Erebus memorial service at Scott Base

Bill Birch, the Minister of Science and Technology, reads a lesson at a brief memorial service held at Scott Base on 2 December 1979, four days after the Erebus disaster. Then Father Gerard Creagh, leads the small congregation in a prayer. All sing 'God Defend New Zealand'.

Transcript

Bill Birch: The fourth reading is from Romans Chapter 8, verses 31 to 39.

In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? Certainly not God who did not even keep back his own Son but offered him for us all. He gave us his Son; will he not also freely give us all things? Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty. Who then will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus who died, or rather, who was raised to life, and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us. Who then can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship, or persecution, or hunger, or poverty, or danger, or death? As the scripture says: ‘For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered'. No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us, for I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below, there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God, which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Father Gerard Creagh: Let us pray now to remember those who have died in Antarctica. We recall before you oh gracious Lord the many people who died on Flight 901 [can hear others join in prayer]. In your mercy comfort in their grief all those who mourn loved ones lost in this tragedy. May these deaths remind us that we are only travellers or guests in this hostile place, just as we are strangers and foreigners in this world with its many sorrows. Be merciful and grant us, when our time in your service here on earth is through, a place in your eternal presence where we shall see your glory fully and know you completely, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. One God forever Amen.

The final hymn will be God of Nations [God Defend New Zealand]. We'll have to do it unaccompanied. So we all know it quite well I think. [Singing begins]

Bill Birch, the Minister of Science and Technology, reading a lesson at a brief memorial service held at Scott Base on 2 December 1979, four days after the Erebus disaster. The service was conducted by Father Gerard Creagh, with other lessons read by Bob Thomson and Mike Prebble.