June 2022
Dear Friends
On 6th February this year Queen Elizabeth II
became the first-ever British monarch to have reigned for 70 years. The Jubilee weekend will be a focus of our
thanksgiving for her Majesty’s long reign marked by humble and dedicated
service.
At her coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953 the Queen was
presented with several items that are so valuable that they are normally kept
behind two-inch-thick bullet-proof glass in the Tower of London.
She received a
beautiful gold six-inch sphere with a jewelled cross on the top.
The Archbishop presented it with these words, “Receive this Orb set under the
Cross, and remember that the whole world is subject to the Power and Empire of
Christ our Redeemer.”
She was handed a sceptre with a diamond-encrusted cross, as
a symbol of the authority to rule that God was entrusting to her (Romans 13:1).
She was given a sword, because rulers are charged by God
with the punishment of wrong-doers (Romans 13:4).
Alongside these costly objects the Queen was also given a
book with these words, “We present you with this Book, the most valuable thing
that this world affords.” What book could be more valuable than the Crown
Jewels? Only one. A Bible.
In a
foreword to a book to mark her 90th birthday her Majesty wrote, “In
1952 I asked the people … to pray for me as I prepared to dedicate myself to
their service at my Coronation. I have been – and remain – very
grateful to you for your prayers and to God for His steadfast love. I
have indeed seen His faithfulness.”
And here is the request that
Princess Elizabeth made before her Coronation: “Pray that God may
give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making
and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life.”
Sincerely
Graham Burrows