Remembrance Service for the 25th Anniversary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster
Sunday, 22nd December 2013
The Right Honourable Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister for Scotland attended a Service of Remembrance to mark the 25th anniversary of the Lockerbie Air Disaster at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 21st December.
The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall who said in his Bidding:
This holy season of Advent has two powerful themes. We wait as we look forward to the establishment of God’s reign of justice and peace. And we await the joy of the birth of the Christ child, who comes to proclaim the kingdom of God. As we wait, we know the need in our world of God’s reign of justice and peace.
In the silence of our hearts, memories crowd in, memories of pain and loss, memories of anger and turmoil, memories of sin and its consequences. These memories remain fresh and real; the pain of loss, of love snatched away, does not easily fade. We come, offering our memories to God, to ask for his healing grace and love.
And we come to remember in prayer those we love and see no longer, and those whom we never knew, who died in the tragic destruction over Lockerbie twenty five years ago. And we pray for reconciliation, for justice and for peace.
Thy kingdom come, O God; thy rule, O Christ, begin. Break with thine iron rod the tyrannies of sin.
Brigadier David Atkins read Isaiah 11: 1-9 and Marcus Mosey, UK Families Flight 103 read Romans 12: 14-19; 21.
The names of the Lockerbie Bombing Victims were read by Lisa Mosey, UK Families Flight 103, Jane Swire, UK Families Flight 103, Christopher Cook, Syracuse University, Ann Mann, UK Families Flight 103 and Marina de Larracoechea, UK Families Flight 103, during which ten memorial candles were placed around the Paschal Candle.
A wreath was laid by Dr Jim Swire and William Swire during The Kontakion for the Dead, sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir.
The Address was given by The Reverend John Mosey, UK Families Flight 103.
Reflections were read by Margaret Evans, Dr Jim Swire, UK Families Flight 103 and Dr Meredith Hyde, Director, London Program, Syracuse University.
Prayers were led by the Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Minor Canon and Sacrist of Westminster and said by: the Right Reverend Lorna Hood, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Stephanie Stevenson, UK Families Flight 103, Damien Murphy, UK Families Flight 103, Patricia Murphy, UK Families Flight 103, Fiona Pike, UK Families Flight 103, Caroline Mann, UK Families Flight 103 and Meghean Fitzpatrick, former student, Syracuse University.
The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir, conducted by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played by Martin Ford, Assistant Organist. The Abbey’s Organ Scholar, Peter Holder, played before the service.
The pipes were played by Hector McKenzie.
See also:The Order of Service (PDF, 363 KB)
