Supporting Refugees: A Guide for Oxfordshire Churches

Would you or your church like to stand alongside refugees in Oxfordshire … but aren’t sure where to begin? Take a look at our new guide, produced with our local and national partner agencies, including Asylum Welcome, British Red Cross, Connection Support, Refugee Reesource, Refugee Support Network, Sanctuary Housing and Welcome Churches.

You can download it here – or email us to ask for hard copies.

 

Praying and Giving after Cyclone Idai

Prayer Resources

All We Can prayer, powerpoint and film about Malawi floods

Christian Aid Prayer for all affected

For the MANNA powerpoint (focus on Mozambique), email elizabeth@manna-anglican.org

Tearfund Appeal Prayer Powerpoint

Church Statements and Reports

Bishop Carlos Matsinhe, Bishop of Lebombo in Mozambique (Anglican Church of Southern Africa)

Appeals

DEC Appeal

All We Can (focus on Malawi)

CAFOD

Christian Aid (focus on Malawi and Zimbabwe)

MANNA (focus on Mozambique)

Oxfam

Tearfund

UN Secretary General’s request for international assistance

 

Image: Tropical Cyclone Idai seen by NASA’s Aqua satellite in Mozambique Channel. Credit: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)

CCOW Guide to Online Lent Resources (2019)

To help with the keeping of Lent, CCOW has put together a Guide to Online Resources for Lent (Download the updated version for 2019 here). Some of the materials in the guide offer daily reflections, prayers and action points; some are meant for use on a weekly basis.

They’re designed to be part of a traditional Lenten discipline of prayer, meditative reading, giving and fasting. Fasting, of course, is not simply a matter of restraint in eating and drinking – as Isaiah 58 reminds us, the fast that God desires involves refraining from wickedness; freeing those who are oppressed; sharing with those in need; keeping our speech free of evil; and honouring the time set aside for God, the Sabbath.Many of the resources pick up the themes of ending oppression and sharing with those in need … though we also refer to the Godspace list, which has more general resources as well.

The resources are easy to make part of a daily routine or part of a Sabbath time, resting in the presence of God.

Do please let us know what you find helpful … and please recommend any resources or ideas for Lent that we have missed.

 

 

Photograph: Stations of the Cross, St James Priory, Bristol

Dates for Prayer and Action – 2024

CCOW’s “Dates for Prayer and Action” lists Special Sundays and other dates of interest throughout the year, with links to resources for prayer and action relating to those dates. Covering everything from Plough Sunday to World AIDS Day,  it’s a resource both for worship and activities in churches as well as for private prayer and action. Browse a month, a quarter, or the full year …

Items in Gold are Christian holidays and opportunities to pray for the church, its agencies, and its mission; items in Green are environmental; items in Red
relate to health; items in Orange relate to refugees; items in Dark Blue relate to Fair Trade and economic justice.

In addition to the complete calendar below, we have a specialised environmental calendar that you can download here and a specialised Fair Trade calendar that you can download here.

JANUARY

 

1-31 January – Veganuary

Could you try a vegan diet?

1 January & first of each month – Pray and Fast for the Climate

Join people around the world praying & fasting for climate justice. Info: Pray and Fast

1 January – Circumcision/Naming of Christ

An opportunity to pray for birth registration, which gives the right to an official identity and legally recognised name, for all children. Info: UNICEF, Anglican Communion

6 January – Epiphany

During the Epiphany season, could your church reflect on the journeys of the Holy Family following the Wise Men’s visit … and the journeys of refugees today?

6 Jan 2024 – Plough Sunday

May be celebrated another Sunday in January. Pray for all who farm worldwide. Resources:  Arthur Rank Centre

7 January – Christmas (Orthodox)

14 Jan 2024 – Peace Sunday
Theme: ‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’ Materials: Pax Christi

15 to 19 Jan 2024 – World Economic Forum Annual Meeting: ‘Rebuilding Trust’

Official Website Often a time when campaigners focus on economic inequality.

