EU Exit Day Prayers for Hope www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

What is the EU? The European Union grew out of a desire for peace in a war-torn and divided continent. Five years after World War II ended, France and Germany came up with a plan to ensure their two countries would never go to war against each other again. The result was a deal signed by six nations to pool their coal and steel resources in 1950. Seven years later a treaty signed in Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) - the foundations of today's European Union. The UK was one of three new members to join in the first wave of expansion in 1973. Today the EU has 28 member states with a total population of more than 500 million. BBC News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zgjwtyc www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

The UK voted to ‘Brexit’ (leave the EU) The Choice Some believed Britain should stay in the EU, some believed they should leave the EU, and some people just didn’t know or didn’t vote. This was the result: On June 23rd 2016 adults who were eligible to vote in the UK went to the polling stations to cast their vote about whether or not Britain should stay a part of the European Union (EU). The UK voted to ‘Brexit’ (leave the EU) www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Democracy & Difference Debate and disagreement are a common part of how the UK Parliament works. MPs held different opinions about ‘Brexit’ in all the political parties. Leave! Remain! The United Kingdom is a democracy. This means that we are living in a country with a system of government where the whole population (over the voting age of 18) gets a say, usually through elected representatives (called MPs). In the Referendum people got a direct say about whether the UK stayed in the EU or not. Some people on both sides were very sure and very loud about their opinions, others were quiet and unsure. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Me too. We should definitely Leave! Have you formed your own opinion? How did you come to your opinion? – did you gather your information by listening to adults, experts, YouTubers or watching the news? I am really not sure still. Me too. I think we should Remain in the EU. We should definitely Leave! I think Leave is the lesser of two evils. People in the same city, on the same street, even in the same house also have different opinions – and possibly changing opinions. There are reasons to stay and to leave. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

It’s ok for people to be different and think differently Imagine if you bought some sweets and expected there to be a great variety but when you opened them they were all the same! Difference is good and a part of life to be celebrated. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Difference forms the Bigger Picture It is important to listen to each other when we express different opinions. - Maybe your school has specific suggestions or policies in place for managing difficult discussions. It is ok to challenge and ask questions. We are all like jigsaw pieces: important parts of the bigger picture of our school, our local community, our city and our country. With difference we also need respect. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Different Reactions to March 29th Today some people will be feeling sad about what is happening and some people will be happy. Some people will be hurt and some people will be excited. Some people will feel like they have lost a jigsaw piece and some people will feel like they have found one that was missing. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

A Prayer Response for Hope The Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, has called for the lighting of 3 candles today as a sign of hope. A candle for my neighbours- those with whom I agree and disagree, those who are rejoicing, those who are weeping; my local neighbour and my international neighbour A candle for myself: my hopes or fears, my joys and my griefs (sadness) A candle for our shared future www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

A Prayer for Hope Dear God, Today has been a celebration day for some and a difficult day for others. It is an important day for all of us. Help us to recognise that our future is together and our differences can be our strengths. Comfort those who are sad today and help us all to be wise and respectful in our words and our actions so that we can be a community of hope. Amen. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

Back in the classroom… www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

A candle for our shared future A candle for myself, my hopes or fears, my joys and my griefs (sadness) A candle for our shared future A candle for my neighbours- those with whom I agree and disagree, those who are rejoicing, those who are weeping; my local neighbour and my international neighbour In your classrooms, light a candle and say these 3 prayers together www.coventrycathedral.org.uk

You could write a prayer, a poem, a question or just a thought. Take a jigsaw piece and write a response to what we have been thinking about today. You could write a prayer, a poem, a question or just a thought. Put everyone’s pieces together to show your class community have hope for our shared future. www.coventrycathedral.org.uk