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Good morning. 
One of the things about the passing of time is that expressions which once made sense to earlier generations need explaining for those who follow on. Today is VE Day. As a child, I remember asking my parents what that meant. They clearly had vivid memories of the day during World War Two when Victory in Europe had been declared. 
My mother told me she had been in her second year at teacher training college on May 8th, 1945. She and her best college friend were in the final stages of their course and working hard. They had responsible roles in the college – making sure other students were in their rooms at night, doling out the unappetising night-time drink that was all rationing could offer, and generally being responsible young women. 
Apparently May 1945 was a strange month weather wise. Writing about that time, many years later, my mother recalled that there was snow one day that month which piled up on the ‘candles’ of the horse chestnut trees. 
VE Day, though, dawned bright and sunny. My mother, diligent as ever, was in her room studying when her best friend burst in. ‘Why are you bothered doing that for now, you idiot! The war’s over. Come out and celebrate.’ They did. With a group of fellow students they ended up meeting some American airmen from the local air force base who produced tins of fruit and a can opener. It didn’t sound as though many of the student teachers had done much more studying that day, at least.
God of hope, in a world where conflict continues, renew our energy to keep working and praying for peace that lasts.
Amen