REMEMBRANCE DAY PROGRAM
Introduction
Procession of flags
O Canada (wait until all flags and people are in their places)
Opening Prayer
First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Prayer for the Canadian Forces
Prayers of the Faithful
Laying of the Wreath (have wreath, Remembrance cross, etc., at the side)
Last Post/Silence/Reveille
In Flanders Fields
Closing Prayer
Closing Song
Guest Speaker(s)
Closing Remarks
REMEMBRANCE DAY LITURGY - 2010
(compiled by L. Chudy)
INTRODUCTION
Leader: Welcome to our Remembrance Day ceremony. On November 11 Canadians will pause in silence to remember those who have died in war, and to pray for victims of attacks and cruelty throughout the world. This is a day to pray for peace, to think about what we are doing as individuals, as a community and as a country to bring God’s peace into the world. This is a day when a believing community should once again turn towards prayer and towards the ideals Jesus gives us in the Beatitudes.
Leader: Please stand for the parade of flags and remain standing until after the singing of ‘O Canada’. (Wait until the flags and people are in place before we start singing ‘O Canada’.)
PARADE OF FLAGS
O CANADA
Leader: Please be seated.
Leader: This is now a sacred place. Let us remember that the Prince of Peace dwells among us at this moment. (Pause until there is silence before continuing.)
Leader: Let us begin by showing the sign of our faith. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Leader: Loving God, today we honor the memory and lives of our sisters and brothers who have died in the wars of our nation. We thank the men and the women who have served, and are serving in the military services of our country. We remember, too, all women and men who are peacemakers in our own lives, and in the lives of others. We pray today for peace in our hearts and minds.
God of peace, make us instruments of your peace. Give us loving hearts required to be peacemakers and thus your children. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We will now have the First Reading.
FIRST READING
Student: A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians. (3: 12-15)
You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in one body. And be thankful.
The word of the Lord…………… Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM – Psalm 72
Student: The response is: Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace forever.
O God, give your judgment to the king, to a king’s son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgment. Response…………………………….
In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to earth’s bounds. Response………………………………
For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor. Response………………………………………
May his name be blessed forever and endure like the sun. Every tribe shall be blessed in him, all nations bless his name. Response ………………………………
OR…………… (sing the song PEACE FOR ALL TIME by Michael Mangan from the CD and book True Colors Shine page 39)
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Leader: Please stand for the Gospel Acclamation.
Alleluia, Alleluia. Happy are the peacemakers; they shall be called sons and daughters of God. Alleluia. (omit if it will not be sung or choose one that is familiar to your school)
GOSPEL
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. (14: 27-31)
Glory to you, O Lord.
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I. I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe. I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader: Please be seated.
Today we remember the soldiers who fought for others and for us so that we could have peace. They gave their lives so that others could be free from people who were selfish and didn’t live lives of love. Those soldiers fought for truth, justice, freedom and love. We remember and thank them today for giving their lives for us. We remember them by being people of peace. Let us now pray together the PRAYER FOR THE CANADIAN FORCES. (have prayer on overhead)
PRAYER FOR THE CANADIAN FORCES
All-powerful and ever-living God,
when your servant David was to defend your people, you assisted him and you kept him safe through all his journeys, while leading your people in difficult times. Protect the members of the Canadian Forces. Be their constant companion and their strength in battle, and their refuge in every adversity. Guide them, O Lord,that they may return home in safety. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
Leader: When we remember heroes of war, as our country does each November, we tend also to remember heroes in our own lives.
Today we pray in memory of all those who made a difference in others’ lives because they lived according to the beliefs that were important to them.
Let us take a moment to remember those who have inspired us by their lives and thank God for having given us those relationships.
We will now bring forward our prayers.
Student goes to microphone and reads their intercession. They then proceed to light their candle on the altar. The student then goes back to their seat.
Student: The response is: Lord, let there be peace.
Student #1: I light this candle for peace in our hearts: May the Holy Spirit help us to stop, think and act as Jesus taught us. We pray to the Lord ……………………………………………..
Student #2: I light this candle so that we may be instruments of peace within our own families: sharing, loving and forgiving. We pray to the Lord ………………………………………….
Student #3: I light this candle so that we will treat others as we want to be treated, with respect and consideration. We pray to the Lord ……………………………………………….
Student #4: I light this candle so that we as Christians will be examples of peacemakers within our ________________school community and the community of Saskatoon. We pray to the Lord ……………………………………………
Student#5: I light this candle for Canada, our country, which is known world-wide as a peacekeeping nation. May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to continue our leadership role. We pray to the Lord ………………………………………………………
Student #6: I light this candle so that everyone throughout the world may know peace and freedom as we do here in Canada. We pray to the Lord ……………………………………..
Student #7: I light this candle so that the nations of the world who believe in freedom, democracy and peace, will continue to fight for our freedom. We pray to the Lord ………………………………….
Student #8: I light this candle for those who are less fortunate than we are. May we continue to do our best to support them in their times of need. We pray to the Lord ……………………………………...
Student #9: I light this candle so that God will continue to bless us all with faith, so that we will spread His word of peace, forgiveness and love. We pray to the Lord ………………………………….
Student #10: I light this candle so that we as students, will act as ambassadors of peace in our school environment, whether in the classroom, on the bus, or in the schoolyard. We pray to the Lord ………………………………………
Student #11: I light this candle so that all families who have lost a loved one while they were doing peacekeeping duties, find consolation and peace in their hearts. We pray to the Lord ………………………………………………………
Leader: All-powerful and eternal God, you guide us to your justice, love and truth. May all our words and actions give you praise and glory, now and always.
Amen.
Leader: We will now have the laying of the wreath.
LAYING OF THE WREATH
TAPS (Last Post, Silence, Reveille)
IN FLANDERS FIELDS
CLOSING PRAYER
Leader: Please bow your heads.
Loving God, have mercy on your people, and open our hearts to peace and love. Reward all who have died for our country, and grant that Canada and all nations may continue to work for justice and peace. Bless us in our service, and help us to follow your Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and our Lord, for ever and ever. Amen.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Please join us in the Closing Hymn PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
PRAYER FOR THE CANADIAN FORCES
All-powerful and ever-living God,
when your servant David was to defend your people, you assisted him and you kept him safe through all his journeys, while leading your people in difficult times. Protect the members of the Canadian Forces. Be their constant companion and their strength in battle, and their refuge in every adversity. Guide them, O Lord, that they may return home in safety. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
63. PEACE FOR ALL TIME – by Michael Mangan
based on John 14: 27
REFRAIN
I give you peace, my peace I leave,
To everyone peace everywhere.
In every heart, in every land.
Don’t be afraid, do not be troubled,
My gift to you, peace for all time.
No more pain, no more hatred,
No more suffering.
No more death, no destruction,
No more war! REFRAIN
No more greed, no more hunger,
No more poverty.
No more hurt, no more anger,
No more war! REFRAIN
Give us love, give us freedom,
Give us peace on earth.
Give us joy, give us justice,
No more war! REFRAIN
I give you peace, my peace I leave,
To everyone peace everywhere.
In every heart, in every land.
Don’t be afraid, do not be troubled,
My gift to you, peace for all time.
My gift to you, peace for all time.