I well remember the Queen’s first Jubilee. It was in 1977 and celebrated 25 years of her reign. I was 14 at the time and can remember how excited everyone was. I even had a Diamond Jubilee badge on my Guide uniform, and another one on the handlebars of my bicycle!
It was also my introduction to street parties—something I had never experienced before. A local street was closed to traffic, with tables down the middle of the road. Everyone brought contributions and we all ate together. I think we even sang “God Save the Queen”.
The fact that I remember these 45 years later shows what an impact they had—which makes them ideal for outreach. So here are just a few ideas for ways we might use the Queen’s Jubilee to reach out to those around us.
Inspiring children’s biography of Queen Elizabeth II highlighting the Christian faith that underpinned her remarkable reign.
Street parties
Is your local area planning a street party? This can be a great way to get to know people—maybe even people who live in the same road as you but you have never met. And if a party is planned for the street your church meets in, then you could take part as a group. It’s an easy way to meet some new people and maybe invite them to a church service or special event.
Bank-holiday events
The UK will have a special four-day-long bank holiday weekend, from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. If there isn’t a street party near you, then maybe you could plan one or other special events to invite people to during that weekend. Some of the main national celebrations will be televised, so you could even invite people to come and watch together.
Crafting and baking
For the Queen’s coronation in 1953, a new recipe was created, called Coronation chicken (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation_chicken). Something similar is being done this year with a national competition to find the best “Platinum pudding”. Why not put on a similar competition in your area, with a particular day for people to bring their puddings for judging? Or if you lean more to craft than baking, then see if someone in your church can create a simple Jubilee craft—and then invite people to come to a craft morning where they can make their own.
Blessing a school or group with books
The Jubilee may give you opportunities you wouldn’t usually have to give books to your local school or a children’s group. That’s the idea behind our missionary box of 30 copies of our new children’s biography of Her Majesty The Queen (https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/queen-elizabeth-ii). This would be an ideal way for a church to bless a local school—or a parent to give a copy to every pupil in their child’s class.
I’m sure you will have plenty of other ideas of your own. How about adding them in the comments below so that others can benefit from your ideas too?
Alison Mitchell is the author of multiple award winning children’s books and Queen Elizabeth II, a new children’s biography written in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
Alison Mitchell is a senior editor at The Good Book Company, where she has worked on a range of products including Bible-reading notes for children and families, and the Christianity Explored range of resources. She is the best-selling author of The Christmas Promise and the award-winning Jesus and the Lions' Den.