When a knight won his spurs, in the stories of old, He was gentle and brave, he was gallant and bold; With a shield on his arm and a lance in his hand, For God and for valour he rode through the land.
No charger have I, and no sword by my side, Yet still to adventure and battle I ride, Though back into storyland giants have fled, And the knights are no more and the dragons are dead.
Let faith be my shield and let joy be my steed 'Gainst the dragons of anger, the ogres of greed; And let me set free with the sword of my youth, From the castle of darkness, the power of the truth.
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift and the cables strain, Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain
We have an anchor that keeps the soul Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, Fastened to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.
It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand, For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand; And the cables, passed from His heart to mine, Can defy that blast, thro’ strength divine.
Refrain
It will surely hold in the Straits of Fear— When the breakers have told that the reef is near; Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow, Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
Refrain
It will firmly hold in the Floods of Death—- When the waters cold chill our latest breath, On the rising tide it can never fail, While our hopes abide within the Veil.
Refrain
When our eyes behold through the gath’ring night The city of gold, our harbour bright, We shall anchor fast by the heav’nly shore, With the storms all past forevermore.
In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks to us about who to invite to a lunch or dinner party. Here we see a photo of the magnificent Banqueting Hall at Windsor Castle.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord! Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice; tender to me the promise of his word; in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name! Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done; his mercy sure, from age to age to same; his holy Name - the Lord, the Mighty One.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might! Powers and dominions lay their glory by. Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight, the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.
Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word! Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure. Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord to children's children and for evermore!
Here we have air crew and others from RAF Lossiemouth - which is located around 20 miles east of Inverness.
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s.
Here we see soldiers from the Black Watch who are stationed at Fort George, just outside Inverness.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus Going on before! Christ, the royal Master, Leads against the foe; Forward into battle, See His banner go!
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus Going on before!
At the sign of triumph Satan's host dost flee; On, then, Christian soldiers, On to victory! Hell's foundations quiver At the shout of praise; Brothers, lift your voices, Loud your anthems raise!
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus Going on before!
Like a mighty army Moves the church of God; Brothers, we are treading Where the saints have trod; We are not divided; All one body we, One in hope and doctrine, One in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus Going on before!
Onward, then ye people, Join our happyy throng, Blend with ours your voices In the triumph song; Glory, laud, and honour, Unto Christ the King: This thro' countless ages Men and angels sing.
Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus Going on before!
Following on from the pipes and drums we have the Standards of The Royal British Legion.
The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. They are one of the UK’s largest membership organisations and recognised as custodians of Remembrance. They also run the annual Poppy Appeal.
The Royal British Legion is pleased to announce that Tony Blair will be donating all of the proceeds from his forthcoming memoirs to the Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre. This centre will provide state-of-the-art rehabilitation services for seriously injured Service personnel.
Oft in danger, oft in woe, onward, Christian, onward go: bear the toil, maintain the strife, strengthened with the Bread of Life.
Onward Christians, onward go, join the war and face the foe; will ye flee in danger's hour? Know ye not your Captain's power?
Let your drooping hearts be glad: march in heavenly armour clad: fight, nor think the battle long, victory soon shall be your song.
Let not sorrow dim your eye, soon shall every tear be dry; let not fears your course impede, great your strength, if great your need.
Onward then in battle move, more than conquerors ye shall prove; though opposed by many a foe, Christian soldiers, onward go.
Words: Henry Kirke White (1785-1806) - yes, this hymn writer died at the age of 21. He was a student at St John's College, Cambridge at the time. Tony Blair is a former student of St John's College, Oxford.
Here we see the massed band of pipers preceding the Ranks of Armed Forces. This was a real feast both to the ears and the eyes.
I now invite you to sit back and enjoy some wonderful bagpipe playing by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards at the Royal Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my Shield and Portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.
