CONGREGATIONS are being asked to take part in a giant community challenge to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June.
Drawing on the Lent campaign 40Acts (News, 25 May 2018), 70 Acts of Service asks people to celebrate the Queen’s faithful service by carrying out acts of service in their community.
The initiative has been put together by the charity Hope Together, which lists 70 possible acts of service, including cleaning the sink in your workplace, allowing extra time when out to help others or to chat to people, or bringing in your neighbours’ bins.
Churches are asked to help to bring their communities together to celebrate the Jubilee, which will be marked with an extended bank-holiday weekend from 2 to 5 June. Hope Together is working with partners in the Commonwealth to celebrate the anniversary.
A gift book, Our Faithful Queen, has also been written, and includes the prayers that the Queen prayed as she prepared for her Coronation. Churches are already making plans to give the book away at community events, its author, Catherine Butcher, says. Churches in Eastleigh, in Winchester diocese, are bulk-buying the book to give away, as well as a companion book for children, The Girl Who Grew Up to be Queen.
In Chelmsford, books are being given away at a street party; in Romford, the book will be a gift at a Methodist Church street party; and in Matlock, copies of the book will be given out at a free Platinum Jubilee celebration lunch.
The Area Dean of Hinckford, and Priest-in-Charge of the Halstead Area, in Chelmsford diocese, the Revd Katherine de Bourcier, said: “I remember how pleased people were to receive the previous book about the Queen and her faith, which was produced for her 90th birthday, and this will be a great follow-on. I hope it will encourage church members in their own lives of faith and service, and that it will inspire others to reflect on the place of prayer and spirituality for them, too.”
A new anthem, “Rise Up and Serve”, has been commissioned from the songwriters Graham Kendrick and Mal Pope, and the worship band Rend Collective. Choirs are invited to record their own version of the anthem to be released on YouTube.
Resources to help churches to inspire their community, and information about the song and the choir competition are published at theplatinumjubilee.com.