Thinking Day Service for the Laying up of the flags of the 9th Fleetwood Guide Company and Brownie Pack.
Sunday 21st February 2010.
FLEETWOOD UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR THE
LAYING UP OF THE FLAGS OF 9th FLEETWOOD GUIDE COMPANY & PACK ON THINKING DAY
1st SUNDAY in LENT
February 21st 2010
THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
In a world of plenty and scarcity we come to offer to God our thanksgiving for the bounty God gives us in our lives.
WORDS ON WHICH TO MEDITATE AS WE PREPARE FOR WORSHIP
Thanks be to you,
for you are our God,
the Lord and giver of life,
calling us as one people under one baptism into one faith,
who offers merciful forgiveness and restores us into life-giving relationships with you,
all creation and one another.
AMEN
THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
When the congregation is settled and seated there will be a welcome and a reminder of the church notices for the coming week.
CHURCH NOTICES FOR THE COMING WEEK
Following the welcome and notices for the coming week we are all asked to stand as the Bible is brought into church and placed before the congregation and remain standing for the Call to Worship.
An elder will carry in an open Bible and place it on or near the communion table.
In true Reformed tradition this simple act is a reminder that our authority is God’s Word revealed to us in Scripture open before us.
CALL TO WORSHIP
The Lord God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
is our creator.
The Lord is our promise.
The Lord is our judgement.
The Lord is our hope.
The Lord is our peace.
The Lord is our salvation.
Let us worship the Lord, our God.
Let us worship the Lord,
the giver of life,
our God.
HYMN 104: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (Tune: Praise, my soul. Music: John Goss. Words: HF Lyte based on Psalm 103.)
During the singing of the hymn the colours of 16th Fleetwood will be brought for safe keeping in the chancel.
PRAYERS OF INVOCATION, CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
ALL ROUND THE WORLD: A CENTENARY OF WORLDWIDE FRIENDSHIPS
Following our journey round the world we shall be asked to stand as the flags of 9th Fleetwood Company and Pack are brought for laying up.
All remain standing as the worship leader says:
We have gathered in this Church to lay up the Flags of the 9th Fleetwood Company and Pack. No more fitting place would be found wherein to deposit these Emblems of Duty and Service than the House of God,
where praise and prayers are wont to be made.
We commit these Sacred Flags of the 9th Fleetwood Company and Pack for safe keeping in this Holy Place for evermore.
And I receive these Flags for custody within this church.
The Flags are taken from the colour party and laid before the communion table.
When this has been done the colour party returns to their seats and the congregation can sit.
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING
Lord,
We praise you for the great blessings you have given through the Guide Movement.
We thank you for the inspiration of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell,
For the ideals they set before us and their vision of a world where everyone would live in peace and understanding.
We thank you for all the girls that it has encouraged and helped over 100 years, to become good and caring citizens and to have fun and adventure in life.
We thank you for the many leaders who have given loyal service and patient guidance.
We thank you for lasting friendships, and for the strengthening fellowship of others who share the same ideals.
Bless the leaders of the movement in this centenary year as they plan and carry out activities and adventures for millions of girls all around the world.
We thank you for opportunities to have fun together, to learn new skills, meet new friends, see new places and share new ideas.
For all the enrichment that Guiding has brought to us and to the world we praise your holy name.
Amen
HYMN 117: O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hand hath made (Tune: How great thou art. Music: Swedish folk melody arranged by Stuart K Hine. Words: Russian hymn translated by Stuart K Hine.)
During the singing of this hymn the youngsters leave us for a great time in the halls and return later to show us their handiwork.
THE INVITATION TO THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Hear the gracious words of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.
At this point in the service, none need feel they have to leave. In this Church all are invited to share in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. However, if you cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread and wine when it is offered to you then, simply, make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take. But please stay and share in the rich fellowship of the Sacrament.
In our Reformed tradition, you may see people move forward to gather round the Table of the Lord. They occupy alternate rows starting from the front benches. You can join them. However, you can remain where you are sat and the elders will come to you with the bread and wine.
