Dates for Prayer and Action – 2025

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?

12 Jan 2025 – Plough Sunday

May be celebrated another Sunday in January 7 January – Christmas (Orthodox)

18 to 25 January – Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity

Theme: ‘Do you believe this?’ (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)

19 Jan 2025 – Peace Sunday
Theme: ‘Forgive us our trespasses: grant us your peace’ Materials: Pax Christi

20 to 24 Jan 2025 – World Economic Forum Annual Meeting: ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’

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

20 to 26 January 2024 – Energy Savers  Week: Stay warm, spend less

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

24 January – International Day of Education
Theme: ‘AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation’. Info: UNESCO

24 to 26 January 2025 – RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch

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

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 Jan 2025 — World Leprosy Day

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

27 January — Holocaust Memorial Day
Theme: ‘For a better future’ Materials: Holocaust Memorial Trust

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

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.

2 February – World Wetlands Day

Theme: ‘Protecting wetlands for our common future’ Info: World Wetlands Day

2 February 2025- 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.

9 Feb 2025 – Racial Justice Sunday
Theme: ‘Coat of many colours’. Information: CTBI’s Racial Justice Sunday 2025 page. Comes at the end of 3 to 9 February 2025 – Race Equality Week. Info: Race Equality Week

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.

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.

 

MARCH

2 March 2025 – Church Action on Poverty Sunday

Theme: ‘Dreams and realities’. Materials : Church Action on Poverty

3 March – World Wildlife Day

Info: UN

5 March 2025: 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?

7 March 2025 – World Day of Prayer

Theme: ‘I made you wonderful (prepared by women of the Cook Islands) Materials: WDP

7 to 16 March 2025- 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

10 to 21 March 2025 – UN Commission on the Status of Women
Information: Website

14 March 2025 — CAFOD Lent Fast Day

Materials: CAFOD

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: ‘Forests and food’  Info: FAO

22 March 2025 – 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:”Acknowledge the past. Repair the present. Build a future of dignity and justice.” Info: UN (See also August 23rd)

30 March – International Day of Zero Waste

30 March 2025 – Mothering Sunday

Resources from Mothers’ Union,  Christian Aid,

 

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.

18 April 2025 – 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

20 April 2025 – Easter (Western and Orthodox)

22 April – Earth Day

Theme: ‘Our Power, Our Planet’. 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?’ Info: Fashion Revolution Week Facebook

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, David Wallace Wells’ 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 – Internat’l Day of the Midwife

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

5 to 11 May 2025? – 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.

10 May 2025– 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.

11 to 17 May 2025 — 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

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, Green Christian

24 May to 1 June 2025 – National Children’s Gardening Week

Info: NCGW website

29 May to 8 June 2025 – Thy Kingdom Come

Global and ecumenical prayer movement. Info: Thy Kingdom Come

31 May – World No Tobacco Day

Theme: ‘Unmasking the appeal’  Info: WHO

 

JUNE

1 June 2025 – World Communications Day
Theme: “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts”  Info from the Vatican

5 June – World Environment Day

Links to worship materials

7 to 8 June 2025 – Viva Network World Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk
Info: Viva Network website

7 to 15 June 2025 – Great Big Green Week

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

7 to 15 June 2025 – 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

8 June 2025 – Pentecost

8 June – World Oceans Day

Theme: “One Ocean. One Climate. One Future – Together” Info: World Oceans Day website

8 to 15 June 2025 – Fair Tax Week
Info: Fair Tax Week

16 June 2025? – Tax Justice Sunday

Ordinarily, this would be the first Sunday of Fair Tax Week, but you may want to switch, given that the 8th is Pentecost.
Materials: Church Action for Tax Justice

10 to 16 June 2025? – Bike Week

Info: Cycling UK

12 June – World Day against Child Labour

Materials will be available from: International Labour Organization

16 June – World Refill Day

Info: World Refill Day

16 to 22 June 2025 — Refugee Week (incorporates 20 June, World Refugee Day)

Theme: ‘Community as a superpower’ Info and materials: Refugee Week

22 June – World Rainforest Day

Info: World Rainforest Day

22 June 2025 – 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

5 to 11 July – Net Zero Week

Info: Net Zero Week

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
See also 25 March. Materials on modern slavery from Stop the Traffik;  The Clewer Initiative

24 to 28 August 2025 – World Water Week

Theme: ‘Water for Climate’  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
This year, might you want to watch and discuss ‘I’m still here’?

 

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.

1 to 5 September 2025 – Zero Waste Week

Info: Zero Waste Week

14 September 2025 – Education Sunday (see also World Literacy Day, 8 September)
Pray for education locally and worldwide. Materials from Churches Together in England.

21 September 2025 — Peacemaking Sunday
(This year it falls on the actual UN Internat’l Day of Peace: for general peacemaking, see materials from CHIPS, Catholic Social Teaching, UK Quake, 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’?

22 September to 5 October 2025 – Fairtrade Fortnight

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

 

OCTOBER

1 to 31 October – Black History Month

Theme: “Dig deeper, look closer, dream bigger’. Info: Black History Month

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

3 October 2025 – 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

12 to 18 October 2025 – 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.

19 October 2025 – World Mission Sunday(Roman Catholic Church)

Info/materials from Missio

20 to 26 October 2025 – 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

26 October 2025 – 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

9 November 2025 – Remembrance Sunday
Resources from CTBI; links from CCOW, Pax Christi

18-24 November – World Anti-Microbial Resistance Week

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

23 November 2025 – World Youth Day (Roman Catholic)

Theme: “You also are my witnesses, because you have been with me” Info: USCCB

23 November 2025 – 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.

28 November 2025 – Buy Nothing Day
Take a break from shopping – save money and reduce consumption. Info: Buy Nothing Day

 

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 – 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.