Churches are being encouraged to take the lead in their communities so that Big Jubilee Lunches start with a specially written Grace.

Community lunches will take place all across Britain on 3 June in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

HOPE, the national mission movement, has written a Diamond Jubilee Grace to be said at the start of the lunches.

The Grace has been seen by the Queen and reads:

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord,
we give you thanks for the Diamond Jubilee of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth; for her steadfast
faith and for her royal service to this nation
and all the peoples of the Commonwealth.
Bless the food before us and the people beside us;
may the sharing of this meal strengthen our
communities, and nurture the bonds between us
of friendship, hope and trust.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ
who reigns as servant of all. Amen.

Roy Crowne, HOPE’s Executive Director, said: "The Diamond Jubilee gives everyone a great opportunity to show our gratitude to God for the good gifts we have in life, as well as saying thanks to the Queen for her 60 years of service.

"Let’s celebrate and let’s use this opportunity to pray together saying this special Diamond Jubilee Grace before we eat together in our communities."

Christian families often have different ways of saying Grace.

Rob Parsons, founder and chairman of Care for the Family, said: "We always said Grace with the kids.

"We took the trouble to turn the television down and give it some dignity. In restaurants we kept our eyes open, so as not to embarrass waiters.

"Our Grace was often, 'Thank you Jesus for our food, Amen'."

Author and speaker Michele Guinness and her husband Peter, who is Vicar of St Mark’s, Gillingham, Kent, say Grace together every evening.

Michele explains: "It's a great chance to give thanks for the day, pray for our children and our church families and anything else that comes to mind before the food goes cold."