Resources

If you are planning an Anzac Day or Rememberance Day service, the following resources might be helpful. If you would like to suggest any addition to this collection, please Contact Us.

Prayers for your ANZAC DAY Service

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Prayer for Peace
Lord God, we pray that you will so
guide the destinies of the peoples
and nations of the world that war
shall be no more. That peace will
be established and that conflicts be
resolved by mutual agreement and
not by force. We pray that a spirit
of tolerance and good fellowship
become universal among all peoples
and those nations be united in harmony.
Amen

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Almighty God, on this solemn day, and at this special time and place,
we remember before you all who have served our nation as members of our
armed forces, especially those whose lives were cut short in the Boer War,
World Wars I and II and conflicts in Malaya, Korean, Vietnam, Bougainville,
the Solomon Islands, East Timor, Iraq,
and Afghanistan.
We thank you that through the efforts of the ANZACs over so many years you
have brought us peace here in Australia.
We also thank you for working through them to support each other in good
humour and with deep loyalty.

We pray for the many families who grieve the loss of a loved one who gave
his or her life in the service of their country. Be their strength and refuge.

We pray also for those who still suffer after being wounded in battle, or who
have suffered severe mental stress due to their experiences at war. Strengthen
and comfort them and those who love and care for them.

We pray that the evil that leads to war and conflict shall be banished forever,
and there shall be no more crying or pain.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (Contemporary version)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional version)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Hymns for your ANZAC DAY Service

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O, God, Our Help in Ages Past
Abide with Me
Abide with me:
fast falls the eventide,
The darkness deepens:
Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail,
and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless,
O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs
out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim,
its glories pass away;
Change and decay
in all around I see;
O thou who changest
not abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross
before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom
and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks
and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death,
O Lord abide with me.

 

The Recessional

God of our fathers, known of old,
Lord of our far-flung battle-line,
Beneath whose awful Hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart.
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!
.

 

CLOSE ACCORDION

Poems for your ANZAC DAY Service

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In Flanders Fields – by John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

 

For the Fallen - by Laurence Binyon

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,

England mourns for her dead across the sea.

Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,

Fallen in the cause of the free.

 

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal

Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,

There is music in the midst of desolation

And a glory that shines upon our tears.

 

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

 

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;

They sit no more at familiar tables of home;

They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;

They sleep beyond England’s foam.

 

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,

Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,

To the innermost heart of their own land they are known

As the stars are known to the Night;

 

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,

Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;

As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,

To the end, to the end, they remain.

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Other Resources for your ANZAC DAY Service

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Prologue

Today on the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, we gather to remember the sacrifice of all servicemen and women. They believed in something greater than themselves. It was their unselfish sacrifice that gives them a special place in our hearts.
We are thankful for those first ANZACS whose actions established the traditions we as a nation, hold so dear.
When the time again came, following generations of Australians served in World War II and in times of turmoil in Korea, Borneo, Vietnam, and various UN campaigns and more recently East Timor, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
On this day we remember the sacrifices of our men and women for an ideal, for a way of life. Freedom and Peace and the opportunity for every man and woman to live their lives as they wish without the threat of military and civil strife.
Let us remind ourselves of the example set by those named on all memorials throughout our nation and overseas and pledge ourselves never to forget their sacrifice. Let us determine that the liberties so costly won by their deeds are not lost by our own indifference.
So let us mourn with pride but let us also remember with equal pride those who continue to serve today, and those who have returned home damaged in body and mind.

Ode

They shall grow not old, as we who are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them. Lest we forget.

From For the Fallen by Laurence Binyoun, fourth verse.

Australian National Anthem

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

.

See here for additinal information.

 

Benediction

God grant grace to the living,

rest to the departed.

May we be instruments of peace to whoever

we meet and wherever we go.

And may the blessing of God Almighty,

be with us all and remain with us always.

Amen

.

 

Australian Flag Protocol on Anzac Day
 Flag protocol on Anzac Day 
The Australian National Flag is to be flown at half-mast from sunrise until 1200 hours on Anzac Day.  
During individual Anzac Day ceremonies, the Australian National Flag is to be half-mast and then raised to the peak during the playing of ‘Reveille’ at the conclusion of the service. Noting Reveille is only played at a Dawn Service, all other times Rouse is to be played (except for the Royal Australian Navy).  
Reference:
https://www.rslnsw.org.au/commemoration/anzac-day-2021/general-anzac-day-information/#:~:text=Flag%20protocol%20on%20ANZAC%20Day%20The%20Australian%20National,of%20%E2%80%98Reveille%E2%80%99%20at%20the%20conclusion%20of%20the%20service.
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Links

Australian War Memorial

https://www.awm.gov.au/

NSW Veterans Affairs

https://www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/

Department of Veterans Affairs – Anzac Portal

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/

Department of Veterans Affairs – Anzac Portal, Event Planning

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/commemoration/event-planning/order-of-service

Department of Defence, Anzac Handy Hints

https://defence.gov.au/ceremonial/AnzacDayHandyHints.asp