Church Moderator asks members to join Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is encouraging members to join the Thy Kingdom Come prayer initiative running from Ascension Day to Pentecost Sunday (Thursday 9 May – Sunday 19 May).

Launched eight years ago and now with 85 denominations taking part in around 180 countries annually, the Church of Scotland has been involved since 2018.

In a letter, Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton states: "Prayer takes us from where we are to where God calls us to be.

"The Lord's Prayer takes the disciples from where they are to where Jesus needs them to be, the space where, together, they anticipate the coming of the Kingdom.

"That is why we pray ‘thy Kingdom come'.

"That is why we join with the followers of Jesus across the world and pray ‘thy Kingdom come'.

"Together, we anticipate the coming of the Kingdom.

"Together, we seek to live out our response to the words that Jesus taught his disciples: ‘thy Kingdom come'."

This year a digital Scottish Prayer Journal will feature different recordings including from Ms Foster-Fulton on the 10th day and from Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, the Moderator Designate, on Pentecost Sunday.

Dr John McPake, Ecumenical Officer of the Church of Scotland, said:

"In 2024, the first Scottish edition of the Prayer Journal brings together voices from across the Church in this country and it is my privilege to commend it to you.

"May it be used for the renewal of God's people in this land."

Visit the Thy Kingdom Come website to find out how your church can get involved or to look at resources for families and individuals.

You can also use the Thy Kingdom Come social media graphics on your own accounts.

The full letter reads:

Prayer takes us from where we are to where God calls us to be.

The Lord's Prayer takes the disciples from where they are to where Jesus needs them to be, the space where, together, they anticipate the coming of the Kingdom. That is why we pray ‘thy Kingdom come'. That is why we join with the followers of Jesus across the world and pray ‘thy Kingdom come'. Together, we anticipate the coming of the Kingdom. Together, we seek to live out our response to the
words that Jesus taught his disciples: ‘thy Kingdom come'.

Since November 2018, the Church of Scotland has partnered in the Thy Kingdom Come Global Prayer
Initiative. Launched in 2016, it has since grown into a movement which unites Christians from across
different traditions to pray for family and friends, for neighbours and colleagues, to come to a deeper
understanding of the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ.

In 2024 Thy Kingdom Come runs from Ascension Day to Pentecost Sunday (Thursday 8 May – Sunday
19 May):

https://www.thykingdomcome.global/

An integral part of the resourcing of Thy Kingdom Come is the provision of a Prayer Journal. In 2024,
and for the first time, there will be a digital Scottish Prayer Journal featuring voices from across the
Scottish church. I am happy to have contributed to this and encourage you to make use of it.

Once more: Prayer takes us from where we are to where God calls us to be, and as we pray ‘thy
Kingdom come' may we look for signs of the Kingdom come amongst us.

Yours sincerely,

Rt Rev Sally Foster-Fulton
Moderator
General Assembly of the Church of Scotland