THY KINGDOM COME 2024
We live in often difficult, demanding, and tense times. Sometimes personally - as with King Charles and Princess Catherine’s cancer. In the King’s moving Easter message on Maundy Thursday when he was not able to be present himself at the traditional Maundy service because of his cancer treatment (though he did attend church on Easter Sunday), he emphasised the importance of kindness and following Christ's example of "not to be served but to serve". He said, "We all need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need". However, also we need resources from beyond us to manage personal and more broadly the tragedies in Gaza, the Middle East, Ukraine, and our world where violence and poverty are rampant.
From Ascension Day 9th May to Pentecost 19th May, the worldwide ecumenical prayer movement ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, calls on Christians to pray in various ways. For many that involves holding 5 people each day in their prayers so that they may know more of Jesus and his great love for them. Others in different ways, like for example praying and generously giving to Christian Aid Week, which starts on 12 th May, so that through the Holy Spirit, God’s ‘kingdom will be promoted on earth as it is in heaven’.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples before ascending to heaven, he promised them “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” Those days between Ascension and Pentecost can be like that for us too, infused with hope and anticipation. The first line of the Lord’s Prayer which Christians are encouraged to say at least once each day, helps us find our place in the universe despite the chaos and suffering around us and sometimes the pain within us. It reminds us that we are not here by accident or chance, but we are deeply loved children of our maker. We are not alone but connected as one of God’s children with all of humanity. Our Father is indeed in heaven, but this prayer is given to us by his Son, Jesus, who lived and suffered with us and for us, who rose again from death to life in all its fullness.
In praying 'Thy Kingdom Come' we commit to playing our part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of our communities, society and ourselves. We are not to bemoan the darkness but to reimagine and pray to discern what God is calling us to do with him and our neighbours to create his kingdom here in our time and place.
You can find resources that you can draw on at
https://www.thykingdomcome.global/prayer-resources
David Griffiths
