Laying Up Ceremony 02
…...important centres of faith. So 208’s operational history read like a bit of a wander through the highways and byways of early Christian history. For example, he reminded the congregation that in the story of Jesus’ final hours on Good Friday, a stranger offered to carry Jesus’ cross, and the Gospel writers were anxious to describe where this person came from, so exotic was his domicile. For he was Simon of Cyrenaica: Simon from Northern Libya -
Reverend Osborn regretted that the Squadron had picked Trinity Sunday, not Advent Sunday to Lay Up its Standard. Advent Sunday: being watchful, being vigilant, being awake to the arrival of Christ, would
have made a wonderful basis for a sermon. But, unfortunately, (and he had tried), there was no way that he could stretch Trinity Sunday to encompass the imminent arrival of the Lord at Christmas. There was no way that he could remind us that the future is an unknown territory: that we live in a present, mindful of the past and unsure of the future. But Laying Up a Standard and saying farewell to a Squadron does not mean that in a few years’ time we would not be re-
The present chapter in the book of 208’s history was about to close, but no-
He reminded us that, as Christian people, ‘vigilance’ is required all year round. But living the life of Christ, through sacrifice, through assistance of our neighbours in need, and through prayer and worship of Christ, requires the help of the Holy Spirit, faith in God as Father, and trust in God as Son. It turned out that Trinity Sunday and Advent Sunday had much in common; Advent being the next major season of the Church. Like 208, we would need to be vigilant: awake and alert for whatever this world would throw at us, as indeed 208 had learned over the previous 100 years. Just when you thought you knew what was going to happen next, just when you had a handle on this thing that we call life, something would surprise you, something would catch you out, something would remind you that we live a lot closer to the edge than we are prepared to admit. The Reverend Osborn concluded by thanking 208 for all it had done for our Country. He wished everyone well for the future and thanked the Squadron for Laying Up its Standard in St Clement Danes. Finally, he thanked the Squadron for reminding everyone of that great Advent commandment (even though it was Trinity Sunday): “Vigilance” – a great Motto, and for Christian people, great advice.
