The Vicar's "Two Penn'orth"
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
This month’s Vicar’s Two Pen’orth follows the summer break, and sadly we are reflecting on the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and all that this means to us. Following the sad news, many events have been cancelled as we entered a period of Mourning. This included our annual lifeboat service with the Bishop Chester and Mayor. Instead, it was appropriate to have a service to honour the Queen, which used of the Church of England’s special liturgy. The service was attended by over ninety-six people and here follows the short homily from the service:
Thursday brought the news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t prepared for the strength of feeling it invoked in me. That feeling of sadness has remained with me ever since. As I have begun to process the news, and come to terms with a loss that is both personal and shared with so many in this country, and throughout the world, I have realised what an important, wise and amazing servant the Queen was.
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Queen’s profound faith and faithfulness has been an inspiration to many. Her constant reference to faith, and her trust in God, was evident throughout her reign. Elizabeth II’s whole life has been about service. In the moments prior to her coronation she knelt and prayed a public acknowledgment that before anything else she was the servant of the one and only King.
We have listened today to a short reading from John’s Gospel. In this, Jesus says: ‘for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me’. Powerful words - as Jesus clearly sets out his selfless commitment to follow God’s will in all things. We know that not once in his short life did Jesus ever stray from his path of love and duty - even when that meant death on the cross. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed for this cup to be taken from him, he concluded ‘but not my will but your will be done’.
There is for me a clear comparison to draw here as we look at another life of service: that of our late Queen. Elizabeth II promised on the death of her father that whether her life would be short or long, she would dedicate her life, with God’s help, to the service of the peoples of the Commonwealth. This she did. The Queen’s long reign was not always easy, but she kept the faith, and gave us all an example to follow - even in very difficult times. I am sure there must have been times that she wished the burden of responsibility to be taken from her, but she endured through those times because of commitment, dedication and faith.
Here is an example of a sovereign who kept her eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. The Queen put Him first, and took everything to Him in prayer. She showed us discipline: regularly attending church, receiving the sacraments, and took her strength from a strong belief in duty above all else. Jesus said: ‘I am the bread of life and those who come to me will never be hungry’. Queen Elizabeth did exactly that: rooted in Christ and fed by his word and sacrament.
It is difficult to imagine life without the one person that has been a constant in our lives for so long. As a church, we are now in a period of mourning as we await the Queen’s funeral.
The psalmist wrote: ‘I lift my eyes to the hills, from where is my help to come’? As he asks the question, he also answers it: ‘my help comes from the Lord.’ Perhaps if you haven’t prayed in a while, or you are looking for help, I would recommend this particular psalm as a good place to start. It will be one of the psalms used in services of thanksgiving next week, and it is a psalm we regularly use at funerals. It is a psalm of comfort and hope, that invites us to seek God’s help, and reminds us He is always there.
Scripture was important in the life of the Queen and indeed is in the life of our future king. Faith has been nurtured in King Charles by a devoted mother. We are constantly reminded that believing in God: Father Son and Holy Spirit is our passage to Heaven
John’s Gospel reminds us that ‘this is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the son and believe in him may have eternal life’. Our late Queen, without doubt, now shares in eternity - in that place made ready for her, just as Jesus promised. ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest’.
Let us pray: brother, sister let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you, pray that I may have the grace to let me be your servant too. Amen
Thursday brought the news that Queen Elizabeth II had passed away. I don’t know about you, but I wasn’t prepared for the strength of feeling it invoked in me. That feeling of sadness has remained with me ever since. As I have begun to process the news, and come to terms with a loss that is both personal and shared with so many in this country, and throughout the world, I have realised what an important, wise and amazing servant the Queen was.
As Supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Queen’s profound faith and faithfulness has been an inspiration to many. Her constant reference to faith, and her trust in God, was evident throughout her reign. Elizabeth II’s whole life has been about service. In the moments prior to her coronation she knelt and prayed a public acknowledgment that before anything else she was the servant of the one and only King.
We have listened today to a short reading from John’s Gospel. In this, Jesus says: ‘for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me’. Powerful words - as Jesus clearly sets out his selfless commitment to follow God’s will in all things. We know that not once in his short life did Jesus ever stray from his path of love and duty - even when that meant death on the cross. Even in the garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus prayed for this cup to be taken from him, he concluded ‘but not my will but your will be done’.
There is for me a clear comparison to draw here as we look at another life of service: that of our late Queen. Elizabeth II promised on the death of her father that whether her life would be short or long, she would dedicate her life, with God’s help, to the service of the peoples of the Commonwealth. This she did. The Queen’s long reign was not always easy, but she kept the faith, and gave us all an example to follow - even in very difficult times. I am sure there must have been times that she wished the burden of responsibility to be taken from her, but she endured through those times because of commitment, dedication and faith.
Here is an example of a sovereign who kept her eyes firmly fixed on Jesus. The Queen put Him first, and took everything to Him in prayer. She showed us discipline: regularly attending church, receiving the sacraments, and took her strength from a strong belief in duty above all else. Jesus said: ‘I am the bread of life and those who come to me will never be hungry’. Queen Elizabeth did exactly that: rooted in Christ and fed by his word and sacrament.
It is difficult to imagine life without the one person that has been a constant in our lives for so long. As a church, we are now in a period of mourning as we await the Queen’s funeral.
The psalmist wrote: ‘I lift my eyes to the hills, from where is my help to come’? As he asks the question, he also answers it: ‘my help comes from the Lord.’ Perhaps if you haven’t prayed in a while, or you are looking for help, I would recommend this particular psalm as a good place to start. It will be one of the psalms used in services of thanksgiving next week, and it is a psalm we regularly use at funerals. It is a psalm of comfort and hope, that invites us to seek God’s help, and reminds us He is always there.
Scripture was important in the life of the Queen and indeed is in the life of our future king. Faith has been nurtured in King Charles by a devoted mother. We are constantly reminded that believing in God: Father Son and Holy Spirit is our passage to Heaven
John’s Gospel reminds us that ‘this is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the son and believe in him may have eternal life’. Our late Queen, without doubt, now shares in eternity - in that place made ready for her, just as Jesus promised. ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest’.
Let us pray: brother, sister let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you, pray that I may have the grace to let me be your servant too. Amen
Your Friend,
Rev Paul,
Vicar of Hoylake
Rev Paul,
Vicar of Hoylake
