The Armistice that effectively ended the First World War, or the Great War, came into effect at 11 o'clock on November 11, 1918. The war was not officially over until the following year, which is why many war memorials have the dates 1914-1919, but that November day was when the fighting stopped.
Many observe Remembrance Sunday – the closest to the 11th – in church or at public memorials. But increasingly there has been a return to marking the day itself with two minutes of silence, perhaps at a desk at work. Here are some words to pray, before or afterwards:
God of peace, I acknowledge that I have not sought peace enough.
God of love, I acknowledge that I have not always been loving.
God of justice, I acknowledge that I have closed my eyes to injustice.
God of heaven, I acknowledge that I have let the world around me shape me into its mould, and resisted your call on me to be Christlike.
I grieve for the lives lost in war, the soldiers and civilians alike. I honour the courage of the brave, and I lament the failures that sent them to fight.
And in the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace, I commit myself to walk in the ways of peace, in thought, word and deed.
O God of love, O king of peace
Make wars throughout the earth to cease:
The wrath of sinful man restrain,
Give peace, O God, give peace again.
Amen.