15 to 21 January 2024 – Energy Savers  Week

A time to take energy saving actions and to pray for people experiencing fuel poverty. Info: Citizens Advice Bureau

18 to 25 January – Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

Theme: ‘Go and do likewise’ (local theme) ‘You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbor as yourself’ (intl theme). Materials from CTBI (local version), World Council of Churches (intl version)

24 January – International Day of Education
Theme: ‘Learning for lasting peace’. Info: UNESCO

25 January – Conversion of St Paul

Some churches remember Paul’s conversion on this day. It’s an opportunity to pray for God to turn the hearts of persecutors … and to pray for Syria & the Syrian church.

26 January – International Day of Clean Energy

Info: UN. Focus is on enabling people everywhere to access clean energy. Good day to pray/campaign for adequate climate finance to help poorer countries make a just transition.

26 to 28 January – RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

Join hundreds of thousands of people doing a survey to show how garden birds are faring. Info: RSPB

27 January — Holocaust Memorial Day
Theme: ‘Fragility of Freedom’ Materials: Holocaust Memorial Trust

28 Jan 2024 — World Leprosy Day

Theme: ‘Beat Leprosy’ Materials from Leprosy Mission, Internat’l Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations

30 January – World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

Info: WHO  Neglected tropical diseases affect more than 1 billion people, primarily women and children living in poverty. Pray for progress in tackling them.

 

FEBRUARY

1 February – Pray and Fast for the Climate

>2 February – World Wetlands Day

Theme: ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ Info: World Wetlands Day

1 to 28 February – Show the Love Campaign

Find out more about this year’s  Show the  Love campaign, calling on politicians to take climate action. Info: Climate Coalition.

4 February 2024- BMS Day of Prayer

Materials from BMS World Mission

6 February – International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
Info: UN, FGMC Research Initiative, Orchid Project

8 February – Day of Prayer for Victims of Trafficking/St Josephine Bakhita Day
Materials from Australian Justice and Peace Office. See also 23 August.

11 Feb 2024 – Racial Justice Sunday
Theme: ‘Exodus’. Information: CTBI’s Racial Justice Sunday 2024 page. Comes at the end of 5 to 11 February 2024 – Race Equality Week. Info: Race Equality Week

11 Feb 2024 – Church Action on Poverty Sunday

Theme: ‘Dreamers who do’. Materials : Church Action on Poverty  Includes a Lent programme which helps churches engage with issues of economic justice.

11 February – Day for the Unemployed

Pray especially for young people who are unable to find work. In some countries, youth unemployment can be as high as 75%.

12 February – Red Hand Day Campaign
A time to pray for an end to use of child soldiers. Materials: UNICEF, UN (Special Representative: Children and Armed Conflict)

14 February 2024: Ash Wednesday

During Lent might you try a new rhythm of prayer? Read a Lent book? Work towards being plastic-less or meat-free? Establish new patterns of giving to charity?

20 February – World Day of Social Justice
Info from the UN; opportunity for prayer and action on a range of social justice issues. Suggestions: Joint Public Issues Team, National Justice and Peace Network.

23 Feb 2024 — CAFOD Lent Fast Day

Materials: CAFOD

 

MARCH

1 March 2024 – World Day of Prayer

Theme: ‘I beg you, bear with one another in love’ (prepared by women of Palestine) Materials: WDP

3 March – World Wildlife Day

Info: UN  [supplement]

8-17 March 2024- British Science Week
Pray for scientists and engineers, especially those whose work relates to complex ethical issues. Information: Website

8 March – International Women’s Day

11 to 24 March 2024 – UN Commission on the Status of Women
Information: Website

10 March 2024 – Mothering Sunday

Resources from Mothers’ Union,  Christian Aid,

21 March – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Info: UN, see resources for Racial Justice Sunday

21 March – International Day of Forests

Celebrate forests and trees: could you join in tree planting? Hold an outdoor service? Theme: ‘Healthy Forests for Healthy People’  Info: FAO

