Based on the idea of using stone to create memorials
Planning
This service draws on the idea that stones have long been used as a means to create memorials. It is designed to complement, rather than replace, civic-style memorial services, although there are sections of the service that could be taken and inserted into a more formal Remembrance Sunday service. Aspects of it might also be used in other services that happen at this time of year, for example, a service on All Soul’s Day or a service to remember those who have died over the past year.
Preparation
You will need: light coloured pebbles (obtainable from garden centres); soft pencils or coloured nail varnish or glass paints.
Prepare the space
If the building in which you worship has memorials to people, use one of these as a focus. If there are no memorials, create a focus using red and purple fabric. You might wish to place a flower arrangement in this focus centre or make an arrangement of some kind using poppies. Another feature could be a photograph of a local war memorial. Use whatever is suitable in your situation.
Hymns and songs
And everyone beneath the vine and the fig tree (Children’s Hymn Book, Come and Praise, Really Good Songs for Junior Church )
Come, thou fount of every blessing
God is our strength and refuge
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Love is his word, love is his way
My Jesus, my Saviour
Remember, remember your mercy, Lord (Songs from the Psalms, Let’s Praise, SG )
Rock of ages, cleft for me
When grief is raw (CH4, HGP)
Gather
Call to worship
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121.1-2
Introduction
We know that for many, many centuries people have used stones and rocks to help them remember those who have died. Many churches have stones or plaques inside them; some churches have graveyards; all villages and towns have cemeteries that are filled with memorials. Many places have war memorials that have on them the names of people who were killed during the First and Second World Wars. Some places have memorials to people who died in earlier or subsequent conflicts. The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire has a huge stone memorial which records the names of all British service personnel who have been killed since 1945. (You might substitute other suitable information here.) The Royal British Legion website has an up-to-date list of the names of those who have been killed in contemporary conflicts since the Staffordshire memorial was last inscribed.
Opening prayer
O God,
you are almighty and everlasting,
yet compassionate and ever-loving;
be with us as we gather before you today
to remember those we have loved,
those we admire,
those we have never known
whose sacrifice ensured that we enjoy freedom
from tyranny and fear.
Amen .
A prayer of confession
> INVITE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE FOCUS DISPLAY. SOMEONE COULD READ THE WORDS ON THE MEMORIAL STONE AROUND WHICH IT IS PLACED, OR THEY COULD READ OUT NAMES FROM A LOCAL WAR MEMORIAL OR THE NAMES OF THOSE KILLED RECENTLY IN CONFLICT.
Heavenly Father,
as we look at (or hear) the names on these memorials
we realise how quickly and easily we forget.
We forget who people were and what they did,
we forget the contributions they made
and what they meant to their families.
We confess that sometimes we forget you
and what you have done for us.
Forgive us for those times,
and help us to see you in the lives of all we love,
those we remember
and in the beauty of the world around us.
Forgive our past doings
so that we may praise you for all
you have done for us.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Share the Word
Bible readings
Joshua 4.1-9
1 Corinthians 11.23-32
Explore the Word
> YOU COULD INVITE DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO READ EACH OF THE BIBLE PASSAGES REFERRED TO IN THIS TALK.
Stones serve as good reminders of things that have happened. They are strong and sturdy and do not readily break or rot away. In fact some stones hold within them a visible testimony to former lives – fossils.
Human beings have used memorial stones for a long, long time. They were not necessarily grave stones as we know them in cemeteries today, with names and dates carved into them: sometimes people simply made a rough pile of stones which we often call a cairn In the Bible we read of people who set up memorial stones. In Genesis we read about Jacob setting up a stone as a memorial to his dream about a ladder into heaven:
Genesis 28.18-22 (10-17 is the account of the dream – you could include this as context if you have time)
Sometimes they created something a bit more elaborate out of just a few larger stones – an altar. An altar was often a place of offering or sacrifice .
Genesis 8. 20 Noah built an altar;
Genesis 22. 9 Abraham built an altar;
Genesis 26. 25 Isaac built an altar;
Exodus 17.15 Moses built an altar.
In each case, we are told that the altar was built in response to what the Lord had done.
Eventually a temple was built in Jerusalem, as a place in which the people could celebrate what the Lord had done.
When Jesus came, he gave his followers a special way to remember him, the Last Supper. In the letter to the Corinthians (1Corinthians 11. 24), Paul tells us that Jesus said ‘Do this to remember me’. In many church buildings we have a special place around which people gather to celebrate again this Last Supper. Sometimes it is wooden, sometimes it is made of stone. Sometimes people even call it an altar
But we need ways to remember people too; it is important that no life should be forgotten and stones can help us. On Remembrance Sunday in Britain we use poppies to help us recall those who died in conflicts. But we also use stones: people frequently gather at war memorials because the action of gathering is also important. Gathering together shows that we support one another and the stones gives us a place to gather around. And we lay poppy wreaths at the war memorials of renewing our remembrance each year, so that the stone is not overlooked or forgotten.
Respond to the Word
You could invite people to create their own stone memorial. Give everyone a pebble and invite them to write on it the name of someone this wish to remember. You could do this with soft pencils (B) on light coloured pebbles, or with nail varnish (ask people for bottles they were going to discard) or glass paints. People might like to lay their named pebble around the focal point you created (see Prepare the space above).
Or you might invite people to discuss the following questions:
What other kinds of memorial can you think of?
Can you have living memorials?
What kind of memorial would you like for people to remember you by?
Intercessions
Lord of love, we give thanks for all who gave, and still give, their lives in war and conflict.
Living Lord, hear us.
We pray for places across the world where conflict rages today (name conflict zones )...
Living Lord, hear us.
We pray for all service personnel (especially ... name any local units or individuals serving in places of conflict )...
Living Lord, hear us.
We pray for all civilians who are caught up in conflict; those whose homes, lands and livelihoods are damaged or made inaccessible.
Living Lord, hear us.
We pray for all who are suffering severe injury as a result of war.
Living Lord, hear us.
We pray for organisations dedicated to the support of all who have been injured in conflict.
Living Lord, hear us.
Act of remembrance
(from the service offered by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland)
> AN OLDER PERSON SAYS:
They shall grow not old,
as we that are left grow old;
age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
> A YOUNGER PERSON MAY REPLY:
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning,
we will remember them.
> ALL AFFIRM:
We will remember them.
> THE BEGINNING OF THE TWO-MINUTE SILENCE MAY BE SIGNALLED
SILENCE
> THE COMPLETION OF THE SILENCE
MAY BE SIGNALLED
THE FOLLOWING PRAYER IS SAID:
Ever-living God
we remember those whom you have gathered
from the storm of war into the peace of your presence;
may that same peace calm our fears,
bring justice to all peoples
and establish harmony among the nations,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen .
Send out
You may use a customary blessing followed by :
Go in peace.
We go in peace.
Work for peace.
We will work for peace.
May peace fill your lives,
your hearts and your homes.
Amen .