THE APPROACH TO COMMUNION
THE INSTITUTION
- THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND WINE
It is our usual practice to wait until all have received the bread and we eat together, and then similarly with the wine, waiting until all have received a glass and drinking together. If you cannot, for whatever reason, accept the bread or wine when it is offered to you then simply,make an indication to the elder. There is no obligation to accept, and no offence not to take.
A TIME OF QUIET REFLECTION
Kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
Kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s crying, Lord, kum ba yah.
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s singing, Lord, kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah,
someone’s praying, Lord, kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
Kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
kum ba yah, my Lord,
kum ba yah,
O Lord, kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, meaning “Come by here” in the Gullah language, is the title of a Christina song which originated in the lowlands of South Carolina. Gullah – a Creole blend of heavily accented English and West African languages – was spoken by African-American slaves living in the area. The traditional melody to which the words are sung is of African origin.
HYMN 549: One more step along the world I go (Tune: Southcote. Music: Sydney Carter. Words: Sydney Carter.)
During the singing of this hymn the youngsters return from having a great time in the halls and show us their handiwork.
ALL ROUND THE WORLD: A CENTENARY OF WORLDWIDE FRIENDSHIPS
SONG: He’s got the whole world in his hands (Tune: Traditional. Music: Arranged by Christopher Tambling. Words: Traditional.)
PRAYERS OF DEDICATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
God,
We pray that you will continue to bless the Guide family in the years to come.
Please help us to keep our high ideals and standards, looking always for opportunities to give service acceptable to you, and to the people around us.
Support the leaders and inspire more to come forward.
Show us all how to work together unselfishly, ready to put others before ourselves.
As we gain more knowledge and learn new skills may we also grow in our understanding of the Promise.
May we spread peace and friendship throughout the world in your name and for your sake.
Grant, O Lord, we pray,
that your blessing may rest upon us and all other Guides,
Help us with your grace to serve our country and keep our Guide Promise and Law.
Make us humble and friendly, eager for adventure, alert and prepared for service.
Give us the courage to dare to do right,
Make us both strong to fight and steadfast to endure,
And may our lives be filled with the joy that spreads happiness everywhere.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Following the prayers all present and past members The Girl Guide Association (Girlguiding UK) stand to renew the promise.
RENEWAL OF PROMISE
Following the renewal of the promise all the congregation stand to sing the following hymn and during the singing of the hymn your gifts for the work of God in and through this place will be received.
During the singing of the hymn your gifts for the work of God in and through this place will be received.
Also during the singing of the hymn the colours of 16th Fleetwood will be returned from safe keeping in the chancel.
THE BLESSING
If we walk in the Light,
with Jesus the Light of the World,
then Christ will shine upon us and others will see his love in ours.
May the Lord lead us from darkness to light,
from evil to goodness,
from death to life.
Go in faith,
your faith has enabled you to see the Son of God.
Following the blessing the 16th Fleetwood colour party remains in the nave and as is traditional at meetings of the Guides we close our morning worship as we sing.
The service closed in a traditional way with the following:
GO WELL AND SAFELY
Go well and safely
Go well and safely
Go well and safely
The Lord is ever with you
Live well and safely
Live well and safely
Live well and safely
The Lord is ever with you
Stay well and safely
Stay well and safely
Stay well and safely
The Lord is ever with you.
Taps
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the sea, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest;
God is nigh.
__________________________________________________________________________
| J |
ean Riley and Brenda Davies started organising this service in September 2009 and latterly Audrey Baker and Wendy Slattery were involved in the final arrangements. This date was chosen as on 22nd February it commemorates the joint birth dates of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell and in the Guide Movement. It is a special year for us as we celebrate 100 years of Guiding.
Lord Robert & Lady Olave Baden-Powell.
Image with thanks courtesy of Wendy Slattery.
The STORY OF OUR BROWNIES AND GUIDES
Following the creation of Robert Baden-Powell’s Boy Scout movement, and their first rally at the Crystal Palace, it became apparent that many girls wanted to join the movement. In response Baden-Powell formed the Girl Guides in 1910, and asked his sister Agnes to look after the new organisation. A few years later his new wife Olave became involved and, in 1918, was appointed Chief Guide. Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. The Guide Association was a founder member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1928. Today the Association has more than 600,000 members and continues to be the largest female only youth organisation in the UK.
