Ecumenical special days
Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity - 18-25 January
For more information, see the resources page on the CTBI website. The theme for 2018 is That All May Be Free.
Holocaust Memorial Day - 27 January
For more information and resources see www.hmd.org.uk
Homeless Sunday - 28 January 2018
Free worship resources (including preaching notes) are available from the Housing Justice website.
Racial Justice Sunday - 11 February 2018
For more information and resources see https://ctbi.org.uk/racial-justice-sunday-2018/
Student Sunday - 17 February 2019
For more information and resources see www.movement.org.uk/resources/student-sunday
Mothering Sunday - 11 March 2018
Worship material for Mothering Sunday available are available at www.singingthefaithplus.org.uk/?p=5522
Christian Aid Week - 13-19 May 2018
For more information, see www.caweek.org/christian-aid-week/index.html or contact Christian Aid, 35-41 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7SA. Tel: 020 7620 4444
Sea Sunday - 8 July 2018
An opportunity to remember and pray for those who work at sea, and the people who support them. Resources are available from the Mission to Seafarers at www.seasundayhero.org. If this date is not convenient (e.g. because of the clash with Action for Children Sunday), you can use the worship materials at any other convenient time.
The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation - 1 September 2018
In a Report to the Methodist Conference 2016, "the people called Methodists are encouraged to join with their sisters and brothers in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in observing the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on 1 September. Prayer and worship resources are produced annually by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and are commended for wider use. Churches, Circuits and Districts are also challenged to think again about taking practical steps to express their care for God's creation [...]."
Resources for Creation Time can be found on the following pages:
https://ctbi.org.uk/category/spirituality-and-reflection/creation-time/
www.oikoumene.org/en/what-we-do/climate-change/time-for-creation
The World Council of Churches also has got a collection of 34 short videos on the subject, which can be accessed via YouTube.
Education Sunday - 9 September 2018
Material for Education Sunday is produced ecumenically and can now be found on the Churches Together in England website.
Peace Sunday
For many years, the United Nations has encouraged the observance of 20 September as the International Day of Peace. The World Council of Churches calls on Churches to make this a day of prayer for peace, and to include prayers for peace in their services on the Sunday before or after 20 September. Resources are available at www.for.org.uk/peacesunday
Freedom Sunday - the Sunday closest to EU Anti-Trafficking Day - 18 October
We invite you to observe Freedom Sunday as we continue our journey to Combat Slavery - Human Trafficking as churches and communities. Representatives from different Churches and Organisations including Churches Together in England and across the world have put together resources for worship and action. See https://freedomsundayglobal.org/
One World Week - 21-28 October 2018
For more information, see www.oneworldweek.org/v2 or contact PO Box 2555, Reading RG1 4XW. Tel: 0118 939 4933; email: enquiries@oneworldweek.org
Back to Church Sunday - usually last Sunday in September is now part of a wider Season of Invitation http://seasonofinvitation.co.uk/about/back-to-church-sunday/
Bible Sunday - 28 October 2018
www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/bible-sunday
Email: info@biblesociety.org.uk, Bible Society, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7DG. Tel: Janet Fuller on 01793 418100
Remembrance Sunday - 11 November 2018
An Order of Service for Remembrance Sunday published by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.
More resources for commemorating the 100th anniversary of WW1 are available on the Methodist website: Remembering World War One
World Aids Day - 1 December
This is traditionally celebrated on 1 December each year. The weekend either side of this date offers an opportunity for churches to hold an AIDS themed service. See www.worldaidsday.org.
International Day of Prayer of the Persecuted Church - 19 December, or a day to suit your church
Open Doors, Release International and Christian Solidarity Worldwide are working in countries where Christians are restricted in meeting together to worship or stopped from sharing their faith openly. The war in Syria has increased the pressure on Christians in that country and across the region, while in many other parts of the world Christians risk their life to practice their faith.
Prayer resources are available from Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Release International.