Topical
COVID 19 prayers and resources (new prayers by Ann Siddall Sept 2020)
A liturgy at the time of dying (for those who are isolated from the dying) NEW
#BlackLivesMatter – resources (new: A Prayer for Breonna Taylor)
Sunday Prayers by Nadia Bolz-Weber
ELECTIONS
A prayer in the shadow of a pandemic and the barrage of bad news by Nadia Bolz-Weber
NEW music – Songs of Hope, Faith and Love (Australian) with lyrics, chords and recordings
Lectionary and prayer resources and special days/weeks – Oct/Nov 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle: The Caribbean (18 – 24 Oct)
International Pronouns Day, 21 October 2020 (3rd Wednesday in October)
October 22: anniversary of the National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in Australia. A 2019 Liturgy of Acknowledgement and Lament downloadable liturgy here and a 2018 resource here.
New pre-recorded liturgy for 2020 will be posted here.
COCU63A, 25th October 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle: Canada, USA (25 – 31 Oct)
Reformation Day, 31st October (Reformers of the Church)
(All Saints Day 62A Nov 1) faithful servants
COCU64A, 1 Nov 2020
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP), 1 Nov 2020
UCA Calendar: Soren Kierkegaard Christian thinker (Nov 4)
Remembrance Day, Nov 11th
COCU65A, 8th November
COCU66A, 15th November 2020
(also World Toilet Day)
(UN World Children’s Day Nov 20)
International Transgender Day of Remembrance (ITDR) Nov 20
Pilgrim Uniting Church online Facebook and Youtube
New resource: Church Anew blog
….spiritual reflections, imaginative biblical commentary, and thoughtful ideas for innovation (including Diana Butler Bass, Walter Brueggemann).
Starters for great resources
Lectionary Liturgies (Thom Shuman) with HC each week
Sacredise
Textweek
Singing from the Lectionary
Church of Scotland Weekly Worship
Re-worship
Together to Celebrate
Pray the Story
UCC Worship Ways
Citation index (Vanderbilt Library) in canonical order
UCA Calendar of commemorations
Ecumenical prayer cycle (World Council of Churches)
2020 NCCA Ecumenical Prayer Cycle with lectionary readings
Components of worship – general
Acknowledgement of Land
Gathering
Prayer of thanksgiving
Prayer of confession/prayers of who we are/Words of Assurance
Prayer for Illumination
Readings (see specific weeks)
Prayers for others
Lord’s Prayer
Prayer of Dedication
Benediction and sending out
(Communion)
(Communion Hymns)
NOVEMBER
16 Margaret of Scotland faithful servant
17 Hilda of Whitby faithful servant
19 Mechtild of Magdeburg person of prayer
20 John Williams & Thomas Baker Christian pioneers
22 Clive Staples (C.S.) Lewis Christian thinker and apologist
24 John Knox reformer of the Church
25 Isaac Watts, G. F. Handel & J. S. Bach faithful servants
26 Sojourner Truth renewer of society
29 Dorothy Day faithful servant
30 Andrew apostle
DECEMBER
1 Charles de Foucauld person of prayer
4 Nicholas Ferrar person of prayer
6 Nicholas of Myra faithful servant
8 Richard Baxter faithful servant
9 Karl Barth Christian thinker
10 Thomas Merton (1915-1968) person of prayer
14 John Geddie & John Paton Christian pioneers
26 Stephen martyr
27 John witness to Jesus
28 The Innocents martyrs
31 Josephine Butler renewer of society
