The end of ‘the war to end all wars’ is a significant moment in Western history. It has marked British villages, towns and cities with memorials and their long lists of names of those who died fighting in it and the shorter list for WW2 –because, of course, it turned out not to be the war to end all wars. It also created a huge movement for peace with red poppy symbolism originally to signify an intention “never again” to enter into such conflict. As the headline in the newspaper proclaimed, it is also arguable that the war was not a military victory so much as a victory for striking workers. We become alert to the myth-making following wars and particularly ‘the Great War’.
We have edited and amended resources originally produced for the centenary of the Christmas Truces of 1914 so that they can be used in constructing public worship around the time of the centenary of the WW1 Armistice.
Perhaps too, we might make it an occasion to raise questions about peace-making and the conditions that make for genuine and lasting war-free relations. These liturgies and resources can be part of doing that.
Download the resources
Download 'In Heavenly Peace' PDF
Download 'In Heavenly Peace' Word Doc