Accession Day marks the anniversary of the reigning monarch taking the throne, which in the case of Her Majesty the Queen is 6 February 1952. It is particularly fitting to celebrate this anniversary in 2022 as it marks the beginning of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

let us pray

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and all who are in authority under her; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace,to the honour and glory of your name and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Romans 13.1-10

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgement. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. Pay to all what is due to them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honour to whom honour is due.Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.

The Queen said….

I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service… But I shall not have strength to carry out this resolution alone unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do: I know that your support will be unfailingly given. God help me to make good my vow, and God bless all of you who are willing to share in it. Princess Elizabeth, 21 April 1947

Prayers For the people

God of truth and justice You have called us to serve.
We come with hearts for You and Your people.
We don’t come to judge,
we don’t come to distrust,
we don’t come to punish,
we don’t come to disregard,
we come to love as You first loved us.

We come to care and treat people as equal,
we come with Your love in our hearts,
as we offer to You the most vulnerable and fragile
in our communities and in our world.

So we pray earnestly today that on this International Day
of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation,
You will hear our cries
and plead that the millions of girls who are at risk each year of this procedure
will be protected, O Lord.
We remember the millions of women who have been subject to FGM
and the injury and continual trouble this causes to their bodies.
O Lord hear our cries
and draw near to women who are in pain mentally and physically around our world
due to this procedure.

Lord, in the midst of fear and isolation
we pray for assurance and company.
Lord, in the midst of confusion and pain
we pray for clarity and comfort.
Lord, in the midst of grief and darkness
we pray for peace and light.

Bring strength to the weak.
Bring rest to the weary.
Bring healing to the broken.
Bring aid to the needy.
Bring courage to the lost.
And set the prisoner free, we ask.

Hear these our prayers for Your people in our own communities
and in the world today.
Through Christ our Lord, our Saviour and our friend.
AMEN

Pandemic prayers

O God
We are weary

Weary of the pandemic
Weary of bad news on the TV
Weary of public figures who behave like they are untouchable
Weary of civil and human rights injustices around the world

Renew us O God
Refresh us O God
Restore us O God
Reinvigorate us O God

So we can share your Hope with the world
So we can share your Love with the world

Amen