YEAR A
UCA Calendar: John Knox (Nov 24), reformer of the Church
COCU67A, Reign of Christ, 26th November 2017
(Also Reign of Christ Year B and Year C)
WCC Prayer Cycle (8th-14th Dec) Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
UN Human Rights Day, 10 December 2019
Year B
Advent general resources
Advent and Christmas Music
Summer season (southern hemisphere)/
winter season (northern hemisphere)
World AIDS Day, December 1st
National Grieving Day, December 2nd annually
COCU1B, Advent 1B, 3rd December 2017
(Also UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities – IDPD, Dec 3rd)
COCU2B, Advent 2B, 10th December 2017
(also UN Human Rights Day, Dec 10)
COCU3B, Advent 3B, 17th December 2017
COCU4B, Advent 4B, 24th December 2017
(also Christmas Eve – Year A, Year B, Year C)
Blue Christmas
COCU5B, Christmas Day, 25th December 2017
(Christmas Day music)
COCU6B, Christmas 1B, 31st December 2017 (Christmas 1A)
(New Years Day, 1st January 2018)
COCU9B, Epiphany 1B, 7th January 2018
COCU10B, Epiphany 2B, 14th January
Martin Luther King Jr Day (USA)
COCU11B, Epiphany 3B, 21st January 2018
26th January: Australia Day/Survival Day
COCU12B, Epiphany 4B, 28th January 2018
COCU13B, Epiphany 5B, 4th February 2018
COCU14B, Transfiguration, 11th February 2018
(Transfiguration Sunday Year A and Year C)
COCU18B, Ash Wednesday, 14th February 2018
COCU19B, Lent 1B, 18th February 2018
COCU20B, Lent 2B, 25th February 2018
Autumn season (southern hemisphere)
COCU21B, Lent 3B, 4th March 2018
COCU22B, Lent 4B, 11th March 2018
COCU23B, Lent 5B, 18th March 2018
World Down Syndrome day, 21 March (link here)
World Water Day, 22 March
Earth Hour, Saturday 24th March, 8.30pm
COCU24B, Lent 6B/Palm Sunday – see also Year A and Year C/
Passion Sunday, 25th March 2018
COCU25B, Holy Week Monday, 26th March 2018
COCU26B, Holy Week Tuesday, 27th March 2018
COCU27B, Holy Week Wednesday, 28th March 2018
COCU28B, Holy Week Thursday/Maundy Thursday, 29th March 2018 (Year A link here)
(* FREE Maundy Thursday Agape Liturgy. This booklet has been produced by St Andrews Episcopal Church Seattle WA and has been made available with the kind permission of Cherry Hairston as a free download in the Godspace store)
COCU29B, Good Friday, 30th March 2018 (Year A link here)
COCU30B, Holy Saturday, 31st March 2018 (Year A link here)
COCU31B, Easter Sunday, 1st April 2018 (Year A link here, Year C link here)
(‘April Fools Day’)
COCU32B, Easter 2B, 8th April 2018
COCU33B, Easter 3B, 15th April 2018
COCU34B, Easter 4B, 22nd April 2018
ANZAC Day, 25th April
International Workers Memorial Day, 28th April
COCU35B, Easter 5B, 29th April 2018
COCU36B, Easter 6B, 6th May 2018
COCU38B, Easter 7B, 13th May 2018
Mothers Day
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (13-20 May 2018)
(southern hemisphere)
COCU39B, Day of Pentecost, 20th May 2018
COCU40B, Trinity Sunday B, 27th May 2018
Reconciliation Sunday, 27th May 2018
Winter season (southern hemisphere)
COCU41B, Pentecost 2B, 3rd June 2018
World Environment Day, 5th June 2018
COCU42B, Pentecost 3B, 10th June 2018
COCU43B, Pentecost 4B, 17th June 2018
Arbor Day/Tree Day, 20th June 2018
UCA Anniversary, 22nd June 2018
COCU44B, 24th June 2018
COCU45B, 1st July 2018
