Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. What started in 2016 as an invitation from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to the Church of England has grown into an international and ecumenical call to prayer. During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, it is hoped that everyone who participates will deepen their friendship with Jesus, bring others to know Jesus or know him better, and come to know that every aspect of their life is the stuff of prayer. At St. Peter's, we are participating in this event between May 9 (Ascension) and May 19 (Pentecost) of 2024.
“But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’”
Download Prayer Resources
Here are some resources to help you pray as an individual, with your family, and as a church.
Prayer Journal 2024
When Jesus spoke to his disciples before ascending to heaven he promised them “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Those first followers responded to this promise by constantly devoting themselves to prayer (Acts 1:14), day after day, until the Holy Spirit came upon them in power. We too can set these days apart to pray, individually and together, for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can cry out to God for more people to come to know the life-transforming love of God. This year’s Prayer Journal explores a variety of ways to pray from across different denominations and traditions. As you journey through these 11 days, faithfully interceding for your five people, our hope is that you will be refreshed by what you learn, and inspired to encounter God in new ways.
Novena 2024 from Ascension to Pentecost
”Come, Holy Spirit.” This simple, profound prayer is at the heart of Thy Kingdom Come. This worldwide wave of prayer is rooted in the practice and experience of the earliest church as they obeyed Jesus’ command to wait for the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit. A new community had been born in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. They had been given one task: to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. Pentecost would show that in God’s plan of salvation there were to be no barriers of language or culture; everyone must hear the Good News of forgiveness and eternal life in their own tongue, a dialect they understood. It wasn’t that they had to learn the language of the church; but, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that the church was sent to learn to share Christ in words the world would understand.
This year we focus on the early chapters of Revelation for our daily studies. The troubled world in which we live has much in common with the setting of the last book in the Bible. Violence, oppression, abuse of women and children were part and parcel of life in the Roman Empire as they are around the globe today. We lift God’s world to Him in our prayers, and we pray we would come to enjoy the peace, love, and eternal life that are found uniquely in God.
Common Worship Daily Prayer
During Thy Kingdom Come, you are invited to discover new habits and ways of praying to God, that those whom you know might come to know Jesus. The services in this booklet form part of what is sometimes known as the ‘Daily Office’, a form of worship and prayer which can be used by individuals or in groups as a structure for praise and petition. Whether you are new to ‘structured’ prayer or an old hand, you are invited to try praying with us for the period between Ascension and Pentecost. We hope you may find in it a spiritual rhythm which will nourish your heart and keep prayer on your lips, enabling you to become part of a global wave of prayer.
As our culture and our church respond to life in this modern era, we believe this is an incredible opportunity for the Church worldwide to unite in prayer. We join Jesus in ministry by praying for five of our friends throughout the 11 days, or beyond! Ask Jesus to show you how to pray for your friends:
Seek out what Jesus is already showing you in your friends’ lives. What is he inviting you to notice and do?*
If you are comfortable, ask your friends how you can pray for them. If you aren’t comfortable asking that question, ask Jesus to guide your prayers.*
Keep up contact. Make a phone call, send an email, letter or card saying that you are praying for them at this time.
Keep an eye out for the anniversaries of life events. Make that phone call to let people know you care.
Make sure the people you pray for know how much you value them by whatever means you can find.
Adapted from Joining Jesus on His Mission: How to Be an Everyday Missionary by Greg Finke.
The Prayer for Thy Kingdom Come
Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, that all who hear your word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pray:
that those for whom we pray may come to know and love Jesus;
that we as his disciples will be given new confidence and encouragement by the Holy Spirit;
that we may be made effective witnesses to Jesus.
Simple Ways to Pray Everyday
Good times to pray together are those times you do something regularly, like brushing your teeth, eating a meal, or going to bed.
Have a photo collage of family and friends to pray for and choose a different person to pray for each day.
Say “thank you” to God for one of the meals you eat each day.
Read a Bible story together, and ask, "What would you like to say to Jesus now?" and say "Amen" at the end of whatever is said.
If you hear something tragic on the news, get into the habit of asking God out loud there and then to bless that situation.
If someone at the table talks about a difficult situation at work or at school, similarly pray for it briefly and matter-of-factly, out loud there and then.
Lots of people like routine and ritual, so feel free to pray the same family prayer at the same time every day. Or, if your family likes more spontaneity, ask different members of the family to lead prayers each day.
Every Day Prayers
A good, simple way of helping your family bring their concerns to God is to ask this set of questions each day (and be prepared to answer for yourself):
What are you most thankful for today?
What are you least thankful for today?
When did you last show love today?
When weren't you kind today?
What would you like to say to God about today?
Praying through the Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven...
Sing 1 or 2 songs or hymns, or read a selection of Bible verses.
Hallowed be your name...
Give thanks for who God is and what He gives us.
Invite sharing of testimony to God's faithfulness.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...
Pray for God's love to direct all of our relationships and conversations where we live and work so that many will encounter Jesus.
Ask for our homes and churches to become places where more people of all ages discover God's love and mercy.
Give us today our daily bread...
Pray for those who are vulnerable in the parish and community to be reached by God's love.
Ask for God's provision for all those working to bring in His kingdom in the parish and community.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us...
Invite confession for the times when we have not reached out with love; when our hearts have been fearful.
Ask for new boldness to talk about the difference Jesus has made in our lives.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil...
Pray for some of the needs of the parish and community.
Ask God to show you 5 people to pray for so they may encounter Jesus.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
Pray for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on His church this Pentecost season.
Pray that many people will discover the truth about Jesus across our nation.
Pray for God's blessing on each other, and one every church and every household in Freehold and our community.