Thy Kingdom Come is a global ecumenical prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray for more people to come to know Jesus. This year it spans from 9 to 19 May, from Ascension to Pentecost.
Since it began in May 2016, Thy Kingdom Come (TKC) has developed into a movement which unites more than a million Christians in prayer, in nearly 90% of countries worldwide, across 85 different denominations and traditions – so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ. Every person, household and church is encouraged to pray during the 11 days in their own way.
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said: “The disunity of the church is a scandal! During Thy Kingdom Come 2024 pray that the Spirit may make Jesus’s prayer for unity amongst his disciples a reality. I encourage churches of all denominations to join together and pray together as a visible witness to our common faith. I’m particularly looking forward to joining young people on Pentecost Sunday and many others online as we make our prayer: Thy Kingdom Come!”
How can I get involved?
Thy Kingdom Come also provides a great opportunity to bring Christians together in ecumenical prayer events online and in villages, towns, and cities. For example, Rev Dr Ben Aldous, CTE’s Principal Officer for Mission and Evangelism is speaking at the TKC Beacon Event in Exeter Cathedral. He’s joining Dr Ruth Valerio from Tearfund (a Charity and Network in Association with CTE), Andy Flannigan from Christians in Politics and the Rt Rev Jackie Searle, the Acting Bishop of Exeter. Another local event is being held by Churches Together in Haverhill, Suffolk where there is a “God Loves You” – Balloon Give Away on Pentecost Sunday.
Find out what is happening in your area via the Thy Kingdom Come events listing. And why not list your church or Churches Together event?
There are also many resources to encourage personal, family and church prayer. This year’s new resources include an ecumenical prayer journal, which has contributions from Orthodox, Catholic, Methodist, Elim Pentecostal and Baptist voices as well as those from within the Church of England. The beautiful illustrations in the journal are by Baptist Minister Rev Chris Duffett.
Other resources to help inspire prayer this year are a novena, videos and reflections and also specific resources for children, young people and families. More information can be found on the TKC website. Many of them are free of charge (postage costs apply).
Thy Kingdom Come: The Prayer
Also new for 2024 is the invitation for young Christians and Christian youth groups to join in The Prayer from 5pm on Pentecost Sunday, 19 May. At 5.15 pm BST you’ll be able to connect via livelink with contributions from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York and the team from The Way, all building towards the moment when young people will unite together at 5.30 pm as one voice to pray The Lord’s Prayer. Find out more about The Prayer.
The Youth Resourcing Lead at St Luke’s Blackburn, Rachel Gardner, is hosting a youth gathering in their church. She said: “We’re seeing an increasing hunger among young people for the transcendent, for authentic connection with something greater than themselves. Prayer connects us with the most powerful Love in the universe who we find in the person of Jesus – someone we can be with and become like. Prayer is weird, ancient, messy, beautiful, fun and everyday…a bit like the church in all our diversity and wonder, and a bit like our Youth Gatherings at St Lukes!
“This Pentecost we can’t wait to gather with young people across Lancashire, united across our towns, cities, villages and church traditions, to pray ’Thy Kingdom Come’.”
Movement (based in the South West, in the Diocese of Bath and Wells) is organising an inter-denominational TKC event at The Church (Locking Castle Church) in Weston-Super-Mare, which is a local ecumenical partnership. “We’re excited to be hosting a beacon gathering for Youth & Young Adults from across the region to come together for Thy Kingdom Come this Pentecost Sunday, where we will be spending time in worship, exploring the prayer that Jesus taught us “The Lord’s prayer” and praying for one another,” said Rev Rich Miles, the event coordinator.
If you have young people in your church, or a youth group, why not arrange to meet on Pentecost Sunday afternoon and as part of your time together join in the national moment of youth uniting in prayer?
Whether you are young or young at heart, do get involved as we #PrayTogether Thy Kingdom Come so that people will know more of Jesus in their lives.
Please share your ecumenical Thy Kingdom Come events and activities with CTE by tagging us on social media (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) @ChurchesEngland.