COCU 46B, 8th July 2018
NAIDOC week, 8-15 July 2018
COCU 47B, 15th July 2018
COCU 48B, 22nd July 2018
National Tree Day, July 29th (Schools day is July 27th)
COCU 49B, 29th July 2018
National DonateLife week Sunday 29 July – Sunday 5 August (Australia)
UN World Day Against Traffiking in Persons, July 30th
COCU 50B, Pentecost 11B, 5th August 2018
(Lay Preachers Sunday, Uniting Church in Australia)
Hiroshima Day, August 6th
Fairtrade Fortnight, 3rd-16th August 2018
National Missing Persons Week, 5-11th August 2018
COCU 51B, Pentecost 12B, 12th August, 2018
Indigenous People’s Day (October 9)
Remembering Charlottsville (August 12th) UCC liturgy
Remembering-Charlottesville-Liturgy
International Day of the world’s Indigenous People – August 9th
(poems for Indigenous People’s Day on Godspace)
COCU 52B, Pentecost 13B, 19th August, 2018
Daffodil Day August 24th (Cancer Council)
COCU 53B, Pentecost 14B, 26th August, 2018
(Migrant and Refugee Sunday)
COCU 54B, 2nd September, 2018
(also Season of Creation – Week 1)
Fathers’ Day (Australia)
COCU 55B, 9th September, 2018
(Season of Creation – Week 2)
Child Protection Week (first week in September)
September 10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
September 11
September 13 – R U OK? Day
(Some resources and prayers on the Mental Health page on this website may be useful)
COCU 56B, 16th September, 2018
(Season of Creation – Week 3)
Spring season– southern hemisphere
Season of Creation
September – Dementia month
A prayer for Hurricane Florence in the US (and super typhoon in the Philippines)
World Week of Peace in Palestine and Israel: 16 – 23 September 2018
International Day of Peace, 21st September (each year)
World Alzheimer’s Day – Sept 21 (each year)
COCU 57B, 23rd September, 2018
(Season of Creation – Week 4)
World Week for peace for Palestine Israel – 16-23 September 2018
COCU58B, 30th September, 2018
(Social Justice Sunday)
World Rivers Day – last Sunday in September (each year)
International Day of Older Persons, 1st October (each year)
World Habitat Day, 2nd October (each year)
International Day of Non-Violence 2 October (Gandhi’s birthday)
COCU 59B, Pentecost 20B, 7th October, 2018
World Communion Sunday (first Sunday in October)
Mental Health Week 2018, 7-13 October 2018
International Day of the Girl Child – October 11th
COCU 60B, Pentecost 21B, 14th October, 2018
United Nations’ International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October
(Anti-Poverty Week, 14th to the 20th of October)
Anti-Slavery Day, 14th October (resources by Church of Scotland here)
Wentworth bi-election (Australia) – prayers for elections
COCU 61B, Pentecost 22B, 21st October, 2018
October 22 marks the first anniversary of the historic National Apology to Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in Australia. Uniting Churches across the nation have been invited to mark the anniversary with a Liturgy of Acknowledgement and Lament to be adapted and used on or near 20 October. More information, including downloadable liturgy is here.
COCU 62B, Pentecost 23B, 28th October, 2018
National Grandparents Day Sunday, 28 October 2018 (Australia)
– a day for people to celebrate the role grandparents play in families and communities.
