1. O Canada Let us join our voices together in singing our national anthem: O Canada: Music (YouTube)O Canada: Music (YouTube) … includes a link to French version

2. Remembering Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan March 12, 2014

3. Introduction For the last 12 years, Canada has been involved in a mission in Afghanistan. Many different countries from around the world worked together. Their goal was to help the Afghan people rebuild their country so that it would be safe, so that it would be a better place to live. Canadian soldiers and other helpers had to travel half way around the world to help the people in Afghanistan.

4. Training the Afghan National Army Canada has taught the soldiers in Afghan how to keep the country safe. The Afghan army and police force have been trained to protect the people and all that is important to them.

5. Helping People in Need When a country is not at peace, it is not always able to help people in need. Another part of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan has been to provide food, shelter, and medicine for 8 million Afghans. In the picture a machine is unloading a truck full of food and other supplies that the people need.

6. The Cost of This Mission During the last ten years, more than 45 000 Canadians have taken part in the mission. 162 men and women were killed. Forty-six of them were either from Alberta or were stationed in Alberta when they were sent to Afghanistan. A journalist and a government diplomat are included in this number. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8gRx8tWJ mI

7. Mission Completed As of today, March 12, Canada has finished its 12-year mission in Afghanistan. The last of our troops will be leaving Afghanistan and coming back home. This is an important day for all Canadians. To show respect and appreciation for all the good things that Canadians did in Afghanistan, we all are taking some time to remember all those who helped and those who paid with the ultimate sacrifice.

8. Prayer Let us pray: Loving God, everything that is good comes from you. We thank You for all who gave their time, offered their help, and even died for the sake of the people in Afghanistan. We understand that all people on earth are part of one human family, regardless of our race or culture, our beliefs or way of thinking. Give us the courage to love one another and to live together as brothers and sisters. We ask these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9. Our Prayers of Petition The response to the following prayers is: Lord, hear our prayer.

10. The Prayer of St. Francis Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace; Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is error, truth; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console; To be understood as to understand; To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

11. Lowering the Flags Today we celebrate the end of the mission. This morning, all government buildings in Alberta, including all schools, have lowered their flags to half-mast. At noon, these flags will be raised to full height. This is our way of recognizing the sacrifices made by Canadians. It is also a way of saying thank you for their commitment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzWhICAx ACg