Archbishop praises Queen for dedication to nation; Day of the Seafarer: 25 June; Say ‘thank you’ to your Diamond Geezer
Archbishop praises Queen for dedication to nation
Christian Today – The Archbishop of Canterbury has paid tribute to the Queen’s selfless dedication to the nation during her 60 years on the throne.
During a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral yesterday, Dr Rowan Williams praised the Queen for enduring the ups and downs of the last six decades “faithfully, calmly and generously”.
The Archbishop encouraged people not to think of their own individual good as he reflected that the lasting memorial of the celebrations would be the “rebirth of an energetic, generous spirit of dedication to the common good and the public service”.
He said the Queen had gone beyond mere “enthusiasm” to embody the true biblical sense of dedication as “an absolute purge of selfish goals”.
“There will be other occasions to remember the splendour and the drama of the Coronation; today’s focus is different,” he said.
“What we remember is the simple statement of commitment made by a very young woman, away from home, suddenly and devastatingly bereaved, a statement that she would be there for those she governed, that she was dedicating herself to them.
“To declare a lifelong dedication is to take a huge risk, to embark on a costly venture. But it is to respond to the promise of a vision that brings joy.”
The Archbishop encouraged people to live for the promise of the “shared joy” to be found in selfless living, rather than seeking “narrow individual fulfilment”.
Reflecting on the celebrations of the last four days, the Archbishop said that a whole community rejoicing together and “being glad of each other’s happiness and safety” was the only thing that could save society from the “traps of ludicrous financial greed, environmental recklessness, of collective fear of strangers and collective contempt for the unsuccessful and marginal”.
“We are marking six decades of living proof that public service is possible and that it is a place where happiness can be found,” he said.
“To seek one’s own good and one’s own well-being in the health of the community is sacrificially hard work – but it is this search that is truly natural to the human heart.
“That’s why it is not a matter of tight-lipped duty or grudging compliance with someone else’s demands. Jesus himself says ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me’, and that’s what is at the heart of real dedication.”
He added that his thoughts and prayers were with Prince Philip, who remains in hospital with a bladder infection.
Day of the Seafarer: 25 June
The Day of the Seafarer is a special day in the maritime calendar when people worldwide show their appreciation for the men and women who risk danger and hardship to maintain international trade, often at great personal cost to themselves and their families. It was established by the World Maritime Organization in 2011 and is now included in the list of United Nations Observances as a key event in the global calendar.
Without seafarers bringing us the clothing, food and goods that we need, half the world would starve and half would freeze. The Day of the Seafarer is an opportunity for us all to pay tribute to these 1.2 million brave men and women, and raise awareness of the unique and all-too-often overlooked role they play in our everyday lives.
Why not hold a fundraising event to support seafarers’ welfare? It can be as big or as small you like: you could ask everyone in your office to dress in a nautical theme for the day and make a small donation. You could bake cakes and sell them at work, at church or at school.
You could set up a jumble sale or second hand book stall at your office or community centre. The possibilities are endless – the only limit is your imagination!
To request a fundraising pack that’s bursting with ideas, contact Nicky Jackson on 07500 333190 or by email nicola.jackson@missiontoseafarers.org.
Say ‘thank you’ to your Diamond Geezer
In the Bible, Jubilee was a special year when wrongs were forgiven and debts written off.
So in this very special year, Bible Society is asking people across the country: ‘to whom are you indebted?’
The aim of the campaign is to invite everyone to say ‘thank you’ to that special person – your very own ‘Diamond Geezer’.
This person could be an old school teacher, a midwife who delivered a baby, or an old friend who helped out a crucial time of life – just someone to whom you feel indebted because of their kindness and help.
With our busy lives it is often easier to text or email a quick ‘thank you’, but we’d like to encourage you to take the time to write a letter to that person to thank them for everything they’ve done.
Bible Society would love you to take part. And if you’re going to write to your Diamond Geezer they would love to hear all about it.
Visit biblesociety.org.uk/diamondjubilee and let us know your ‘thank you’ story.