* Queensland celebrate on 1st Sunday in October Facebook, Wikipedia (scroll to Australia)
World Food Week of Action
Nov 1st – All Saints Day
Nov 1st – World Vegan Day
COCU 64B, Pentecost 24B, 4th November, 2018
A prayer for Sulawesi, Indonesia (tsunami)
A prayer for drought relief in rural Australia
Kristallnacht (Nov 9-10)
COCU 65B, Pentecost 25B, 11th November, 2018
(Remembrance Day, 11th November) – centenary of the end of WW1 100 years (2018)
A prayer for Lion air plane crash (Indonesia) 29th October
Prayers in times of natural disasters and tragedies – California fires
COCU 66B, Pentecost 26B, 18th November, 2018
COCU 67B, Reign of Christ Sunday, 25th November, 2018
Year B COCU Index (link is to a NZ resource)
YEAR C
Year C – COCU Index 2018-19
World AIDS Day
COCU1C, Advent 1C, 2nd December 2018
International Day of people with disability, resources, December 3
Grieving Day, December 3
COCU2C, Advent 2C, 9th December 2018
Human Rights Day, 10th December 2018
(70th anniversary of UN Declaration of Human Rights)
COCU3C, Advent 3C, 16th December 2018
COCU4C, Advent 4C, 23rd December 2018
Blue Christmas
COCU 5C, Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
COCU6C, Christmas 1C, 30th December 2018
New Years Eve, 31st December 2018
COCU8C Epiphany of the Lord, 6th January 2019
COCU9C Baptism of Jesus, 13th January 2019
Day of Mourning, 20th January 2019
The Day of Mourning invites all Uniting Church in Australia congregations to hold worship services that reflect on the effect of invasion and colonisation on Australia’s First Peoples and our identity as a nation. It is recommended for the Sunday before Australia Day on 26th January (the Sunday will be 20th January 2019). Also check out #changetheheart
Martin Luther King Jr Day (USA), 21st January
COCU10C, 20th January 2019
COCU11C, 27th January 2019
COCU12C, 3rd February 2019
COCU13C, 10th February 2019
Prayers amid flood and fire (Australia)
11th anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations
(some resources on Australia Day, Day of Mourning, and Reconciliation Sunday may be helpful)
Valentine’s Day, 14th Feb
COCU14C, 17th February 2019
World Social Justice Day, 20th February
COCU15C, 24th February 2019
(Season of autumn – in Australia 1st March – 31st May)
World Day of Prayer 2019, 1 March
COCU17C.Transfiguration, 3rd March 2019
A summit on sexual abuse by Catholic clergy at the end of February. Cardinal George Pell has been convicted of sexual abuse. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has crafted a new hymn, O God when trust is shattered, that gives voice to the prayers of the people: ‘Bring healing, love and mercy! Bring justice, God of truth!’
COCU18C Ash Wednesday, 6th March 2019
International Women’s Day 8 March
Harmony Day 21st March
COCU19C.Lent1C,10th March 2019
St Patrick’s Day, 17 March
COCU20C.Lent2C,17th March 2019
Harmony Day, 21 March (Australia). Harmony Day is intended to celebrate the cohesive and inclusive nature of Australia and promote a tolerant and culturally diverse society. 21 March is also the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since 1999, Australia has celebrated the day as Harmony Day.
Metropolitan Gabriel (on refugees in Greece): ‘The stranger is an opportunity to see God’
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21
World Down Syndrome day, 21 March (link here)
World Water Day, 22 March
COCU21C.Lent3C, 24th March 2019
Fourth Sunday in April – Break the Silence Sunday
Shooting in New Zealand – some prayers resources here may be helpful to include in Sunday’s service
Earth Hour, Saturday 30th March, 8.30pm
COCU22C.Lent4C, 31st March 2019
COCU23C.Lent5C,7thApril 2019
COCU24C.Palm Sunday, 14th April 2019
Palm Sunday March for Refugees (Australia)
Holy Week
COCU25C Holy Monday
COCU26C Holy Tuesday
