Plans are underway for the 7th annual Thy Kingdom Come – a global ecumenical prayer for evangelisation, initiated by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York – occurring from Ascension to Pentecost. This year, the campaign will host an online launch event on 28th February- unveiling resources and plans for this year’s campaign, which will take place from the 26th May to 5th June. New resources will be unveiled for churches, families and individuals, as well as ways worshipping communities can participate over the 11 days.For adults, the main resources this year is the Prayer Journal and Novena- both written by Archbishop Justin Welby, with the Novena based on 1 Peter, the foundation scripture for the Lambeth Conference. 150,000 free copies will be given away as part of this year’s campaign. TKC will also be teaming up with 24-7 Prayer providing daily audio reflections for their Lectio 365 app. For children & families, there will be a brand-new series of Cheeky Pandas animations based on the Fruit of the Spirit (including a platinum Jubilee related episode) packed with fun, music, and biblical truths. Each episode will have an accompanying activity pack and assembly plan, which can be used at church, at home, or school. For youth, there will be a brand-new video series produced by a leading Christian Youth Ministry. A number of other special resources & plans will be revealed including contributors for the main 11- day video reflections which in the past, have included His Holiness Pope Francis, Pete Greig, Gemma Hunt and Archbishop Justin Welby. The movement has been supported by a range of high-profile ecumenical leaders in the UK including all the presidents of Churches Together in England, all the major denominations and various parachurch organisations. Speaking of this year’s plans, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “Thy Kingdom Come happens every year because we constantly rely on a fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit. The urgency, vitality and necessity of Christians across the world joining together praying, ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ is essential. This is not primarily for our own renewal – but that we may live the calling of Christ to be His witnesses. I commend the resources the TKC team have produced for this year and pray they would enable our prayers, which we pray in the certainty that the Father always gives the Spirit to those who ask.”The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who wrote last year’s Prayer Journal, said: “I look forward to this year’s Thy Kingdom Come – a fantastic opportunity for Christians across the world and from different denominations and traditions, to unite in prayer for friends and family to come to faith in Christ. With resources to suit everyone, I pray that it may also be a time of encouragement, joy and celebration as we broaden our vision and see Jesus is loved, known, worshipped and followed by people throughout the world.”His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos, Coptic Orthodox of London, Papal Legate to the United Kingdom said: “’Thy Kingdom Come’ has become a time of the year when we gather around a yearning for God’s presence upon us and His Spirit within us. It is a time for the Church to shine in its diversity and to proclaim God’s love, and reflect His light into every corner of the world. I am looking forward to my involvement this year and to seeing the wonders that the Church can perform, with God’s grace, when it works as one.” Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said: “In all our human endeavours, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit, “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, whose gift to the Church and the world we celebrate again at Pentecost. During the days of prayer of “Thy Kingdom Come”, we pray as a Christian family that others might share in the consolation and joy that come from knowing and loving our Blessed Lord. May our constant request be that the Holy Spirit guide us, strengthen our resolve and “renew the face of the earth”.”Carla Harding, the Director of 24-7 Prayer GB said: “We need God to empower His Church so we can effectively witness to those who don’t know Jesus. That’s why 24-7 Prayer are helping people around the globe join in with Thy Kingdom Come through Lectio 365, our free daily devotional App. Together, from Ascension to Pentecost, we will invite the Spirit to fill us afresh, and ask God to help us turn our prayers into mission.”Daud Irfan, this year’s Youth President for the Methodist Church of Great Britain said: “As we are approaching another season of Thy Kingdom Come, I am excited to not only be a part of this mission but to see the abundant grace of God, work powerfully to be a blessing for many through this global movement.”CBeebies Gemma Hunt, one of the voices behind the Cheeky Pandas said: “Each year there is such a variety of ways to get involved with TKC and 2022 is really spoiling you! I’m honoured to be a part of a few projects that I hope you will look out for; including the brilliant 24-7 Prayer App Lectio for Families, which is collaborating with TKC for a week of prayers and see if you can hear my voice of not one but two Cheeky Pandas. TKC 2022 is an opportunity to pause, reconnect, recharge and power in to the year ahead!”Emma Buchan, TKC Project Director said: “We are so excited to share our plans for TKC 2022 at this webinar. At the heart of TKC is our commitment to serve the Church, hoping to inspire, equip and enable all to grow in faith; by providing free, spiritually nourishing resources for all ages. As a result, we will be giving away in total 150,000 copies of the Prayer journal and Novena. Our award-winning app will also be back and will be available in 9 different languages.”Across the Anglican communion support for the movement continues to grow. From Brazil to Burundi and beyond.The Revd Devsiri Peiris, Prayer Coordinator Church of Ceylon in Sri Lanka, said: "It has been an amazing journey to partner with the Archbishop of Canterbury in this global wave of prayer…we experience the awesome power of the Holy Spirit."From the Dean of Melbourne in Australia, The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe, said: “We have found Thy Kingdom Come to be a wonderful transformational opportunity for all people of all ages and many nations to come together and pray that five friends of theirs might come to know Jesus Christ."Bishop Francisco, Bishop of South Western Brazil, said: "Every year, more and more people are involved in this beautiful movement: beautiful because it is a movement of prayer."Bishop Pontien of Rutana, Burundi said: "It is a privilege to us as a church to join other nations and other churches in the world to pray God that may pour His Holy Spirit upon the world and especially upon people who are still in darkness so they may know and accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord."
Tomorrow's joint parish Holy Communion is at St Peter's Church, Hascombe at 10am. Our celebrant will be Reverend Rutton Viccajee.<br>We hope you can join us there. If you can't be with us in person, you can join the service via this link:<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83388883090?pwd=bmwvV1liSllNTHI5dEY5UU45N2FHQT09">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83388883090?pwd=bmwvV1liSllNTHI5dEY5UU45N2FHQT09</a>
A meeting was held yesterday at Lambeth Palace between the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum (who joined via video from Jerusalem), and the President and Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. They discussed issues affecting Christians in the Old City of Jerusalem, as well as issues of concern to the UK Jewish community.The leaders talked about the importance of honest dialogue between their respective communities, even around difficult issues.They agreed to explore the setting up of an informal working group to develop significant opportunities for deeper connection between the UK Jewish community and the Church of England, and with Christian communities in Israel. These will focus on dialogue, education and engagement.Archbishop Justin underlined his ongoing commitment to working together with the Jewish community to combat antisemitism and to Holocaust education and remembrance, and the application of the IHRA definition.
