27 January, is Holocaust Memorial Day. It is the day for everyone to remember the millions ofpeople killed in the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda,Bosnia, and Darfur. On HMD we can honour the survivors of these regimes of hatred and challengeourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today.HMD is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and to recognise that genocide does notjust take place on its own, it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatredare not checked and prevented. We’re fortunate here in the UK; we are not at risk of genocide.However, discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred or exclusion. Thereis still much to do to create a safer future and HMD is an opportunity to start this processKeep the memory alive is the theme for Holocaust Memorial Day 2015. 27 January 2015 marks the70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. 2015 will also be the 20th anniversary of theGenocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia. Therefore it is particularly appropriate that the theme for this majoranniversary year focuses on memory.

God, when we walk in darkness,show us the light.When we seek approval,bring us back to the cross.When we are calledfrom security,make us eagerto follow your Christ.When we settle downwith an image of God,keep us restless, moving,and full of surprises.

God of our pilgrimage,you journey with us,whether our journeysare freely chosen or compelled.

Bless all who are forcedto abandon their homes today.Bless all travelling in delight,as they fulfil their vocation.Bless those whose own wayhas led them to kill,by giving them a heart of fleshfor their heart of stone.And stay with us, always. Amen

V: To those who walk in darknessR: show the light of your Life.God, we pray for your Church in its fractiousness, divided, and even proud of its divisions.Bless with the challenge of your call to all who bear leadership in the churches.Keep us ‘foolish’ for Christ, and close in love and vision to all who have nothing to lose…To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life.

God, we pray for all people of faith, all who long to hear you speak to them in a language they can understand.Bless those who work, day by day, for harmony but not uniformity among the faith-seekers of the human family…To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life.

God, we pray for all people with power or influence to change the way the world is. Bless all peacemakers in your strong love.Challenge all war-makers, by the radicalness of that same love. May there be peace with freedomand justice with forgiveness. May they come speedily and in our days…To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life.

God, we pray for Bamber Bridge, that our streets too may know peace and celebration.May we be hospitable to all who come in real need.Bless all who work with us for the common good; all who keep alive memories we must not forget,and hopes for futures we must hasten towards…To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life..

God, we pray for all who in any way help people on the journey from sickness to health.Bless all who are called ‘disabled’, so that together we can all change what can be changed,and, with that, rejoice in the diversity of your creation…To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life.

God, we pray for all who today will make the final journey of their mortal lives, from life to death,all who will care for them, and all who mourn.In in your time and in your own way, accompany their journey from the darkness of grief, through consolation, to thanksgiving and joy.To those who walk in darknessshow the light of your Life.

God, we know that you never feel stuck with us, but, loving our company, you long for better things for us, and all we have to do with.Teach us, even now, what is that one next step we need to take, to be who you would have us be.Amen.

God, gracious beyond our imagining,we want to trust that you are never more powerfulthan when you are with those in the rawest need.Give us the courage to do the right thing,to speak truth,to oppose what must be opposed,and to build bridges with strangers,through the one who is both familiar and unknown,Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

God,in your mercy, in your mystery,you come to us as Friend.In your light we see how alienated we are,from you, from our neighbours near and far,from our very selves.Only you can forgive us and heal us.Forgive us and heal us.Amen

Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.Be known anew in the Church which serves and loves youwith the Father and Son, with the Source and the Word.Bless its leaders, inspirers and challengers…Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.Be known anew in the world which struggles to trustin any story of life, hope and change.Bless its leaders, and those of our nation…Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.Be known anew in the place where we are,where you, we trust in our hearts, go before.Bless this locality…Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.

Be known anew to those who are struggling towards health,those who care for them and for whom they care.Bless those who need and have asked for our prayers…Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.Be known anew to those who are dying, who mourn,and those who find themselves longing for death.Bless those who die today,especially those who will die in agony, anguish or at another’s hand…Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Spirit, we long for a livelier sense of your presence.Be known anew in the lives of each one of us, as your disciples.Bless us with the surprise we need.Spirit, you come to make all things newLet this be for us the Day.

Psalm 27:2-4When evildoers assail me    to devour my flesh—my adversaries and foes—    they shall stumble and fall.3 Though an army encamp against me,    my heart shall not fear;though war rise up against me,    yet I will be confident.4 One thing I asked of the LORD,    that will I seek after:to live in the house of the LORD    all the days of my life,to behold the beauty of the LORD,    and to inquire in his temple.

Isaiah 25:6-10On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples    a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,    of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.And he will destroy on this mountain    the shroud that is cast over all peoples,    the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever.Then the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces,    and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,    for the LORD has spoken.It will be said on that day,    Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.    This is the LORD for whom we have waited;    let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.