COCU27C Holy Wednesday
COCU28C Maundy Thursday 18th April 2019
COCU29C.GoodFriday.19thApril2019
COCU30C.HolySaturday.20thApril2019
COCU31C.EasterSunday.21stApril2019
Earth Day, April 22nd
ANZAC Day, April 25th
Break the Silence Sunday, April 28th(fourth Sunday in April)
International Workers Memorial Day, 28th April
COCU32C.Easter2C.28thApril2019
Holocaust Remembrance Day, May 2nd
(first Sunday in May is a day ‘set aside’ for Pluralism Sunday)
COCU33C.Easter3C.5thMay2019
Do it for Dolly Day, 10th May 2019
COCU34C.Easter4C.12thMay2019
Mothers Day
Election
Election issue (Australia): refugees and asylum seekers
Refugees and asylum seekers A hymn for ‘boat people’
Election Issue: Environment (prayers in Seasons of Creation or World Environment Day)
Resources in times of tragedy and natural disasters (including prayers for STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting in Colorado, Mozambique and Cyclone Fani in India), 10th May 2019
Saint Brendan’s Day, 16th May2109 (Celtic Saint)
COCU35C.Easter5C.19thMay2019
Global Day of Prayer to end Famine
COCU36C.Easter6C.26thMay2019
(also Sorry Day, Reconciliation Sunday)
(COCU37C Ascension Day)
UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, 30thJuly (or closest Sunday, which is 28th July)
COCU50C.4thAugust2019
Homelessness Week, 5-11 August 2019
Hiroshima Day, 6th August
(could also use some prayers for peace resources)
August 9th, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People recognition
COCU51C.11thAugust2019
11 August 2019 Prayers for Peace – Korean Peninsula
National Reconciliation Week
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (between Ascension Day and Pentecost)
Winter begins (southern hemisphere)
COCU38C.Easter7C.2ndJune2019
World Environment Day, June 5th
(In 2019 the focus is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ to reduce plastic pollution)
COCU39C.PentecostC.9thJune2019
World Day Against Child Labour, 12th June (An estimated 152 million children across the world trapped in forced labour)
COCU40C.TrinitySundayC.16thJune2019
(COCU41C – COCU43C not used in 2019)
Refugee Week
Arbor Day/Tree Day, 20th June
UCA Anniversary 22nd June
Winter solstice
COCU44C.23rdJune2019
COCU45C.30thJune2019
NAIDOC Week
COCU46C.7thJuly2019
COCU47C.14thJuly2019
COCU48C.21stJuly2019
25th July, Christmas in July
COCU49C.28thJuly2019
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, August 4 2019
COCU52C.18thAugust2019
COCU53C.25thAugust2019
Migrant and Refugee Sunday in the UCA
Wear it Purple Day, 30th August 2010
(last Friday in August each year)
Wear it Purple was founded in 2010 in response to young people taking their own lives as a result of bullying and harassment from the lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity
Season of Creation
National Suicide Prevention Month – September
COCU54C.1stSeptember2019
Also Fathers Day
Spring (starts Sept 1st in southern hemisphere)
September is Dementia Month
COCU55C.8thSeptember2019
9/11 Remembrance
Child Protection Week
COCU56C.15thSeptember2019
World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel, 17-24 Sept
COCU57C.22ndSeptember2019
Freedom Sunday (end human slavery), 22 September 2019
COCU58C.29thSeptember2019
Social Justice Sunday – last Sunday in September
International day of Older Persons – October 1st (annual)
COCU59C.6thOctober2019
(Also World Communion Sunday)
Labour Day – 7th October 2019 (South Australia)
(Yom Kippur– Jewish holy Day, evening of Oct 8 to evening of Oct 9 2019)
International Day of the Girl – October 11
COCU60C.13thOctober 2019
World Food Day October 16th ‘Greening the Blue’
Anti-Poverty Week (13-19 October 2019)
NAPCAN, 19-27 October 2019
The theme for 2019 is Article 24 – ‘Children have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay well.’
