Mourning the Loss of Our Servant Queen
With the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8 September, we invite you to pray for The Royal Family, the Government and the Church.
As a family of nations, we have received messages of support and love from around The Commonwealth:
From our friends in the Caribbean: “May the changing and transitioning of ‘the guards’ be a smooth one to bring about God’s great purpose for your nation.”
“Condolences and love from Aotearoa New Zealand. This monarch held the Commonwealth together with a depth of love experienced by all who met her. May our God move to protect what she achieved through His leading and guiding and pass it on to our King.”
“We from the South Pacific Islands join you our Commonwealth & UK family in this great mourning (tangi) season as we all release such a beautiful beloved Queen Elizabeth II back to the King Jesus Christ. She wasn’t just an amazing beloved Queen. She was also a mother to Commonwealth, UK & Nations.”
Join us praying for:
The Royal Family and the monarchy. Pray particularly for King Charles III as he considers the impact of the death of His mother. This is a remarkable moment for His Majesty, King Charles III and as the body of Christ, let us stand together and pray that he will be open to the leading and guiding of Holy Spirit. In this time of national mourning, we pray for The Royal Family themselves. That they will be able to find space for their private mourning as each of them come to terms with the loss of the head of their family. I think we can be certain that it was the Queen’s desire for unity in her family, so may this be a time when differences are put aside and family relationships are restored.
The Government led by the newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Liz Truss. We pray for great wisdom at this time, for an understanding and an ability to do what needs to be done and as the nation mourns, that the new Government has a capacity to comprehend the depth of feeling in the nation at the same time as the need to govern with compassion. We pray great grace upon the new Cabinet.
Finally, The Church (the Bride of Christ). May She understand more of the signs of the times in which we are living, to keep vigilant in prayer as the nation mourns, the monarchy transitions and the new Government becomes established. We pray for Archbishop Justin Welby as he considers what to say and how he will conduct the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We pray that in all of these circumstances God will receive the glory and the honour.
Amen
God bless you.
The World Prayer Centre Team
Give thanks for the life of Queen Elizabeth II
It was announced on 8 September that the Queen had died following a short illness, attended by all four of her children. She was Britain’s longest reigning sovereign and the world’s oldest monarch. On 6 September she had presided over the ceremonial handover of power to new prime minister Liz Truss at Balmoral, her summer residence. Her oldest son, now King Charles III, said his mother's death was a moment of ‘the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family’. Justin Welby said, ‘As we grieve together, we know that, in losing our beloved Queen, we have lost the person whose steadfast loyalty, service, and humility has helped us make sense of who we are.’
China: church member released from jail
Xing Hongwei is a member of China's Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC). He was arrested in a worship service raid on 14 August and suffered greatly whilst in detention due to his medical condition. He has been freed on bail and enjoyed a celebration meal with his family. Mr Hongwei was originally arrested after more than twenty police officers raided an ERCC church service at a tea shop. Sixty church members were locked inside the building and released only after they provided their identification. Mr Hongwei was arrested because he refused to comply with the authorities' demands. ERCC, which is heavily persecuted, announced Mr Hongwei's release in a prayer request update. His faith became firmer during his time in detention and he jokingly said that he successfully went on a diet, which he could not have achieved if outside.
Pakistan: preaching Christianity ‘not a crime’
The Pakistani Supreme Court has issued a highly significant and welcome ruling, which includes the declaration that the preaching of Christianity ‘is not a crime, nor can it be made into one’. The nine-page ruling is a clear and comprehensive denunciation of the way in which ‘blasphemy’ laws are misused in Pakistan. The court raises issues such as false and malicious accusations, the lack of credible evidence in many cases, and the mob violence with which an accused person is often threatened. One judge said, ‘Many a time false allegations are levelled to settle personal scores, and cases are also registered for mischievous purposes or on account of ulterior motives’.
