Praying and Preaching on the MDGs

There are abundant resources available for praying and preaching on the Millennium Development Goals.

Weekly Prayer Reflections from Micah Challenge

Each week the Micah Challenge campaign sends out a prayer reflection, containing a short reflection, prayer points for the week, and a statistic relating to the MDGs with suggestions for meditation. You can sign up to receive this on the Micah website.

Prayers about the MDGs

There is a specific MDG prayer, which can be found on the School Sisters of Notre Dame's very helpful page on the MDGs and the order's response to them. 

The Episcopal Public Policy Network also has a fine bidding prayer touching on each of the goals. You might also like to take a look a litany of penance based around the MDGs.

Complete Liturgies around the MDGs

  • There is a fine prayer service from the Sisters of Mercy.
  • CAFOD has a school assembly on the MDGs, including a dramatic reading (for multiple readers), prayers and a reflection. While the assembly is designed for children at Key Stage 4, it could be used in many different church contexts.
  • The Episcopal Public Policy network has a shortened form of evening prayer for Advent with prayers for the end of global poverty.
  • If you're looking for something to do with a youth group, you might want to look at Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation's U2charist , which combines liturgy, U2 lyrics and the MDGs. . . .

Sermons and Sermon Aids around the MDGs

If you're preparing a sermon and would like some background, there are many resources.

On the web, have a look at Micah Challenge UK's introduction to praying on the MDGs, which offers Biblical bases for action on the goals. Micah also has a resource page that could help inspire a sermon . . . or, if your church uses multimedia presentations, offers powerpoints and video clips to use. In print, Sabina Alkire and Ed Newell's "What Can One Person Do?" [Darton Longman, Todd, 2005] is a treasure trove of information, reflection and prayers.

Activities for Sunday School or Children's Groups

World Vision Australia has produced a wonderful guide with activities for each of the MDGs.

Do you have a prayer or a sermon on this topic you would like to share? Please email it to us at maranda@ccow.org.uk.

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