised to be.”

Quoting Mr Laverty’s account in *Considering Grace*, he said: “I want to encourage anyone who is struggling as a result of violence and trauma to consider grace, to consider the hope that Jesus offers, to consider that there is a possibility of living without bitterness and walking on as somebody who is amazingly and wonderfully free.”

Concluding his address, Dr Kerr pointed to the hope offered through Jesus Christ, whom he described as the source of grace in the midst of bitterness, suffering and pain. “We have gathered here today to remember those who have given their lives in conflicts near and far, in both time and space, and in doing so to commit those scarred by war and violence into the hands of the One who gives grace and hope, praying that God will give them strength, and grace and hope for each day.”

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