WORLDWIDE CHURCH IN 24-HOUR GLOBAL WAVE OF PRAYER
EMBARGOED UNTIL MIDDAY on 20/10/2021 CDP/USPG/01
Christians around the world are signing up to take part in a 24-hour global wave of prayer next month. More than half of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion have already pledged to join the Anglican Communion Day of Prayer on 30 November and many others are expected to come on board as the day approaches.
The event is being co-ordinated by the mission agency, USPG, and has the support of the Anglican Communion office and several Anglican agencies around the world.
USPG General Secretary, Rev’d Duncan Dormor, said, ‘We believe this is the first global day of prayer of its kind and are very excited about the response we are receiving from around the world. We sense this is very timely. We believe God is calling us to join together to pray for our world – a world that is reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, the increasingly alarming impact of climate change, and from injustice, exploitation and war.
‘This is a new venture, it’s very much a pilot which will be developed in future years. But to see so many people already on board is so encouraging. The Day of Prayer is open to all Christians, not just Anglicans. Absolutely everyone is invited. It is going to be a very powerful day.’
The Day of Prayer was inspired by the Church’s response to Covid-19.
‘We saw how churches around the world went online, using technology to keep in touch and we felt we could use this growth in the virtual church to unite everyone together to pray,’ explained Rev’d Davidson Solanki, USPG’s Regional Manager for Asia and the Middle East, who is part of the co-ordinating team.
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There are more than 30 time zones around the globe and a day on planet Earth lasts longer than you might think: for example, when 30 November begins in, say, Kiribati, it will barely be 29 November in Hawaii. Faced with the complexities of time and time zones, the co-ordinating team are keeping it simple.
‘Our virtual gathering will take place over 24 consecutive hours,’ said Rev’d Davidson. ‘We will divide them into half-hour time slots each of which will be led by one of the Anglican provinces or extra-provincial churches or churches in full communion with the Anglican Communion. This means people will be able to join online prayer wherever they are in the world at whatever time suits them. They can pray for their part of the world or somewhere else. They can join in for as long as they wish. It is going to be unique and purposeful.
‘We are gathering a series of wonderful films which are authentic local expressions of prayer and worship from across the world. Our hope is that this day will unite us in prayer and enable us to experience deeper fellowship and friendship together. It will be a sign of faith and solidarity in these difficult times.’
Regular updates on the Day of Prayer will be posted on USPG’s website and social media channels. Details of how to join in and how the day will work will be released next month.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- USPG is the Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide in God’s mission to enliven faith, strengthen relationships, unlock potential and champion justice. Established in 1701.
- For more information on USPG please go to: www.USPG.org.uk
For further information, please contact Nathan Olsen on 07849083128 or email communications@uspg.org.uk
