A Prayer for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee

The following Prayer, written at The Queen's direction by the Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, will be used in the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service in St Paul's Cathedral on Tuesday, 5 June. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have commended it for use throughout the Church of England. Other churches are also welcome to use this prayer.

God of time and eternity,
whose Son reigns as servant, not master;
we give you thanks and praise
that you have blessed this Nation, the Realms and Territories
with Elizabeth
our beloved and glorious Queen.
In this year of Jubilee,
grant her your gifts of love and joy and peace
as she continues in faithful obedience to you, her Lord and God
and in devoted service to her lands and peoples,
and those of the Commonwealth,
now and all the days of her life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

It seems a shame to me that the prayer says Jesus reigns as servant "not master". Of course, Jesus is the servant king. He came not to be served but to serve. But he is also our Lord, King and Master. In fact, Jesus re-defines what real, legitimate rule looks like: to lead is to serve.