HELLO FROM CANON WILLIAM Dear Friends, Back in the Middle Ages the duties of Kings in this Country included leading armies into battle. Many battles were lost and some lost their lives as well. Sometimes fighting was to protect their country but at other times it was to gain more land. Things have changed significantly since then and there is now a constitutional monarchy with very different responsibilities and duties. These duties include serving the Country and Commonwealth and come before all else, including their family. I recently read an article describing this. The month after the Queen’s death last year Princess Anne was in Uganda, Royal duties were continuing as normal. Amongst places she visited one was a refugee camp to support and encourage the work there being done to enable the people to be self-sustaining. This is the sort of work that she, along with rest of the working Royal Family, do day by day. At his first Address to the Nation, King Charles pledged to continue the work that his Mother had done during her reign. But there is more to leadership than this. I had an opportunity of seeing this when I was the Diocesan Rural Officer and we were invited to (the then Prince) Charles’ house at Highgrove. We were there to see his farm and his policy on how to tend the various crops. Like his Father, Charles has a major concern for the environment in the world and the consequent effects it can have on climate change. Part of this was to make the farm totally organic. Although I do not fully appreciate the science behind this, one can see both a concern he has for these issues and the determination to contribute making a more sustainable world. This has helped me to appreciate more of the issues our King has a passion for and that he has a vision that is far bigger than simply doing just his basic duties as a constitutional monarch. The working Royal Family is following the example of the service that Christ shows – that he was here to serve, not to be served. This is done, serving us all, both quietly and conscientiously. With Charles’ Coronation now imminent, it is a good time to remind ourselves of the nature of true leadership. The King needs our prayers and support as he affirms his life of service. We pray that the Christian faith will help him as King in the same way we ask that our faith will continue to sustain us. With good wishes Canon William
Let us pray-- Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless, we pray, Camilla the Queen Consort, William Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family. Endue them with your Holy Spirit; enrich them with your heavenly grace; prosper them with all happiness; and bring them to your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.