reflective prayer stations and activities difficult ... · reflective prayer stations and...

Jane Whittington Guildford Diocesan Board of Education May 2014 1

World War One Commemorations 1914-2014

Reflective Prayer Stations and Activities

Difficult Choices - Coins God is always with us – Safety Pins People we miss – Buttons Fear – Stones Enemies - Blackboard stones Danger, sadness & peace - Plaited bookmark Service personnel - Rainbow of candles - A led prayer time Waiting for news – Sand timers

Following your conscience – Light

Military chaplains bringing God to the frontline – Crosses Peace and reconciliation - Zips


The Guildford Diocese is gathering materials to help schools and parishes with planning commemorative events. See the website www.cofeguildford.org.uk/parish-life/world-war-1-commemoration New materials are being added frequently.

The Church of England have produced some liturgy for use at commemorative events. See their website www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/latest-updates/world-war-one-liturgy.aspx

http://www.cofeguildford.org.uk/parish-life/world-war-1

http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/worship/latest


Difficult choices Coins You will need

• A selection of real coins • A wooden cross

Example Instruction sheet. During the First World War many people had to make some very difficult decisions.

• Politicians had to decide if they should declare war. • Men had to decide if they should enlist in the army. • Women had to decide if they should work as nurses, in

the munitions factories, or doing the jobs previously done by men who were now away fighting.

• Generals had to decide what to order their soldiers to do. • Soldiers sometimes had to decide if they could stop to

help an injured comrade. When it is difficult to make decision people sometimes toss a coin. These coins are to help us bring our decisions to God and ask for His help. What difficult decision are you making at the moment? Take a coin and look at the picture of the Queen’s head. Think about the reasons why you should say yes. Now look at the other side of the coin, the tail, think of reasons why you should say no. Take your time to bring this decision to God. When you are ready lay your coin at the foot of the wooden cross to show that you have asked God to help you make that decision.


God is always with us Safety Pins You will need

• Safety pins of various sizes • Small pieces of ribbon • Small beads

Example Instruction sheet. During the war many people were separated from their friends and family. Some people’s homes were destroyed in England -there were air raids. Many French and Belgium people were forced to leave their homes as the armies advanced; their homes were destroyed in the fighting. Think about times we face during the day that can be difficult and when we'd really like to know God is with us, or times when we are on our own and feel lonely. God is always there, but sometimes it's hard to remember that when we can't see him! Take a safety pin and pin it somewhere on your clothes as a reminder that God is always with you and keeps you safe. You might prefer to put it somewhere where no-one can see it or you might have it on show as a potential talking point! You might even want to personalise the safety pin with a couple of beads or a small strip of ribbon!


People we miss Buttons You will need

• A variety of different buttons Example Instruction sheet. During the Christmas Truce in 1914 soldiers on opposing sides exchanged gifts such as buttons with each other. They kept them to remember that person and the Christmas Truce for many years.

Buttons are only little things, but when we lose one we realise how significant they are.

Are there people in your life who may have seemed insignificant at the time, but they made a big impact on your life? …

Choose a button that reminds you of that person.

Pray for that person and thank God for them

Is there anyone for whom you could be significant today?


Fear - Stones

You will need

• A large bowl of sand • Small stones

Example Instruction sheet. During the First World War many people were often very frightened. Fear can feel like a hard, cold stone in your inside. Take one of the stones, feel how hard and cold it is. Think about something that frightens you. It can be big or small. Bring that fear to God as you remember that God is with you wherever you are and he can help you through that fear. When you are ready gently drop the stone into the bowl of sand and watch as the sand supports and surrounds the stone. God will be with us and support and surround us with his love when we are frightened.


Enemies / blackboard stones

You will need

• Stones painted with blackboard paint • White chalks • A bowl of water • Towel

Example Instruction sheet. During the First World War people regarded those on the other side as the enemy. Is there anyone that you would regard as an enemy? Maybe there is someone;

• who has hurt you • who bullied you • has been unkind to you • has stolen from you.

If you know their name, write it on one of the blackboard stones. Or if you prefer write a word to symbolise what they did. Feel the hard, cold of the stone. Think about your hurt feelings and then give that hurt feeling to God, let Him take it from you. Now wash the person’s name off the stone and put it back with the other clean stones.


