WE’RE throwing lots of parties to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday – and to share God’s love with others.

Churches across our diocese will mark Her Majesty’s official birthday on June 11 with celebrations designed to unite our local communities.

They’ll get out the bunting and flags for street parties, hold special services, and thank God for the Queen’s personal faith over the weekend of June 10-12.

St John’s Church in Wroxall is holding a whole week of events from June 5-12 to mark the Queen’s official birthday.

They include an all-age service in church at 10am on June 5, and a pet blessing service at the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary at 2.30pm that afternoon. There’s a concert by Cowes Concert Band at 8pm on June 6, and a Right Royal Quiz at 7pm on June 8, both in church.

Then from June 10-12, the church will host a flower festival. It includes a service of thanksgiving at 3pm on June 11, followed by a tea fit for royalty, It ends with a royal-themed Songs of Praise at 6pm on June 12.

Bishop Christopher preached at a special service of thanksgiving at Newport Minster on April 21, the day that the Queen actually turned 90.

“We celebrate because we have seen our Queen live with us through the hurts and joys of most of the last century,” he said. “We express our respect and gratitude that the promise made on her 21st birthday has been kept for nearly seven decades, that her whole life shall be devoted to our service.” 

Portsmouth Cathedral will be hosting a strawberry tea on Cathedral Green in honour of the Queen’s birthday from 3pm-5pm on June 12. It is being organised by the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral, and tickets cost £5. 

It is followed by a special Choral Evensong at 6pm, which includes a new anthem written for the occasion by Judith Weir, Master of the Queen’s Music.

St Mary’s Church, Alverstoke will host a traditional street party in the village square from 12noon-3pm on June 12. Worshippers will set out tables and chairs, organise musical entertainment and hold a children’s fancy dress competition.

It comes after a team of bell-ringers celebrated her actual birthday in April by ringing a full peal of bells at St Mary’s Church over almost three hours.

Families will mark the occasion at St Mary’s, Warsash from 3.30pm on June 9. It will host a Messy Church entitled ‘Messy Majesty’, including activities to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

On the Sunday, St Mary’s will also host a special Communion service at 10am, which will be attended by local dignitaries.

Families can also mark the Queen’s birthday at Funday Sunday at St Jude’s, Southsea, on June 12. There’ll be breakfast, real coffee and children’s activities with a royal flavour from 10.30am, before a quickfire presentation about faith at 11am. 

At 4pm, former vicar and Queen’s chaplain Canon John Byrne will preach at St Jude’s as part of its Come and See service. 

St Luke’s Church in Somers Town will host a fun day on the June 11, from 11am-4pm, with live music and drama performed by local groups, a bouncy castle, circus skills and an egg and spoon race outside, as well as home-made treats and market stalls.

St James-without-the-Priory-Gate in Southwick will hold a service to mark both the anniversary of D-Day and the Queen’s 90th birthday at 10.45am on June 12. There’s also an exhibition in the church featuring both Queen Elizabeth II and Southwick at War. 

And St Paul’s Cathedral will host the national celebration service for the Queen on June 10, which will be televised live. The texts of prayers and intercessions for this service will be available to download. 

The Queen has also approved the use of four official prayers to be used over the weekend, which include words from her first Christmas broadcast in 1952. They can be downloaded from the national C of E website.

A book published by the Bible Society, Hope and LICC offers rare insights into the Queen’s personal thoughts and faith. The Servant Queen and the King She Serves was published in April.

Her Majesty said: “I have been – and remain – very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for his steadfast love. I have indeed seen his faithfulness.”

Copies of the book are available to order in packs of 10. Visit www.hopetogether.org.uk/thequeen to order copies, and for ideas on how to hold a street party and thanksgiving service. 

Resources to help your church celebrate the Queen’s birthday can be found on www.churchcare.co.uk