(For liturgical resources could check out Child Protection Week)
COCU61C.20thOctober 2019
COCU62C.27thOctober2019
Reformation Day 31st October 2017
National Unity Week, Oct 26 – Nov 2
COCU63C, AllSaints.1stNovember2019
COCU64C.3rd November 2019
International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church – IDOP
(first Sunday in November each year – Nov 3, 2019)
(NAIDOC Week, 7-12 July 2020 – deferred till 8th-15th Nov 2020)
Kristallnacht – Night of Broken Glass, Nov 9
30th anniversary of fall of Berlin Wall, Nov 9
(Wikipedia article here; Monday prayers in Leipzig)
COCU65C.10thNovember2019
Remembrance Day, 11th Nov
World Kindness Day, 13th Nov
COCU66C.17thNovember2019
World Toilet Day, Nov 19
UN World Children’s Day Nov 20
International Transgender Day of Remembrance (ITDR) Nov 20
COCU67C.24thNovember2019 (Reign of Christ)
(Year C concludes, and Year A begins with Advent)
YEAR A
Summer season begins (southern hemisphere) December 1
World AIDS Day, 1st December 2019
COCU1A.1st December 2019
UN International Day of Persons with disabilities (IDPD), Dec 3
COCU2A.8th December 2019
COCU3A.15th December 2019
Advent and Christmas Music
Advent – general resources
Advent – wreath liturgies
COCU4A.22nd December 2019
Blue Christmas
12 Days of Christmas
Christmas Trees and blessing
Christmas
COCU5A Christmas Eve Year A, Year B, Year C
COCU5A Christmas Day Year A Year B Year C
COCU6A Christmas 1, 29th December
WCC Prayer Cycle (29th Dec – 4th Jan) Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine
New Year Prayers and blessings, 1st January 2020 (see also New Year’s Eve)
UCA Calendar, January 2nd, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa & Gregory of Nazianzus (Christian thinkers)
UCA Calendar, January 3rd, Gladys Aylward, Christian Pioneer
COCU7A, January 5th, 2020
COCU8A, January 6th, 2020
Prayers for bushfires (wildfires) in Australia
& also for PuertoRico earthquake, and escalating tension between Iran and U.S. (note also link below to WCC Prayer Cycle for Iran, Iraq and Syria)
South Korea declares state of emergency – ‘unprecedented’ wildfires force thousands to flee.
WCC Prayer Cycle (5th-11th January), Iran, Iraq, Syria
COCU9A, January 12th, 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle (12th – 18th January), Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
UCA Calendar, 13th January, George Fox, renewer of society (founder of Quakers/ Friends)
UCA Calendar, 14th January, Monica Furlong, Christian Thinker
UCA Calendar, 17th January, Antony of Egypt, reformer of the church
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18th – 25th January in northern hemisphere). Theme: ‘They showed us unusual kindness’ (Acts 28.2)
COCU10A, January 19th 2020
Day of Mourning, January 19th 2020 (or January 26th)
The Day of Mourning invites all Uniting Church in Australia congregations to hold worship services that reflect on the effect of invasion and colonisation on Australia’s First Peoples and our identity as a nation. It is recommended for the Sunday before Australia Day on 26th January.
WCC Prayer Cycle (19th-25th January), Cyprus, Greece, Turkey
Martin Luther King Jr Day (USA). This is set for the 3rd Monday in January, closest to his birthday of 15th January. In 2020, this is 20th January.
UCA Calendar, January 21st, Agnes of Rome, martyr
UCA Calendar, January 24th, Timothy and Titus, apostles
COCU11A, January 26th, 2020
Australia Day/Survival Day, January 26th
UCA Calendar, January 27th, Lydia, Dorcas & Phoebe, faithful servants
UCA Calendar, January 27th, John Chrysostom, faithful servant
UCA Calendar, January 28th, Thomas Aquinas, Christian thinker
UCA Calendar, January 29th, Alan Walker, faithful servant
UCA Calendar, January 29th, Andrei Rublev, person of prayer
UCA Calendar, January 30th, Lesslie Newbigin, Christian thinker
WCC Prayer Cycle (26th January – 1st Feb), North Africa: Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
COCU12A, February 2nd, 2020
COCU13A, February 9th, 2020
World Interfaith Harmony Week (Feb 1-7)
WCC Prayer Cycle: Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland (Feb 9-15)
National Apology (Australia), 13th February
Valentine’s Day, 14th February
COCU14A, February 16th, 2020
UN World Day of Social Justice, 20th February
WCC Prayer Cycle: France, Germany, Monaco (Feb 16-22)
Feb 21, International Mother Language Day
Feb 22 1943, Sophie Scholl, German political activist, executed
(Sophie’s final words): “How can we expect righteousness to prevail when there is hardly anyone willing to give himself up individually to a righteous cause…. It is such a splendid sunny day, and I have to go. But how many have to die on the battlefield in these days, how many young, promising lives. What does my death matter if by our acts thousands are warned and alerted”.
