Land’s End to John O’Groats route to play a part in Thy Kingdom Come Prayer
As well as being part of the Lord’s Prayer, Thy Kingdom Come is the name given to a plea from the Archbishop of Canterbury to encourage as many people as possible, during the the time between Ascension and Pentecost, to pledge to pray with him so that other people will know the love of Jesus.
He says, “Through the hardest and most painful times and in the best and most joyful times in my life, Jesus has worked alongside me, He’s never left, even when I’ve wanted Him to. When I’ve felt ready to give up hope, He picked me up and it’s His love that has healed me and strengthened me. Following Jesus has been the core point of my life, and that’s one reason I want everyone to hear His voice calling to them and to learn what it is to find His love, His call, His direction, His purpose.”
Revd Canon Vanda Perrett, of the Land’s End Benefice, has thrown herself into seeking His direction and purpose within the community at the far west of our county.
A thread that runs through that community is the Land’s End to John O’Groats trail, pilgrimage or, for some, endurance test. Call it what you will, Revd Vanda sees it as an opportunity to grow the Kingdom.
During the time from Ascension to Pentecost, which is May 25th to June 3rd, the Land’s End benefice is designating the time to pray for everyone travelling on this route. Co-ordinating the Cornish part of the adventure, Revd Vanda is hoping other churches will take up the praying baton further up country, with the hope that the whole route will be covered in prayer.
“We’re starting at the most western point at Land’s End, on Ascension Day, at 8am for a short time of prayer with Archdeacon Bill Stuart-White followed by a breakfast at the Land’s End Hotel for anyone that wants to join in,” says Revd Vanda.
Then there will be a 10am Eucharist in St Levan Church in the “Walkers Chapel” followed by lunchtime prayers at 1pm in St Buryan Church, followed by a soup lunch. The day will end at the third church in the Benefice, Sennen Church, where there will be a simple Celtic evening time of prayer.
People choose to make the journey, either way, for multiple reasons, but one thing everyone has in common is the space, when walking or cycling, to think. So what better time to be covered in prayer, not only to pray for the individual traveller but that a march of travellers would be creating a prayerful pathway from one end of the country to the other. Thy Kingdom Come, the whole length of Great Britain.
If you would like to know more about Revd Vanda’s plans, or to book for the breakfast, do please make contact by emailing, calling 01736 810216 or through their Facebook.