Preparing for Powerful, Personal Preaching on Remembrance Sunday

In the first of an occasional series, we share some pointers for preachers as they prepare to preach on peace. This time Rev Dr Mark Wakelin, Chair of Trustees of the Fellowship, presents some considerations ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Some points to reflect upon.

Armistice and remembrance

Remembrance Sunday began as a moment to remember the Armistice of 1918. It quickly became a time to remember people from the UK (in our case) who suffered during the conflict. Over time, and after other wars ideas of; ‘celebrating victory’; ‘expressing gratitude to the military’ have become attached to the Sunday.  This has all lead to the buying of a poppy in the UK now feeling a bit like of a test of personal patriotism rather than a proper remembrance of the fallen and a commitment to work for peace. The proliferation of poppy options, including the White Poppy (pictured above) which came from the Co-operative Womens’ Guild, reflect different stresses as foci to peoples rembrance. Fundamentally this moment in the civic and religious calender remains important to hang on to the first and main intention of remembering Armistice which is to recognise the suffering of all those affected.

Creating space for planning peace

The active effort, without war, of working for peace is central ambition of Armistice. Its purpose is shaped by this ambition. In as much as we don’t do this, we dishonour the death and suffering of millions of people. The criteria of success or failure in such honouring and remembering is measured by the degree to which active peace-making is encouraged and informed. The space bought at such a high price has to be used.

Question. ‘How can we actively work for peace?

Reflect on the causes of war and how the Church can be bolder in helping address issues such as injustice, land reform, poverty and ignorance. Peace flows from deep in the human soul!  Violence comes from there as well. Peace may begin with a reflection on our own hearts.Re

Remembering All those who suffered.

Remembrance Day emerged from peoples response to the high levels of suffering released by mechanised warfare. The suffering was not one sided. We are called to remember all who suffer in war, and ‘All’ obviously includes our enemies.

 ‘All’ is also about more than the military on both sides. Christ’s teaching on ‘love your enemy’ underlines that almost impossible task, but it is the bedrock of any efforts to build peace. A generation of children who grew up in the during the Second World War were scarred and may still suffer. This was true wherever the child lived. Whenever it happens, war drags society as a whole into a nightmare of complex and contradictory feelings. The impact of these last long on individuals and community.

‘All’ must also take into account the ‘third party’.  The Third Party is an insurance phrase referring to those caught up in something of which they had no direct part.  The innocent child damaged in a car crash in insurance terms ‘the third party’. The victims of war include the growing and pernicious inequality in the world that arises out of our resorting, repeatedly to expensive, resources using violence.  The majority of those who suffer because of War are innocent bystanders.