Bishop Anthony Poggo, Secretary General at the Anglican Communion, has authored this year’s Thy Kingdom Come Novena.  

In their introduction to the Novena, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said, “The international nature of Thy Kingdom Come has a special place in the Novena this year. We are so grateful to Bishop Anthony Poggo, the General Secretary of the Anglican Communion, for taking on the challenge of being this year’s author. His rich African heritage, coupled with his ease at being at home on every continent, will help us all pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’ wherever in the world God has placed us.”

Thy Kingdom Come is a global ecumenical prayer movement, described as a ‘worldwide wave of prayer’. It started in 2016 as an invitation from Archbishop Justin and the then Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, to Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost – 9 to 19 May, for five people that they know to come to know Jesus.  

In their introduction, the archbishops state that Thy Kingdom Come has spread to over 172 countries around the world and is rooted in the practice and experience of the earliest church as they obeyed Jesus’ command to wait for the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

Bishop Anthony said, “It has been a joy and a great privilege to be invited to write the Thy Kingdom Come Novena. I hope that everyone who uses it for prayer and reflection will be blessed, inspired and motivated to pray for the five people on their hearts and the wider world around them and as they do, that they will be refreshed anew by the Holy Spirit this Pentecost.”

The daily bible studies and reflections of the Novena focus on the early chapters of Revelation. The vibrant and colourful resource features photographs from across the Anglican Communion and around the world.  It is also available in audio recordings.

The supporting resources include prayer postcards, posters, banners, books, a prayer journal and daily films covering 11 days. Day one will be from Archbishop Stephen Cottrell. Day five, which is entitled ‘the God who gives’, will be from Bishop Henry Bull, Bishop of Vanua Levu and Taveuni (Polynesia and Day six, ‘the God who walks with us’, will be about the Reverend Dr Florence Li Tim-Oi. 

To find out more about all Thy Kingdom Come resources, including the Novena, click here: Thy Kingdom Come 2024 Resources (cpo.org.uk)