Local Events - Part 5

[smallhobbit]

Continuing on with last month's theme, I'm once again talking about an activity within our church.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has played a major part in our lives this past week.  I'm a republican (small R) and have no particular interest, other than noting a change of monarch.  I also appreciate that for some people this has made a major impact, which should be acknowledged.  However I do not appreciate being told how I should be feeling when I quite simply don't.

That being said, the Church of England, being the state church has a role it has to play.  Fortunately, since Family Praise is outside the prescribed list of services, we were much freer to incorporate how we responded, so we simply had a small stone cairn before a portrait of the queen, and we invited everyone who wanted to come forward and add a stone to the cairn.  Everyone did.  I then read one of the prayers written by the CofE in their Prayers in Direct Language (ie family friendly, which for once they were) and then we sang 'God Save the King'.  Given that one of the families who attended are an army family, I felt we were at the right level.



We then continued with the main theme of the service, which was 'New' - new term/class etc, new service time, even a new monarch.  We planted cress seeds on cotton wool in egg boxes, which people took home and we hope to see photos of the growing cress next month.



We also have a tree to which we started adding leaves in the form of coloured thumbprints.  Even the baby got to have her thumbprint on there.



After which we invited everyone to write one new thing on a piece of green card, something which they might be feeling a bit nervous about, or which they are looking forward to.  These were then laid out and prayed over.



(For purposes of the photo the cards have been turned over).

Comments

[ruric]

As someone who's not a church goer that sounds like a lovely service!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. We aim for Family Praise to be something anyone can feel at home with.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

That sounds nice. The seed planting is especially apt, I think.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It's very much planned by a group, with each of us coming up with part of the service.

[debriswoman]

It sounds like a good balance:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I think it was - everyone seemed happy with how it went.

[moonblossom]

I love the tree. I am a Royalist but don't let that bug you. :) I am not perturbed that you are a republican Small Hobbit. To each their own, right? Also, that's cute the baby got her thumb print on the tree. :)

[smallhobbit]

You do you and I'll do me 🙂 And that's why I felt it right to include the remembrance of the queen. The baby's parents were keen she join in as part of the family.

[moonblossom]

Duly noted. :D

[adafrog]

Sounds like a really nice service.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It went well.

[aome]

Those sound like nice traditions!

My husband is getting rather cross that when he turns on the morning news (he rides a stationary bike in front of the news), it's All QEII All The Time, and he's ready to hear about, you know, other stuff going on in the world.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you.

Tell your husband he should be grateful he's not over here.

[shallowness]

However I do not appreciate being told how I should be feeling when I quite simply don't.

Indeed. You are not alone in that.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I'm glad to know that.

[rusty_armour]

I come from a Royalist family and have Royalist leanings myself, but I can definitely appreciate not wanting to be told how you should feel.

I really like the way your church chose to mark the Queen's death/the King's accession. The stone cairn and the tree with the thumbprints are both really lovely.

[smallhobbit]

I understand that there are those who have been affected, but not everyone has and I think there should be more acceptance of this fact.

And thank you - I'm delighted you like what we were doing.