REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY / REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY / REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020
“We will remember them”
Greetings to you all in these difficult days. This letter comes to you from Martyn Carter, Chair of Wyre Forest & Rock Branch, Royal British Legion, and Rev Ted Whittaker, local Parish Priest.
For 2020 we are all being encouraged to conduct
Acts of Remembrance safely on our doorsteps around 11.00 am on Sunday 8th and likewise Wednesday 11th – a deep silent meaningful equivalent of the Thursday NHS clapping earlier in the year. We remain hopeful that there will be very small, representative, invitation-only groups at our local Churches and Cenotaphs, but please, please, for everyone’s safety, do not visit these places around 11.00 am on Sunday or Wednesday. Doorstep Remembrance is our national duty this year to keep everyone safe.
We do invite you to participate in spirit with the representative groups and here are words and prayers for those who may find them useful. Please do also support the Royal British Legion whose Poppy Appeal has been severely hampered due to Covid in 2020.
To give to the Poppy Appeal, go to the website www.britishlegion.org.uk and select the ‘donate’ option. All information is there: donations can be made online or, or by post, or by phoning 0845 845 1945, or by text:
To donate £2 text POPPY2 to 70545*
To donate £5 text POPPY5 to 70545*
To donate £10 text POPPY10 to 70545*
(*Texts cost £2, £5, or £10 plus one standard network rate message (typically 97% of the donation amount goes to the Royal British Legion).
Poppy Posters can also be downloaded & printed for house windows.
We hope you find these prayers and information helpful. May God bless you in your Acts of Remembrance 2020.
Yours sincerely, Rev Ted Whittaker & Martyn Carter
Suggested Words for Doorstep Act of Remembrance
The Bible Reading: John 15 v 12-17
[Jesus said] ‘My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.’
Prayers of Hope:
I pray for the future of the world and for the needs of all people.
For peace and justice and end to war and conflict;
for world leaders, for those who make peace and foster reconciliation,
for an appreciation of our liberty,
for partnership between nations, for a world in harmony with itself,
for friendship and trust between peoples
Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.
For the unity of all people everywhere in every land
for all who seek God and the truth,
for all who follow their conscience with integrity,
Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.
For the healing of memories, for those who suffer as a result of war,
for communities where past wrongs and violence persist,
for all in pain or distress and for those who care for them,
Lord, in your mercy, hear my prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer (as in use at the time of WWI)
Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation.
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
THE ACT OF REMEMBRANCE
Lord, I am grateful for the freedom we all enjoy
I stand before you now in remembrance of those who gave their lives in two world wars and other conflicts.
They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.
We will remember them.
Two minutes’ silence is held
When you go home, tell them of us and say,
“For your tomorrows we gave our today.”
THE ACT OF COMMITMENT TO PEACEFULNESS
Lord God of peace, I pledge myself to serve you and all humanity, in the cause of peace, for the relief of want and suffering
and for the praise of your name.
Help me to live peaceably in the world, be of good courage;
hold fast that which is good; and render to no one evil for evil;
help me to strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
help the afflicted; honour everyone;
and rejoice in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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And some suggested prayers for other days during Covid lockdown
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your disciples,
‘I am with you always’.
Be with me today, as I offer myself to you.
Hear my prayers for others and for myself,
and keep me in your care. Amen.
O gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord God, thank you for your love in Jesus Christ,
Thank you that my life matters to you.
Help me to live today for you.
Give me your strength not to be downcast,
but to reach out in hope and kindness
in whatever ways I can, to be a blessing to others. Amen.
Dear Lord, please be with (friend, relative or other) _______________ who is in need at this time.
May your Holy Spirit provide comfort and hope
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.