Nov. 11: Ring church bells for Armistice Day 100th anniversary

Sunday, November 11, 2018, 11:00am

Download a bulletin insert to use on Sunday, November 11 (PDF).

Download a bulletin insert to use on Sunday, November 11 (MS Word).

Download a tri-fold brochure from Veterans for Peace with more information (PDF).

November 18 is the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day. Will your church commemorate this anniversary by (1) ringing your church bell 11 times, (2) reading the bold statement below or another one like it and (3) hold a moment of silence to hear “the voice of God” (Kurt Vonnegut)?

2018 is the 100th anniversary of end of World War I (Armistice). In 1918, church bells rang around the world, 11 times at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Then a movement followed that called for THE WAR TO END ALL WARS to be truly that. It is time to ring the bells again.

NH Veterans for Peace and the NH Council of Churches ask congregations to ring their church bells on Sunday, November 11, 2018 and to read this below. This action will reflect our faith in the Prince of Peace who calls us not to “learn war any more” (Micah 4:3).

The Armistice of 1918 ended the horrendous slaughter of World War I, called THE WAR TO END ALL WARS. When the Armistice was signed, exuberant JOY broke out around the world. For many years bells rang 11 times at that 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month. Then it slowly faded away, especially in the U.S.

Now we ring bells again, many bells, many places, 11 times, at that sacred moment. With a moment of silence, we remember the soldiers and civilians killed in warfare in every country, and we commit to work and pray for peace until this assault on the Will of the Creator of us all, is finally over.

 

UPDATE Twenty churches across the state participated in bell-ringing on November 11! If you are not on this list, let us know and we’ll add you!

  1. Messiah Lutheran Church, Amherst
  2. St. Mark Episcopal Church, Ashland
  3. South Church UCC, Concord
  4. Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul, St. Paul’s School, Concord
  5. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Concord
  6. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Goffstown
  7. Hampstead Congregational Church
  8. Congregational Church of Hollis
  9. First Congregational Church UCC, Hopkinton
  10. Jackson Community Church, UCC
  11. The United Church of Christ in Keene
  12. Kensington Congregational Church
  13. Grace Episcopal Church, Manchester
  14. Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Cathedral, Manchester
  15. First Congregational Church, Meredith
  16. Trinity Episcopal Church, Meredith
  17. Congregational Church of North Barnstead
  18. First Church of Christ, Congregational, UCC, North Conway
  19. Church of the Messiah, North Woodstock
  20. Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church
  21. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Peterborough
  22. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
  23. Christ Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
  24. First United Methodist Church, Portsmouth
  25. United Church of Warner
  26. Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Weare
  27. All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Wolfeboro