Thy Kingdom Come, 13 – 23 May

Since its launch by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2016, Thy Kingdom Come has become a major event in the Christian calendar, with participation by many groups and Churches in the UK – and in 170 countries around the world. Thy Kingdom Come builds on the Biblical passage Acts 1:12-14, which details how, following Jesus’ Ascension, the group of 120 believers prayed constantly over nine days for the coming of the Holy Spirit to enable them to witness to Jesus (Acts 1:8), with the result that, when the Holy Spirit was outpoured on the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 people were baptised (Acts 2:1-41).

Thy Kingdom Come encourages prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower the Church to witness to the risen Christ, with the result that many people will come to faith in him. This vision is as relevant today as it was in the days immediately following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension! Thy Kingdom Come 2021 runs from Ascension Day (Thursday 13 May) to Pentecost Sunday (23 May) inclusive.

Eleven Staffordshire Church leaders have each contributed a short video reflection on the Biblical journey from Jesus’ Ascension to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. The line-up and programme are:

Thursday 13 May – Right Revd Michael Ipgrave (Bishop of Lichfield) – The King’s Ascension (Acts 1:9)

Friday 14 May – Revd Rachel Parkinson (Chair, Wolverhampton/Shrewsbury Methodist District) – The King’s Return (Acts 1:10-11)

Saturday 15 May – Right Revd Matthew Parker (Bishop of Stafford) – The Inclusive Kingdom (Acts 1:12-14)

Sunday 16 May – Revd Steve Faber (Moderator, West Midlands Synod, URC) – The Prayerful Kingdom (Acts 1:14)

Monday 17 May – Revd Dave Ellis (Regional Minister, Heart of England Baptist Association) – Scripture and the Kingdom (Acts 1:15-16)

Tuesday 18 May – Right Revd Stephen Wright (Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Birmingham) – Witness in the Kingdom (Acts 1:21-22)

Wednesday 19 May – Revd Joanne Cox Darling (Methodist Presbyter, Wolverhampton Circuit) – Guidance and the Kingdom (Acts 1:23-26)

Thursday 20 May – Pastor Marcus Chilaka (National Ecumenical Officer, Redeemed Christian Church of God) – Unity in the Kingdom (Acts 2:1)

Friday 21 May – Revd Helen Kirk (Chair, Chester and Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District) – Power in the Kingdom (Acts 2:2)

Saturday 22 May – Lieutenant-Colonel J P Ramos (Commander, West Midlands Division, Salvation Army) – Purity in the Kingdom (Acts 2:3)

Sunday 23 May – The Most Revd Bernard Longley (Archbishop of Birmingham) – The Kingdom Unleashed (Acts 2:4)

The videos will be released at 8.00am each morning on the Staffordshire Churches YouTube Channel (Link HERE).

The Beacon House of Prayer in Stoke-on-Trent will run 45-minute prayer meetings over ten nights, from Thursday 13 to Saturday 22 May. Each online prayer gathering begins at 7.00pm. Join the Zoom meetings using the ID 830 0495 7527 and passcode 605166.

The Thy Kingdom Come website (Link HERE) contains many excellent resources to enable children, young people and adults to engage in prayer. These include: 

  • The Cheeky Pandas, a fun-filled, eleven-part series of videos for children, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bear Grylls, Steve and Charlotte Gambill and the Cheeky Pandas, all accompanied by downloadable activity packs (Link HERE). 
  • A 28-page, illustrated Prayer Journal, free to download HERE. 
  • A series of eleven video Youth Reflections, from young influential Christians across different spheres of influence, including Guvna B, former professional Rugby League player Jamie Jones-Buchanan and worship leader Elle Limebear (Link HERE). 
  • A 28-page, illustrated Prayer Journey through the Psalms, free to download HERE. 
  • A guide to setting up Covid-safe Prayer Stations, free to download HERE. 
  • A free app containing a fully interactive Family Prayer Adventure Map (Link HERE). 

A brand new video of the 2016 song ‘We seek your kingdom‘ has been chosen as the 2021 theme song for the Thy Kingdom Come season. Read the backstory to the song via THIS LINK. Watch the video HERE.