A day to remember…
A vibrant red colour theme was woven through the very fabric of St. James’ church, from the poignant wall display as you stepped inside, to the abundance of poppies threaded through wheatsheaves and arranged in vases, to the basket of red petals, ready to be scattered, and to the applique of Rev. Naomi’s stole. Unmistakably, it was Remembrance Sunday.
The Holy Communion service, incorporating an Act of Remembrance for all ages struck a careful balance between traditional hymns, rites and the observance of the two-minute silence and visually, engaging activities to prompt prayer and reflection.
Stalmine Uniformed Organisations joined the congregation and paraded their flags at the start of the service. They made further contributions by delivering the readings beautifully.
The little ones were also actively involved throughout the service. The All-Age team had put together a range of activities for them to complete: they created their very own ‘Flanders Field’, littered with paper poppies, they crafted some wreaths, wove sticks together to create crosses and showcased their artistic flair, colouring in some posters. From their point of view, the most exciting challenge however, was to drop petals from the church balcony during the two minutes silence. It made a poignant image – the youngest members of the congregation, at the forefront of the most solemn moment of the service.
Wreaths were laid on the war memorial during the proceedings on behalf of the Royal Navy, the Army, the Royal Air Force, the British Legion, the Nursing Services, the Women’s Institute, the Police Services, the National Coastwatch, the Parish Council and Stalmine Scout group. The space was transformed from grey to red.
The following poem was shared by Ann, a local resident, and representative of the Nursing Services:
During the intercessions, Rev. Naomi used a bubble-making machine to generate a cascade of iridescent globules of air – a visual reminder of the
100 million lives lost in an instant during WW1, WW2 and subsequent conflicts. The children enjoyed trying to catch them, whilst the rest of the congregation prayed.
The National Anthem and a rousing hymn – ‘Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son’ – brought the 2024 Remembrance Sunday service to a close.
“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”
