God Save Our Gracious Queen

Then

Now

Today marks the 60th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession to the throne. The beginning of her Diamond Jubilee Year. The Old Testament speaks a lot about Jubilee [meaning the 50th Year] In Leviticus it says

Make it a holy year. Proclaim freedom all over the land to everyone who lives in it—a Jubilee for you

When our previous church in London celebrated its 50th Anniversary, we had a year of jubilee celebrations [and even  had special Jubilee coffee mugs with the name of the Church printed on them] We used the time as an opportunity to share God’s Good News in our community.

I hope that many Christians everywhere will take the opportunity of this special year to celebrate, and to proclaim the freedom that is to be found in serving the King of Kings.

Here’s the prayer the Church of England has prepared for this year.

God of time and eternity, whose Son reigns as servant, not master; we give you thanks and praise that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories with Elizabeth, our beloved and glorious Queen.

In this year of Jubilee, grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God and in devoted service to her lands and peoples, and those of the Commonwealth, now and all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.