They Also Served in WW1

Praying for Peace: then and now…

Some of you may have already come across the resources for the run up to the centenary of the end of the First World War. I have found them to be an uplifting, thought-provoking and profound set of prayers and Bible reflections.

If you haven’t come across them yet, you can find out more HERE.

On 4 August 1918 King George V called for a National Day of Prayer. One hundred days later the war ended. ‘Remembrance 100’ launched on 4 August 2018 with 100 Days of Peace and Hope – prayers, Bible readings, reflections and peace-making activities. It is an excellent free resource which leads us up to the centenary of Armistice Day. Lest we forget…

We are grateful to the men and women who served in WWI. We are conscious that their sacrifice needs to be remembered and shared today. Recently I made a visit to Swansea Museum, where a group of school children were learning about WWI - their teachers asserted that it is vital that they learn about our history - the photo on this post was taken by me at the exhibition - you can see more about this exhibition HERE.


Let us pray.

Loving God, we acknowledge the great sacrifice that the women and men who served in WWI made.

We recognise that many of our nations across the globe are in a state of conflict and war, so we pray for peace and reconciliation for all peoples.

We pray in Jesus’ name, who summons us all to be peacemakers…

Amen.


Revd Sara Iles,
FCG Education Assistant

'They Also Served' in WWI

Service and Exhibition Sunday 2nd July in Birmingham

This is information from Bishop Dr Joe Aldred at Churches Together in England and Angelina Osborne from the CTE project 'They Also Served' about a service and exhibition to solemnly remember and reflect upon the contributions of African and Caribbean Servicemen to WW1. 
 
Service date: Sunday 2 July 2017
Time: 5PM – 7PM
Venue: The New Testament Church of God, Lozells Road, Birmingham B19 1NP
 
Keynote speaker:  Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, priest vicar at Westminster Abbey and Chaplain to the Queen
 
With prayers, music, dance and poetry from Aberdeen Street Gospel Choir, operatic soprano Abigail Kelly, Brothers United in Christ, King Solomon Business School Choir, Roy McFarlane and Sandra Golding.
 
For many years, the contributions of African and Caribbean servicemen to the First World War has been largely forgotten and underexplored. The war’s centenary (2014-2018) presents an opportunity to revisit this history, and to re-examine and rediscover African and Caribbean involvement. It is now recognised that the assistance and service of over 2 million Africans and 16,000 Caribbeans, not to mention the countless Black Britons that joined British regiments, made a considerable impact in terms of manpower and resources. It means that the Great War was a multi-racial and multi-national war.
 
‘They also served’ is an 18-month Research Project led by Dr Angelina Osborne that has been uncovering African and Caribbean contributions to WW1.  Join us for this project concluding event that pays tribute to these heroes.
 
Planning Group:  Dr Joe Aldred, Rev Canon Eve Pitts, Dave King, Paulette Douglas

Download PDF Flyer of the Service Poster (large file)

FREE REGISTRATION:   www.bit.do/theyalsoserved

Website: www.theyalsoserved.co.uk 
   
'They Also Served' is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.