This week, the Chaplaincy Team led the school in a liturgy to remember the people who sacrificed their lives in war. They really wanted to focus on respect for the people who had died so they included time for quiet reflection.
They began and ended the remembrance with the hymn, Amazing Grace, which they chose because it tells us that no matter how sad and lost we feel, God is always there and is ready to welcome us home to Heaven when we die. They thought it would remind everyone that even though we are sad for those we have lost, they are happy forever with God.
The scripture they chose was Ecclesiastes because it talks about how there is a time for everything in life and God is always in charge even when things feel very sad or frightening. He is always there supporting us in happy times and in sad ones. Children’s responses to the scripture included – ‘It makes me feel calm because God is looking after me’ Janah, and ‘I feel a bit sad because it reminds me of the people who have died’ Oliver.
We all sat in a circle to remind us that we are all part of the same family and we need to remember the members of God’s family who have died. After the scripture, we held a minute of silence to spend some time thinking about the sacrifice of the dead. Victor led us in the prayer of remembrance and we all joined in to say, ‘We will remember them.’
The Chaplains asked everyone to write a prayer of remembrance on a poppy which they will use to make a remembrance prayer wreath so that we can remember and pray for the war dead throughout the month of November. Victor then led us in a prayer asking God to look after and comfort people who are bereaved and to look after the people who have died and are in Heaven.
As the children left the hall, they bowed their heads to the prayer focus to show respect to all of the people who sacrificed their lives in war so that we can live in peace.
What did you think about and feel on Remembrance Day?