23 March 2024 – Earth Hour

Annual moment of witness, focusing attention on the need to protect nature. Info from Earth Hour

24 March – World TB Day

Theme: ‘The clock is ticking’. Materials: Stop TB Partnership, WHO

25 March – International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
Theme to be determined. Info: UN (See also August 23rd)

29 March 2024 – Good Friday

As you remember the sufferings of our Lord, can you pray for those persecuted for their faith in Him? Resources: CSW, Open Doors, Aid to the Church in Need

30 March – International Day of Zero Waste

31 March 2024 – Easter

 

APRIL

2 April – World Autism Awareness Day
Info: UN

7 April – World Health Day

Theme and materials will be available from WHO. Chance to raise issues of access to healthcare.

22 April – Earth Day

Theme: ‘Planet versus Plastics’. Info: Earth Day website

24 April – Fashion Revolution Day

On anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster, a campaign for fairness in fashion, with a key question: ‘Who made your clothes?’

24 to 30 April 2024 – World Immunization Week

Info: WHO. A time to pray and act for more people to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. Background info: GAVI, Article on Malaria Vaccines.

25 April – World Malaria Day

Malaria still kills an estimated 600,000 people a year: pray and act for more rapid action to beat it. Info will be available from WHO. General information from the Global Fund and Malaria No More. See also above.

 

MAY

1 -31 May – No Mow May

Can you let your churchyard or garden grow, helping wild plants, fungi, pollinators, and local wildlife thrive? Info: Plantlife

5 May 2024 – Easter (Orthodox)

5 May – Internat’l Day of the Midwife

Info from International Confederation of Midwives. Opportunity to pray, give, and campaign on maternal and child health.

6 to 12 May 2024 – National Hedgerow Week

Hedgerows are vital for biodiversity. Can you help local hedgerows flourish? Info for national campaign: The Tree Council. For local volunteer opportunities, look at BBOWT and  OCV.

9 to 19 May 2024 – Thy Kingdom Come

Global and ecumenical prayer movement. Info: Thy Kingdom Come

11 May 2024– World Fair Trade Day

Worldwide celebration of Fair Trade principles and organisations. Information will be available from the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) and CCOW.

12 to 18 May 2024 — Christian Aid Week

Resources will be on Christian Aid Week website.

16 May – World Debt Day

Day to pray about unfair/unsustainable debt and to campaign for debt relief. Info: Debt Justice. Worship resources on debt

12 May 2024 – World Communications Day
Theme: ‘Artificial Intelligence and wisdom of the heart: for a fully human communication’ Info from the Vatican

19 May 2024 – Pentecost

20 May – World Bee Day

Info: UN. Activity suggestions: Friends of the Earth UK.

22 May – Internat’l Day for Biological Diversity

Theme: ‘From agreement to action: build back biodiversity’ Info from the UN. Materials for churches: CCOW, A Rocha, Green Christian

25 May to 2 June – National Children’s Gardening Week

Info: NCGW website

31 May – World No Tobacco Day

Info: WHO

 

JUNE

1 to 2 June 2024 – Viva Network World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk
Theme: ‘Light of the World’ Info: Viva Network website

2 June 2024 – Environment Sunday
(Sunday closest to World Environment Day, 5 June)

Links to worship materials

8 June – World Oceans Day

Info: World Oceans Day website

8 to 16 June – Great Big Green Week

Celebration of community action to protect nature and fight climate change. Info: Great Big Green Week

8 to 16 June – Churches Count on Nature

A specific ‘green’ project for churches. Celebrate your church’s green spaces and discover and record the wildlife in them. Materials: Caring for God’s Acre

9 June 2024 – Tax Justice Sunday

Materials: Church Action for Tax Justice

10 to 16 June 2024 – Bike Week

Info: Cycling UK

12 June – World Day against Child Labour

Materials will be available from: International Labour Organization

17 to 23 June 2024 — Refugee Week (incorporates 20 June, World Refugee Day)

Theme: ‘Our Home’ Info and materials: Refugee Week

22 June – World Rainforest Day

Info: World Rainforest Day

23 June 2024 – Sanctuary Sunday

23 June – International Widows Day
Widowhood in many countries brings vulnerability and loss of rights. Info from UN

26 June – International Day of Support for Victims of Torture

Prayer and action: Action by Christians against Torture, Freedom from Torture.

