A service for all ages on Remembrance Sunday
This service was first published in issue 50, 2010
Remembrance Sunday provides individuals, organisations and the British nation as a whole with an opportunity to reflect on those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. Originally this commemoration was to honour those who had fallen in the First World War. Over time it has come to include all those who have lost their lives in armed conflict and, once again, this is happening today. In this service, we remember all the victims and we think particularly of those who have lost their lives in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, war does not just result in death. Today, young people who have served in the armed forces are recovering from horrendous injuries and facing tremendous readjustments in their lives as a result. Elsewhere on the website you can find some of their stories, which may provide extra resources for this service. The commemorations marking Remembrance Sunday often include many young people and we hope that this service will be of assistance in enabling them to understand something about the struggles and triumphs of those who have been injured.
The title of the service comes from the poem, 'In Flanders' fields', which is read during the Gather stage of the service.
Planning
You will need:
- poppies for sale in case people have not bought one earlier
- items to illustrate the reading: a belt, shoes, a helmet, a sword, a shield and a breastplate. These might be made from card or put together by begging and borrowing
Either dress a real person or you can use a cardboard figure. If you have a connection with a Territorial Army Unit, you might even be able to use contemporary equivalents to Paul's items of armour.
For Prepare the space below, use our template to make your own 'poppy petals' or flowers or cut petal/flower shapes out of red crêpe paper.
You can order poppies from The Royal British Legion, which also has a great deal of useful information about Remembrance. The poem 'Flanders' field' can be found there and there is a great deal of other informative history. The site also provides an understanding of the work of the Royal British Legion with forces' families today.
Gather
Prepare the space
Try to have a focal point of either a large wreath of poppies or perhaps lots of poppy petals strewn where they are in clear view for all to see. Play reflective music as people enter for worship.
Greeting
May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all:
with us and with all who strive for peace and justice.
Song
O Lord, all the world belongs to you
How poppies became part of Remembrance
SHARE SECTIONS OF THESE READINGS BETWEEN SEVERAL YOUNG PEOPLE
Reader 1
Fighting in Flanders and Picardy during the First World War left the land devastated: the only plant to grow among the trenches and mud was the corn poppy. A young doctor, John McCrae, moved by the sight, wrote this poem in 1915:
Reader 2
In Flanders' fields
In Flanders' fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders' fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders' fields.
John McCrae
Reader 3
When the First World War ended, people wanted a way to remember the fallen, and an American politician, Moina Michael, inspired by McCrae's poem, began selling poppies to raise money for the injured. And so the poppy tradition began.
A prayer of confession
Jesus said, 'No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.'
John 15.13
Heavenly Father,
we ask forgiveness for the times in our lives
when we have been selfish,
thinking only of ourselves and our own needs;
for the times we have preferred to tread the easy path,
rather than the one that leads to you;
for the times we have failed
to see your image in our brothers and sisters.
In your mercy
free us from all our sins
and move our hearts to praise you
with every moment of our being.
We make these and all our prayers
in the name of Christ,
your Son, our Lord.
Amen.
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Prayers
God our creator,
we gather today to remember all those
who have given their lives in the service of their country
and for their sisters' and brothers' freedom.
We pray for all who have lost their lives in conflict
not only in the two world wars
but in operations up to this present day.
We thank you for their example of selflessness
in laying down their lives for our freedom.
Bless them and grant them eternal peace in you.
Amen.
We pray, too, for those who mourn the loss of their loved ones:
for those who have been widowed and orphaned;
for those who are heartbroken at the death of their daughter or son;
and for grandparents,
whose loss of their grandchildren as victims of war
still troubles and pains them.
Amen.
May the generosity of all who have laid down their lives
inspire us to work tirelessly
for harmony and goodwill amongst all peoples
and may we never forget the sacrifice they have offered for our peace.
Amen.
Let us remember before God,
and commend to his sure keeping:
those who have died for their country in conflict;
those whom we know and whose memory we treasure;
and all who have lived and died in the service of humanity.
Older person
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:
age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
Young person
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
we will remember them.
We will remember them.
A moment of silence is then kept before the Scripture reading.
Word
Open the Word Ephesians 6.10-18
As the words are read, dress either a real person or a life-size cardboard cut-out figure in the armour described in the passage.
Hymn
I, the Lord of sea and sky
Explore the Word
Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, is exhorting them to remain faithful to the call they received at baptism. Acutely aware of the dangers around them that may cause them to fall away from living good lives, he uses the image of combat and armour to good effect. Because of his depth of faith, Paul is confident that this is a battle that can be won. We, too, can be victorious in overcoming all that would have us abandon God, but victory requires training and preparation. We must 'arm' ourselves with the right protection for what we are to face. Above all, we are not to underestimate the power of consistency in prayer that will enable us to overcome all obstacles.
Respond to the Word
Think and discuss:
What sorts of challenges face our society today? Apart from the 'armour' mentioned by Paul, what additional 'armour' might we need to protect ourselves from modern attacks on our life of faith? In the multicultural and mixed faith societies in which we live today these questions impact on the life of all people of faith and it is worthwhile remembering that people who have been at school over the last 10 or 15 years may be better informed about the non-Christian faiths than many older Christian people.
Watch: Watch some of the films on the Help for Heroes website.
Invent: What do young people feel makes following Christ a challenge in today's world? Invite people to invent and add some 'additional' armour, relevant to life in the twenty-first century, to the list given by Paul in the reading. Is there anything they believe in so strongly that they would be prepared to sacrifice everything for it?
Make: Invite children to colour in large poppy petals with the items of 'armour' written on them from Paul's letter to the Ephesians (truth, uprightness, eagerness, etc.) Encourage them to make these into poppies and stick them on to card to make a wreath that could be laid with the display created in Prepare the space.
Design: In the chapel of The National Memorial Arboretum, where victims of many military campaigns are commemorated, is a banner that represents the image of the tree whose leaves were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22.2). Use real leaves, gathered as they are shed from the trees in autumn, to make your own banner. Diluted PVA glue will stick the leaves very successfully.
Hymn
Lord, make me a means of your peace or
Make me a channel of your peace or
Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
Send out
The Kohima Epitaph
A YOUNG PERSON READS
When you go home tell them of us and say:
'For your tomorrow, we gave our today'.
Closing prayer
MINISTER
May the God of peace and of all consolation be with you
and those you love this day and forever.
Amen.
Hymn
He who would valiant be or
In Christ there is no east or west or
Let there be peace on earth or
Let there be love shared among us
Sending out prayer
Father in heaven,
we dedicate ourselves
to serve you and all peoples,
in the ways of peace,
to work for the relief of want and suffering
and for the glory of your name.
May your Holy Spirit guide us;
grant us wisdom and courage;
give us hope and keep us faithful in your ways
through all our days.
Amen.