We live in an extraordinary time, and I want to invite you to use the forthcoming season from Ascension to Pentecost (21-31 May) to grow closer to God in prayer. After the first Ascension Day, the disciples gathered with Mary, constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them, our reliance on the gift of the Holy Spirit is total – on our own we can do nothing. Through the centuries Christians have gathered at that time to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ picks up this tradition. Archbishop Justin Welby is a leading supporter: “In praying ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ we all commit to playing our part in the renewal of the nations and the transformation of communities.”

I hope you will access one or more of the following we are offering at St Mary Barnes during this period: our Sunday services on 24th May and celebrating Pentecost on 31st May. In addition to our usual service of Morning Prayer, there will be a daily service of Compline (Night Prayer) each evening (available from 6pm) on our Facebook page.

Daily reflections available through the Church of England https://www.churchofengland.org  Download the free Thy Kingdom Come app – packed full with videos, reflections, a daily podcast from N.T. Wright and the daily prayer journal from the Apple or Android app stores, simply search for “Thy Kingdom Come Prayer” (most resources available in a range of languages) Join the special Thy Kingdom Come morning service with the Archbishop of Canterbury at 9am on Pentecost Sunday cofe.io/ChurchOnline, including prayers from the His Holiness Pope Francis, music lead by Matt Redman and contributions from many others.