 

JULY

1-31 July – Plastic-Free July

Info: Plastic-free July

14 July 2024 – Sea Sunday
Materials from: Apostleship of the Sea, Mission to Seafarers, Sailors’ Society.

27 July to 11 August 2024 – National Maritime Week

Info: Wildlife Trusts

 

AUGUST

6 August – Hiroshima Day
Materials: Methodist Church

9 August – International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Info: UN, Indigenous Climate Action  Prayer materials: Anglican Church of Canada Indigenous Ministries, Christian Reformed Church Indigenous Ministry, Final Document of the Synod on the Amazon

12 August – International Youth Day
Info: UN. Could youth in your church lead prayers for young people worldwide?

19 August – World Humanitarian Day
Pray for humanitarian workers’ efforts worldwide. Info from UN. Prayer resources: CCOW

23 August – International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
Materials on modern slavery from Stop the Traffik;  The Clewer Initiative

23 to 27 August 2024 – World Water Week

Theme: ‘Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future’  Info: World Water Week website, Church materials: Water Aid. Pray for water conservation and safe access to clean water for all; raise funds for water access.

29 August – International Day against Nuclear Tests
Info: Global Dimension

30 Aug – International Day of the Disappeared
Materials from the UN, Amnesty, Human Rights Watch

 

SEPTEMBER

1 September to 4 October – Season of Creation/Time for Creation

(Includes Day of Prayer for Creation on 1 Sept and opportunity to pray & fast on 1 Sept/4 Oct) Materials available from Season of Creation; CTBI; Catholic Bishops Conference (E and W), Church of England; Climate Sunday; CCOW

1 – 30 Sept – Organic Month

Time to consider organic farming and questions around sustainable food. See also British Food Fortnight below.

2 to 6 September 2024 – Zero Waste Week

Info: Zero Waste Week

8 Sept 2024 – Education Sunday (also World Literacy Day, 8 September)
Pray for education locally and worldwide. Materials from Churches Together in England.

9 to 22 September 2024 – Fairtrade Fortnight

Now located in Harvest season!  Info: Fairtrade Foundation. Church-focused materials: CCOW

22 Sept 2024 — Peacemaking Sunday
(Closest to UN’s Internat’l Day of Peace: for general peacemaking, see materials from CHIPS, Catholic Social Teaching, UK Quakers, QUNO, and Mennonite Peace and Justice Support Network). Peacemaking Sunday materials: Joint Public Issues Team,  Fellowship of Reconciliation.

22 September – World Car Free Day

A chance to hold a ‘Walk to Church Sunday’?

 

OCTOBER

1 October – International Day of Older Persons
Info: UN, Help Age International

4 October 2024 – CAFOD Harvest Fast Day

>4 October – Feast of St Francis, Pray and Fast for the Climate, End of Season of Creation/Time for Creation

See 1 September. You might want to look at CCOW’s Canticle of Creation powerpoint

7 October – World Day for Decent Work

Organised by the International TUC. Information

13 to 19 Oct 2024 – Prisons Week
Materials from Prisons Week; see also Prison Fellowship International

16 October – World Food Day (part of Churches’ Week of Action on Food)
Materials: World Council of Churches

17 October – Internat’l Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Info: UN. Pray and act in conjunction with anti- poverty groups locally and globally.

