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Dear friends

In a few weeks’ time we are invited to celebrate an event unprecedented in our nation’s history marking the 70^th year and Platinum Jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Back in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI and aged just 25, Elizabeth was proclaimed as Queen and she has fulfilled this role with duty and devotion ever since.

When even younger, at just 21 years old, Princess Elizabeth had said ‘I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service. God help me to make good my vow’. This has been her life-long vocation and remarkably, she has kept her promise throughout all the changes and chances of life.

The purple themed logo for the Anniversary has, at its centre, an image of a crown created from an unbroken, continuous line. A neat visual representation of a faithful life of service, running like an unbroken thread through the past 70 years of our national life and its tremendous social changes.

This life of service, inspired by Christian faith and understanding, is one of those highly significant, but easily overlooked things that forms part of the background to each of our lives as individuals and to the life of the nation. Queen Elizabeth contributes to the stability and to the values that undergird and support our common life, and enable us to live together.  We can so easily take the threads of ‘the fabric of the nation’ for granted. Things like the rule of law, democratic government, freedom of conscience, fairness, respect and tolerance can all be taken for granted. But life without them, as we see in the plight of nations under dictatorship, becomes cruel and intolerable.

I hope that the Platinum Jubilee celebrations this year will enable us to express gratitude to Her Majesty the Queen, for what she does, and the self-effacing way in which she does it. And more than this, I hope that this anniversary will help us to celebrate and value all that is best in our families, communities and nation and the golden threads that run through them all, of faithfulness and service.

We will honour the Queen’s achievements best by following her example of service and strengthening those threads that make up the fabric of society, supporting the weak and holding us all together. I look forward to seeing you at our special celebratory Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving and Celebration on Sunday 29 May, in person or online.

I’ll close with a prayer inspired by the Queens Christmas broadcast 2002:

Almighty God,

each day is your gift and a new beginning.

Enable me to seek at all times, to do what is right,

to take the long view,

to give of my best in all that the day brings,

and to put my trust in you.

Through the power of our risen Saviour,

The Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Please continue to pray for Ukraine and all places where life is torn apart, and continue to take care of yourself and others.