Remembrance Friday Five from Sophia. I thought I was too tired to play but seeing this topic I was instantly engaged and energised.
1. Did your church have any special celebrations for All Saints/All Soul's Day?
No - UCA is not exactly liturgical, at least in our part of Australia. I did attend a 'Blessing of the Hands' mass for our students on All Souls' Day. Homily was about purgatory.
2. How about Veterans' Day?
Definitely NOT in church. We have clear views about separation of church and State and even flags seem to be not allowed. Again though a yes for work - I used McCrae's poem In Flanders' Field as a reflection in our curriculum meeting. And I have worn a poppy all week.
3. Did you and your family have a holiday for Veterans' Day/Remembrance Day? If so, how did you take advantage of the break?
Not a public holiday here. I actually like making the 2 minutes silence in the midst of a 'normal' routine.
4. Is there a veteran in your life, living or dead, whose dedication you remember and celebrate? Or perhaps a loved one presently serving in the armed forces?
My nephew is currently serving in Afghanistan, my uncle served in World War II in Scotland. I recently blogged about my great-uncle who was killed at Gallipoli (serving with the Scots forces). I also have great respect for those who chose the hard path of conscientious objection and who bore the ridicule of their peers and the harsh punishment of their nations.
5. Do you have any personal rituals which help you remember and connect with loved ones who have passed on?
Memory isn't exactly a ritual but I do hold memories and family history very close to my heart. As the next generation of our family begins my sisters and I are more conscious of passing this knowledge on to our children and their grandchildren. Our family is good at attending funerals, which is a very direct way that younger generations learn about their forebears and meet members of their wider family and clan networks.
9 comments:
I am amazed that the homily at the blessing of the hands mass was on purgatory, but hey who am I in my non liturgical tradition to critisise...
I love your description of the two minutes silence in busyess, we do that too, it makes it more real somehow.
I like the idea of observing the silence as well...bringing it right here and now.
I really agree with you about separation of church and state. I wish our churches were stricter. For example, churches here often sing patriotic songs in service and I hate that.
Can you tell me more about the blessing of the hands? My #5 comment was similar to yours.
Thank you for your point about honoring conscientious objectors as well.
Yes, thanks for honoring COs. So many have given such brave service either as medics or on the homefront while being criticized for their beliefs. I also agree that the two minutes' silence in the midst of the business day is more respectful and powerful a reminder than having the day off to go shopping!
very thoughtful responses....I am in a very liturgical church (TEC)....and sadly we do have a flag just behind the altar - it would be nice if were able to understand church as a place for all people, all nations....
We were all quite surprised at the homily Sally. I am ambivalent about Church and State. Sometimes it would be good to mark national occasions in the wider context of the international church community. Remembrance day is perhaps one of those occasions as there is potential to remember Turkish and German and Japanese and other families - as well as Allied forces. I do agree about patriotism - or at least exclusive patriotism. But imagine a service with national songs for around the world. Now that would be grand!
Good morning (well, it's morning here). You have a blog award at my place.
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