Plaited bookmark You will need

• 30cm lengths of wool in red, white and blue

In a service setting Give each person one of each colour as they arrive at the service. The leader explains that the colours represent different prayers. They will need to demonstrate how to plait! Red; is the colour used on warning signs to show danger. As we plait with red we pray for those who are in danger. Blue; we sometimes talk about feeling blue. Blue can represent sadness. As we plait with blue we pray for those who are sad. White; the colour of a dove often represents peace. As we plait with white we pray for peace. While the congregation plait the wool the leader prays for these aspects. The leader may need to keep talking through how to plait as they pray. The completed plait could be taken home as it is; Tied as the tassel on a bookmark with a prayer or Bible verse printed on it, or brought to the front of the church and laid at the foot of a cross. Jane Whittington Guildford Diocesan Board of Education 2014


In a self-directed prayer station setting The coloured lengths of wool will be laid out in separate baskets with the explanation labels for each colour beside the basket. Red; is the colour used on warning signs to show danger. As we plait with red we pray for those who are in danger. Blue; we sometimes talk about feeling blue. Blue can represent sadness. As we plait with blue we pray for those who are sad. White; the colour of a dove often represents peace. As we plait with white we pray for peace. It may be helpful to have out a few examples of plaits at different stages of construction. Example Instruction sheet. Take one strand of each of the colours of wool and tie them together with a knot at one end. Now slowly and thoughtfully plait the three colours together. As you plait the red pray for those in danger As you plait the blue pray for those who are sad As you plait the white pray for peace in our world When you have plaited the whole length, knot the ends together to secure it. You may like to use this as a wristband or bookmark to remind you of these prayers.


Rainbow of candles A led prayer time

Set up a row of candles, one in each colour of the rainbow. Candles should be in the order of the colours of the rainbow. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue indigo, violet. (www.onestopcandleshop.co.uk have a wide range in all colours and sizes)

As the leader lights each candle they say a short prayer for the group mentioned below and allow time for quiet personal prayer. red – the colour of blood, we remember all those who have been injured in fighting or war. orange – the colour of bright orange jackets worn so that people can be seen, while they work to look after people who are in danger, we remember fire-fighters and ambulance teams yellow – sometimes people tie a yellow ribbon to welcome people home, we remember those who are missing a member of their family who is away from home at the moment.

http://www.onestopcandleshop.co.uk


green – the colour of camouflage clothes, we remember those who are serving our country today. blue – the colour of the caps of the peacekeeping forces, we remember those working for peace. indigo – a sad colour, we remember those who are sad because of the past. violet – a royal colour, we remember kings and queens and politicians as they rule our countries.


Waiting for news – watching the sand timer You will need

• At least one sand timer. A time of 1 ,2 or possibly 3 minutes duration will be enough

Example Instruction sheet. During the war many people spent a lot of time waiting for news about people they cared about. It could take a long time for letters from the front to reach those back at home. When letters did arrive they may not contain good news. So many people spent a lot of time waiting for news and worrying. Think about anyone you haven’t heard from for a while. Turn over the sand timer and pray for them while the sand drains through. or Think about anyone you know who is worried about someone they love. Turn over the sand timer and pray for them while the sand drains through. or Think about who or what you are worried about. Turn over the sand timer and pray for them while the sand drains through.


Following your conscience – light You will need

• Tea lights and tapers, or electric tea lights • Some information about people standing up

for what they believe is right that are in the current news

Example Instruction sheet. When World War 1 broke out some people felt strongly that fighting wars was wrong. They refused to join the army. Of the people Were they cowards? Some went to the front and worked as stretcher bearers, nurses, medical orderlies or cooks. Some refused to do anything that would support the fighting and were put in prison. Today there are many people across the world who are standing up for what they believe is right. Now light a tea light as you pray for them, in that situation. or Perhaps you are in a situation where you are having to stand up for what you believe is right. Now light a tea light as you pray for God’s help with doing, and saying, what your conscience tells you is right.


Military chaplains bringing God to the frontline – crosses You will need

• Small card or wooden crosses. Wooden crosses can be purchased from; www.wooden-crosses.co.uk www.craftycrocodiles.co.uk www.bakerross.co.uk

• Some printed examples of stories about military chaplains.

There are some in the resources for What Price Peace. www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/what-price-peace/

• Some photographs of military chaplains both from World War 1 and today.

Example Instruction sheet. Read the story of one or more of the chaplains and their work at the front. Take a small cross and as you hold it pray for someone you know who brings God to people when they are in challenging situations. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know their name. They may be an ordained person; a military chaplain, a hospital chaplain, a prison chaplain, a vicar or curate. They may be a lay person; a volunteer in a hospital or hospice, a Street Angel or Street Pastor or simply a friendly person that those in need naturally turn to. Take the cross with you to remind you to pray for them in the future.

http://www.wooden-crosses.co.uk

http://www.craftycrocodiles.co.uk

http://www.bakerross.co.uk

http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/what-price-peace/


Peace and reconciliation – Zips You will need;

• A map of the world or a globe • A selection of open zips • A wooden cross

Example Instruction sheet. A zip is a good picture of two sides coming together. Think about the places in the world where there is war or disagreement between people. It may help to look at the map to see where these places are. It may be that you know people who have fallen out or keep arguing. Pray that God will help bring the sides together so that they can live in peace. As you pray do up the zip bringing the two sides together. Then lay the done up zip by the wooden cross as a sign that you have given that situation to God.

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