Time to Pray

People, parishes and schools across the Diocese are joining Christians across the world for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s prayer initiative for the renewal of the Church, Thy Kingdom Come, which runs until Pentecost, Sunday 4 June.

Today, the focus is on pilgrimage and schools. Bishop Karen is leading her Ascension Day pilgrimage to the beautiful St Aldhelm’s Chapel on the Dorset coast with almost perfect weather.

Meanwhile, schools across the Diocese are joining together at 2.30 pm to say the Lord’s Prayer – a list of participating schools is below. Everyone is welcome to join them, in silence or aloud, wherever they are.

Last night Bishop Karen launched Thy Kingdom Come for the Diocese with famous international evangelist Andrew Palau at St John’s, Weymouth. Events will take place across the Borough of Weymouth and Portland over the next 10 days. Five churches will be open for prayer daily – St Aldhelm’s, St Ann’s, St Mary’s, St John’s and Emmanuel (details here). The first local Beacon Event will take place on Sunday with a Witness Service at 6.30 pm in St Aldhelm’s on Spa Road.

At the other end of the Diocese, at St Philip and St James at Chapmanslade, there will be a special Ascension Day service at 2.15 pm to join with schools and others for Thy Kingdom Come, and pray for those who have suffered as a result of the attack at the Manchester Arena.

Meanwhile, the Pilgrim Parishes of North Dorset are making their annual pilgrimage part of Thy Kingdom Come (details here). They begin with an Ascension Day Eucharist at 12 noon in St Peter and St Paul, Mappowder, followed by an afternoon walk at 2.30 pm from Mappowder to Stoke Wake and back (5 miles, moderate). They will be joined by the Archdeacon of Sherborne, the Ven Paul Taylor.

The international character of Thy Kingdom Come was emphasised in the first of a series of video reflections (watch here), which was recorded the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA, the Most Revd Michael Curry.

“Prayer actually does change things”, said Archbishop Michael, “We may not always know how. We may not always know the details. We may not always see the end result or the end product, but prayer changes things, because prayer brings God into our conscious focus, and in some mysterious and wonderful way, prayer alters the chemistry of the moment.”

Later videos emphasise the ecumenical nature of Thy Kingdom Come, with the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna and the Bishop of the Coptic Church in the UK among those recording messages.

Diocesan Thy Kingdom Come co-ordinator, Gerry Lynch, said, “On your own or with a group, join in with prayer, at 2.30 today or whenever you can. We cannot be the people Christ has called us to be without the help of God. With God, nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). If you’re not sure what to pray for or who to pray with, just say the Lord’s prayer. The Holy Spirit hears the inmost thoughts of our hearts and prays for us (Romans 8:26).

“If you’re running a service or activity for Thy Kingdom Come, do let us know on comms@salisbury.anglican.org.”

The Cathedral is also joining the movement, embracing the remarkable opportunities in a place that attracts so many visitors. Everyone who enters the Cathedral will be welcomed with a Lord’s Prayer bookmark, and there will be opportunities through video, art, and conversation for visitors and regular worshippers alike to engage with this life – changing prayer. There will also be a Prayer Tree in the Cathedral where individuals can hang prayers they have written.

Please join with our schools praying Thy Kingdom Come today

Lulworth and Winfrith CE VC Primary School
Hilperton CE Primary School. Foundation governors are joining in even if they are elsewhere.
Pitton CE VA Primary School
Parrett and Axe C of E Primary School, Mosterton
Broadwindsor Primary School
Salway Ash CE VA Primary School
Beaminster St Mary’s Primary Academy
Derry Hill CE VA Primary School
St Andrew’s Primary School, Fontmell Magna
Durweston C of E VA Primary School
Longford C of E Primary School
Coombe Bissett C of E Primary  School
Holy Trinity Primary Academy, Great Cheverell
St Andrew’s CE VA Primary School, Weymouth
Lilliput CE Infant School, Poole
Milldown CE Primary School, Blandford Forum