The following has been taken from”A Life and History of Fleetwood Congregational and United Reformed Church” edited by Elsie KNIGHT:
“In July 1920 the 1st Fleetwood Brownie Pack was formed, catering for young girls aged 7 to 11. The Pack was registered in October of the same year and was attached to the church. It was re-registered in 1929 as the 9th Fleetwood and re-registered once more in 1973. Many young women in Fleetwood remember with affection the happy hours spent at Brownies. In 1931 the Congregational Guide Company was formed catering for girls from 11 to 16 years. At 16 girls had to move on and so a Sea Ranger crew was founded. Many lasting friendships were formed in those far-off days and ‘Thinking Day’ cards are still exchanged each year.”
NOTE: There is a hint in the church minute books that Guiding in our church life may be older than its 1920 Brownie Pack.
It would remiss not to mention the Trefoil Guild members who have given invaluable support to 9th Fleetwood and been the means of maintaining genuine friendships which have lasted down to today. In 1943 the various groups of ‘Old Guides’ amalgamated and were renamed Trefoil Guild. Its aims are:
To live in the spirit of Guiding;
To offer practical help to Guiding UK;
To support Guiding worldwide;
To carry the spirit of Guiding and Scouting into the communities where we live.
The Service was very moving with many memories flooding the minds of all who have been involved with the Guiding Movement over the years sensitively led by Tom Birch as the Colour party made up of ex-Guiders carried The Union Flag, Guide Company Flag and the Brownie flag each with two escorts were laid up for safe keeping in church. An emotional time with many tear-filled eyes, but happy that these colours now belong in church.
Wendy’s Mum Kathleen Clegg (nee Johnstone) is to the right of the Toadstool and her sister Eva is on the back row fifth from the left. Dora Crompton’s sister Edith Hunter is on the front row second from the right.
On the table under the pulpit there were some daffodils and snowdrops placed there in order to remember those Ex-Guiders and Scouters who are no longer with us.
The falls on the six pillars had Interest Badges from both the Guides and Brownies. Thinking Day cards and Bookmarks were given to the Colour Party, ex-Guiders, Trefoil Guild Members and Janice Verity and Karen Kennedy.
In the hall after the service there were displays of memorabilia. There were plenty of ‘ooh’s and ahhh’s’ as many of the people in attendance remembered happy times with friends in their Company and Pack, some still here and others passed on.
The congregation was made up of our church family, ex-Guiders and Trefoil Guild members.
We were also pleased that Janice Verity and Karen Kennedy had brought their Beavers, Cubs and a Scout with their colour party to enrich the service.
Jean, Brenda, Audrey and Wendy wish to thank all those who attended, John Gibson for his organ music, to all those who helped with refreshments and hope their lives were enriched by this service as there is a huge bond of friendship between all members of the Guiding Movement.
Wendy writes ” I should like to share this poem with you. It was written about Christmas time 1929 especially for the Pack by her father Joe. S Johnstone, who was my Grandpa. My mother, Kathleen Clegg, nee Johnstone registered the 9th Fleetwood Brownie Pack in February 1929 but her first meeting was held at the beginning of October 1928.”
‘It’s Best to be a Brownie’
You needn’t think because we’re brown
And have our tasks to face
That we are dull and grumpy folk
Who never laugh and never joke
For that is not the case
We know there’s lots of fun about
And if you watch awhile
You’re pretty sure to notice
That though at times things go amiss
The Brownies always smile
Oh, it’s nice to be an octopus a sporting in the ocean
Its nice to be a crocodile a basking in the sun
Its nice to be a humming bird, but I’ve a lot of notion
Its best to be a Brownie for its fun, fun, fun
We’re quite aware we’re rather small
But then we mean to grow
And though we haven’t any wings
We know a heap of jolly things
That fairy people know
For fairy-folk are quick and neat
And deft and kind and clean
And who like Brownie or like Fay
Can jest and jump and sing and play
And dance upon the green?
Oh it’s nice to be a kangaroo a leaping on the prairie
It’s nice to be a grizzly bear and munching on a bun
Oh, it’s nice to roam the desert like a lanky dromedary
But it’s best to be a Brownie for its fun, fun, fun
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Throughout the music of the church’s musical director, John Gibson, was most appropriate for the occasion and inspiring.