23 to 29 October 2024 – One World Week (incorporates 24 October, UN Day)
One World Week closed in September 2023, but the resources are still available on the One World Week website

20 October 2024 – World Mission Sunday(Roman Catholic Church)

Info/materials from Missio

27 October 2024 – Bible Sunday (Roman Catholic Church celebrates in December)

Materials: Bible Society

 

NOVEMBER

3 November 2024 – International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP)

Info: CSW

10 Nov 2024 – Remembrance Sunday
Resources from CTBI; links from CCOW, Pax Christi

18-24 November 2024 – World Anti-Microbial Resistance Week

Info: WHO. Pray and act for care in the use of antibiotics.

22 November 2024 – Buy Nothing Day
Take a break from shopping – save money and reduce consumption. Info: Buy Nothing Day

24 November 2024 – World Youth Day (Roman Catholic)

Theme: “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary,”

24 November 2024 – Women against Violence Sunday
Materials: Methodist Church

25 November – 10 December – Sixteen Days of Activism against Gender Violence
Info/materials from Anglican Communion, CABSA, CCOW, Methodist Church, Mothers’ Union, Restored.

 

DECEMBER

1 December 2024 – Advent Sunday

1 December – World AIDS Day

Worship materials, resources and links: CABSA.

3 December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Info: WHO. See also Belonging: Ten Ways to Belong, Diocese of Oxford Disability and Church page.

3 December 2024 – World Day of Migrants and Refugees (Roman Catholic)

Info: Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales

5 December – World Soil Day

Info: UN

9 December – International Anti-Corruption Day

Info from UN. Also a good time to pray for Publish What You Pay and other organisations fighting corruption

10 December – Human Rights Day
Info from UN, Human Rights Watch, Forum18 (Freedom of Religion)

18 December – International Migrants Day

Info: UN. See also materials for 3 December and Migration Observatory.

25 December – Christmas

25 December to 5 January – 12 Days Wild

A festive nature challenge! Do small acts each day to connect with nature. Info: BBOWT

26 December – St Stephen’s Day

Many churches remember St Stephen, the first martyr. An opportunity to pray for those who suffer for their faith in Christ. Resources: CSW, Open Doors, Aid to the Church in Need

28 December – Holy Innocents

A day to pray for children who are victims of persecution, oppression and conflict.

 

 

CCOW Guide to Advent Resources

Are you looking for a different kind of “Advent Calendar” – one that will help you each day to look forward to Christ’s coming and to pray for the world He loves? For daily reflections? Material to help prepare Sunday services? Find a wealth of suggestions in the CCOW Guide to Advent Resources, newly revised for Advent 2018. Download it here.

 

Praying for the DRC and South Sudan

This page was originally created when Pope Francis called all Christians and people of good will to pray and fast for peace for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for South Sudan on Friday, 23rd February. His call was welcomed by the Anglican Communion and others. To help people participate, we collected some prayer resources, which you can download below.

These prayer resources are, on the whole, not specific to the Day of Prayer but can help us to pray for peace in these countries in an ongoing way. Please do use them at any time which is appropriate for you and your church.

 

Image: South Sudan, UN Photo/JC McIlwaine, 23 August 2014, Bentiu, South Sudan under Creative Commons License.

Action to End Violence against Women and Girls

CCOW has brought together materials for prayer, study and action to end violence against women and girls. This builds on our older resources for the 16 Days of Action against Gender-Based Violence.

Download it here.

Online Worship Materials: Refugees & Migration

There is a wealth of material available for churches wanting to pray for and with refugees. This guide points towards a selection of the services, prayers, Bible studies, videos, and theological reflections that are readily available online. Download it here.

Praying in Times of Extreme Weather

Praying in Times of Extreme Weather is a  gathering of prayer points and links to online prayer material for use before, during or after an extreme weather event. It includes materials that can be used by those directly affected and/or by those praying for them. Download it here.

CCOW Guide to Harvest Resources 2014

Looking for a full Harvest service? Sermon notes? Prayers and prayerpoints? Children’s activities? Our Guide to Harvest Resources offers links to a rich array of resources produced by individuals, agencies and groups around the world. Download it here