Thy Kingdom ComeWhat does it mean when we pray Thy Kingdom Come? For Gavin Calver of Spring Harvest, it means an expectation of change and relinquishing control over what’s going to happen next. For Nick Hills, the student friend of Archbishop Justin Welby who 40 years encouraged his friend in his faith, it is praying for a gift that is given with no strings attached.

Thy Kingdom Come has become a global wave of prayer that began two years ago as an invitation, from our Archbishops of Canterbury and York, for Christians across the world to join together in prayer. Taking place between the ten days between Ascension and Pentecost, the hope is that by praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’, more people will come to know the love of God.

The words Thy Kingdom Come are from the Lord’s prayer, that came about when His disciples asked Him how to pray. And as Bishop Chris said on the Donna Birrell Radio Show, “The words are from Jesus Himself, which is rather special, and I think we learn about Him by hearing how He encouraged us to pray.”

“The words are from Jesus Himself, which is rather special, and I think we learn about Him by hearing how He encouraged us to pray.” Bishop Chris

Beacon Event: Together for God’s Kingdom

In Cornwall, churches all over the county have answered the call to prayer for Thy Kingdom Come and on Sunday, May 13th, they will be celebrating that unity with a Beacon Event at the Truro Methodist Church called “Together for God’s Kingdom.”

Thy Kingdom ComeThere is a full programme of different activities, for families and individuals, with opportunities for prayer and worship throughout the day, reflecting the diversity Christian worship. It starts sat 2.00pm and goes on through until 9.00pm. There will be also be a free tea and everyone is welcome. It’s hoped that people will dip in and out throughout the day and evening, coming together to pray Thy Kingdom Come. To pray, as Bishop Chris says,  “For others who don’t yet know Jesus Christ in his beauty and his love and his grace, but also to pray for the world that we’re part of where it doesn’t yet reflect all that God would wish for us and particularly for all those who struggle in different ways.”

“Pray for others who don’t yet know Jesus Christ in his beauty and his love and his grace, but also to pray for the world that we’re part of where it doesn’t yet reflect all that God would wish for us and particularly for all those who struggle in different ways.”

Activities, entertainment and a free tea!

From 2pm there will be children’s activities inside and outside the church as well as gospel choirs, music and entertainers. In the Wesley Hall there will be stalls from organisations highlighting the need for prayer both at home and overseas.

Songs of Praise

From 4-5pm Songs of Praise will take over the church, to which everyone is welcome, followed by a a free afternoon tea from 5-6pm in the Wesley Hall.

Together for God’s Kingdom

At 6.30pm the Beacon Event begins, Together for God’s Kingdom, a service of prayer, contemporary worship and reflections on Luke 4.18-19:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

Prayer ministry, Taize & foot-washing

Afterwards, from 8.00pm there will be opportunities to receive prayer ministry and foot-washing followed by a Taize reflective service at 8.30pm, arming up the warriors to go out to pray and work in God’s Kingdom.

Keep Praying

If you don’t manage to get to the Beacon Event, Bishop Chris encourages us all to intentionally pray during the ten days, keeping in mind that, “It starts with me, Lord may you be my king, may you rule and reign in my life, may it not end with me, may it spread out across the world, like ripples in a pond, taking the grace and the blessing and the life changing goodness of God to every corner of our communities as well. That’s what we pray when we pray Thy Kingdom Come.”