Paul Writes

"We pray that at this time of National Celebration we may be upheld in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and gentleness ..."

Like it or not, Saturday 6th May 2023 will be a day of great celebration for our nation and further afield. For many people, me included, it really will be a day of great joy whilst for others who struggle with the idea of monarchy, it will not. Whatever our personal views are however it cannot be argued that anything that brings our community together to share friendship and memories, and most often food, is a good thing and I hope everyone will benefit in some part from the energy of the weekend. Indeed celebration is a Christian thing, Our Lord's first miracle was after all performed at a wedding feast.

The King's Coronation ceremony will be rooted in longstanding tradition but the service will also reflect The King's role in modern Britain, and throughout the Coronation Weekend themes of community life, volunteering and service will be highlighted and celebrated both nationally and locally; here in Shaw and Crompton, we will be taking part in the Big Help Out on Bank Holiday Monday with a Churches Together 'litter pick' which reflects the King's commitment to safeguarding the environment and our Christian commitment stewardship of God's good creation.

The Church of England has helpfully provided us with resources for prayer and worship to support the Coronation and within this has used the following headings for prayer intentions:

Called to pray - to pray is to respond to the God who reached out to us in Jesus Christ.
Called to serve - the call to serve is central to our understanding of the monarchy and King Charles has already pledged himself to that vocation.
Called to dedication - committing our lives to God and each other.
Called to constancy -  as King Charles prepares for coronation, we pray that in all the changes of the world he may be rooted in the changelessness of God.
Concern for religious freedom - we pray our King continues to champion this cause.
Concern for charitable work - we give thanks for the work the King has done and continues to do and pray we draw inspiration from it.
Concern for the environment - taking heart in the fact that the King was one of the earliest advocates of environmentalism.
A symbol of the nation - we pray the King fulfils this important role in national and international affairs, that he may be an example of the wisdom, justice and care that we all seek in our lives.

And we pray that at this time of national celebration we may be upheld in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness and gentleness, the characteristics of a faithful and inclusive Christian community. And to end, a prayer of celebration for community:

Living God, you bring us
together in community
and teach us to love one another
as you have loved us.
May we be beacons of your light
in the communities
in which we are set,
that through truth,
justice and action
we may see your Kingdom
come upon earth,
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May God bless His Majesty The King, The Queen and us all.

Every blessing,

Paul.