Remembering HM Queen Elizabeth II

By Gerry Straker, 18 Sep 2022

'The Son of Man came not to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
(Mark 10:45)

The Queen said a number of wonderful things in her Christmas messages (which I understand she wrote herself), including:

• God send into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.
• Billions of people follow Christ’s teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives. I am one of them.
• This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only Son ‘to serve, not to be served.’

Pray for our nation that as people consider this very significant moment, they might reflect on the weighty issues of life and death, and that God might give us and all our Christian brothers and sisters opportunities to introduce people to the King who served our Queen, the King whom Elizabeth calls 'your majesty'  - Jesus Christ, with whom she is safe and waiting for resurrection morning!

A prayer for you to use, if helpful to you:

Gracious God, Merciful Father and Lord of all life,
we give thanks for your servant Queen Elizabeth,
We give you thanks:
   for her love of family and her gift of friendship;
   for her devotion to this nation and the nations of the Commonwealth;
   for her grace, dignity and courtesy;
   for her generosity and love of life.
   and her selfless servant leadership.
We praise you for:
   the courage that she showed in testing times;
   the depth and of her Christian faith;
   and the witness she bore to it in word and deed.

We thank you for the love she received from you and showed among us. Above all, we rejoice at your gracious promise to all your servants, living and departed, that we shall rise again at the coming of Christ.
 
Almighty God, Father of all mercies and giver of all comfort: give you grace to those who mourn  we pray, especially the members of the Royal Family, That they may know the true comfort of knowing you and your love through Jesus Christ. We pray for our Nation and all the Nations of the Commonwealth, that you might cause the sadness and reflection to turn people back to you that they mght know your loving welcome, as Elizabeth has received. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

(This prayer is an adaptation of the suggested Church of England prayers).