A Meal on the Moon

Marking the 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - July 20th 1969

AGE: Primary

INTRODUCTION

This collective worship looks at the experience of the first Astronauts, particularly their spiritual experience of landing on the Moon.

Schools with Muslim pupils might wish to make a connection between the 40^th anniversary of the first moon landing and the Islamic festival of Lailat al Miraj which is celebrated on 19^th July 2009.  This festival commemorates the Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascension.  The story of these events can be found at http://www.cist.org.uk/pv/lm/lr5521.htm.  As Communion unites the worldwide Christian community, the practice of salat (prayer) does much the same within Islam.  Also the requirement upon Muslims to seek knowledge led to many technological discoveries without which the Apollo missions would not have been possible.  Finally, the crescent moon and star are symbols associated with Islam.

PRESENTATION

LEADER            Monday 20^th July 2009 marks the 40^th anniversary of the first lunar landing in place known as The Sea of Tranquillity. Billions of people around the world watched on black and white television or listened on the radio as the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, emerged from the lunar module ‘Eagle’ onto the surface of the moon. 

When his foot made contact with the moon’s surface, Armstrong uttered the immortal line, ‘That’s one small step for (a) man, but one giant leap for mankind.’  (Video clips and images of the lunar landing and that first step can be found at http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/Apollo/AS11/a11.htm)

This event captured the imagination of people all around the world because it was the first time that a human being had set foot on another celestial body.  (At this point, you might invite staff / parents to share their memories of the first lunar landing and the feelings that it inspired in them.)

Just after the Eagle landed on the moon, something happened that was not seen or heard by the huge television and radio audiences.  Neil Armstrong did not land on the moon by himself.  He was accompanied by another astronaut, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin.  He became the second person to walk on the moon.  But before either of them set foot outside the lunar module, Buzz invited the billions of people listening and watching to pause for a minute.  Here is what he said.

READER             ‘This is the Lunar Module pilot.  I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.’

LEADER            Aldrin himself gave thanks by having a meal.  (Invite children to guess what Buzz’s meal might have been.)

As a Christian, Aldrin gave thanks by having a communion meal of bread and wine. 

Since Jesus celebrated the first communion with His followers almost two thousand years ago, Christians all over the world have shared bread and wine together.  Some Christians do this either every day or every week or everything month.  Christians celebrate communion to say thank you to God for everything that He has given them – food and drink, friendship, forgiveness, etc.  Many years after he celebrated his Lunar Communion, this is what Buzz Aldrin wrote...

READER             'Eagle's metal body creaked. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility.'

(As another school year comes to an end, invite the children to recall the events or circumstances they have experienced this year.  What would they like to give thanks for?)

LEADER            The first lunar landing was the fulfillment of a promise made by the U.S. President in 1961 that America would be the first nation to send a man to the moon.  After this mission had been achieved, a new President promised that America would use the same determination and scientific know-how, seen in its space programme, to cure cancer.  Unfortunately this second mission has yet to be achieved.  Besides cancer, there are many other problems affecting the world – famine, drought, poverty, war, for example - for which no-one is thankful. 

When they share communion together, many Christians look forward to the time in the future when God will rid the world of hunger, thirst, disease, death and war. 

For what in their lives are the children not thankful?  What are they looking forward to next year?

(In Church schools, it may be appropriate for this reflective period to be accompanied by a simple communion service.  Community schools might wish to mark the end of the school year by distributing something to eat during this Act of Collective Worship or by having a communal meal following it.)

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin stayed on moon for about a day before returning to their orbiting Command Module and then returning safely to Earth.  Between 1969 and 1972, ten other astronauts landed on the moon to carry out experiments and collect samples of moon rock.  Their footprints and equipment are still on the moon together with equipment sent to the moon by Russia and India. 

In 2020, America intends to send more astronauts to the moon to establish a permanent base.  In another forty years, many of us might be taking our summer holidays on the moon!

PRAYER

Dear God, We thank you for the skills and the determination you have given humans to be able to do what seems impossible.  Continue to help the human race as we tackle the many problems that we face on Earth.  For ourselves, we thank you for the year we have had in school and look forward to the year to come. We think particularly of those children who are taking the not so small step to High School.  May you bless them and keep them safe.   Amen

SONGS

One more step along the world I go

Come on and celebrate

Let there be peace on Earth