AT Crediton Methodist Church, J P Hunter, a local Preacher in training, currently living in Exeter but originally from the Netherlands, led the service on Sunday, November 11 – Remembrance Sunday.

His theme was "Tough Times".

The family challenge was taken up this week by five people who had sent in photographs of things associated with Remembrance. One child had produced a poppy in a striking collage of various materials.

JP said that currently we are living in tough times and are wondering how we will get through it.

We heard that Job went through very tough times when Satan put him to the test, but through it all he never blamed God and maintained his integrity. Eventually God blessed Job even more than before.

In a second Bible reading from One Corinthians we heard: "Now we see as if in a mirror, then we will see Him face to face". If we trust God, we will be blessed.

JP gave another example of someone going through tough times – Horatio Stafford, a wealthy Chicago lawyer, not only lost all his property and wealth in the great Chicago fire of 1871 but the boat on which his wife and daughters travelled to the UK was sunk.

Whilst the wife was saved, the four daughters drowned. Later they had a son who died at the age of three.

Despite all this human tragedy, Horatio wrote the hymn "It is Well with my Soul". JP asked how much more should we trust in God so that we can say "it is well with our souls"?

The display of poppies in the church was shown on the screen when we observed the two minutes’ silence to commemorate the British and Commonwealth servicemen and women and civilians who died in conflicts during the First and Second World Wars and subsequent conflicts.

It is important that we, and future generations, give thanks for and remember their sacrifice.

The church is closed again. If you would like to listen live to Sunday morning services at 10.30am please contact the AV team using the email: [email protected] . Individual help will be given to work out how you can best access the worship. Alternatively you can watch the service at a later date by going onto: www.creditonmethodist.org.uk .

Bronwyn Nott