COCU15A (Transfiguration) February 23rd, 2020
COCU 18A, Ash Wednesday, 26th February 2020
(Also, Ash Wednesday Year C)
WCC Prayer Cycle: Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands (Feb 23-29)
COCU19A, Lent 1, 1 March 2020
(Season of autumn – in Australia 1st March – 31st May)
(Season of spring – northern hemisphere)
WCC Prayer Cycle: Ireland, UK (Northern Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland) (March 1-7)
World Day of Prayer, March 6, 2020
COCU20A, Lent 2, 8 March 2020
International Women’s Day, 8 March 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle (8-14 March 2020) (Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden)
COCU21A, Lent 3, 15 March 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle (15-21 March 2020) (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
World Down Syndrome day, 21 March (link here)
Harmony Day, March 21st
UN World Water Day, March 22
COCU22A, Lent 4, 22 March 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle (22-28 March 2020) (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia)
COCU23A, Lent 5, 29 March 2020
Social Connection is the theme for Neighbour Day on 29th March. Australians are being urged to contemplate the importance of belonging and encouraged to think about how they can put their energy into creating positive and meaningful connections with people outside of their regular groups. Neighbours are important because good relationships with others can transform communities. Social connection also makes us feel better as it helps prevent loneliness, isolation and depression. What we know is that cultivating more casual, everyday relationships, with people like your neighbours, local barista, or you hairdresser, often mean something bigger. Sociologist Mark Granovetter calls these relationships “weak ties,” though their effects are anything but weak. These connections can help us feel less lonely and more empathetic, they are trusted sources for services, recommendations, and even jobs. What might you do to extend connections with your neighbours where you live? (Neighbour Day is an initiative of Relationships Australia and is held annually on the last Sunday of March)
WCC Prayer Cycle (29March-4th April) The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia
COCU24A, Palm/Passion Sunday, 5 April 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle (April5-11) Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania
COCU28A, Maundy Thursday, 9 April 2020 (COCU28C)
COCU29A, Good Friday, 10 April 2020 (COCU 29B, COCU29C)
COCU30A, Holy Saturday, 11 April 2020 (see COCU30C)
COCU31A, Easter Day, 12 April 2020 (COCU31B, COCU31C)
WCC Prayer Cycle, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine (April 12-18)
COCU32A, Easter 2A, 19th April 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (April 19-25)
April 21: United Nations World Creativity and Innovation Day
(This day aims to raise awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation in all aspects of our lives. This is especially true during the pandemic when we have collectively found new ways to stay connected!)
Earth Day April 22nd
ANZAC Day, 25 April 2020 (or acknowledged in services on 26th April)
Break the Silence Sunday BTSS (usually 4th Sunday in April, so 26th April 2020, or at any other time that works for your congregation)
Pilgrim Uniting Church BTSS service 2020
COCU33A, Easter 3A, 26th April 2020
International Workers Memorial Day, 28 April 2020
UCA Calendar: Dorothy Soelle (April 28)
World Labyrinth Day, May 2nd
COCU34A, Easter 4A, 3rd May 2020 Pilgrim 9.30am 2020/Pilgrim 11am 2020
(first Sunday in May is also a day ‘set aside’ for Pluralism Sunday)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: India, Pakistan Sri Lanka (3rd-9th May)
COCU35A, Easter 5A, 10th May 2020
Mothers Day (Australia), 10th May 2020
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal (10th-16th May)
International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world on May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth (200 years in 2020). This year the theme is ‘nursing the world to health’.
UCA Calendar: Matthias, Simon, Jude (May 14)
COCU36A, Easter 6A, 17th May 2020
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Indian Ocean Islands – Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles (17th-23rd May)
International Bee Day, 20 May
Global Day of Prayer to end Famine, 21 May 2020
International Tea Day, 21 May 2020
COCU38A, Easter 7A, 24th May 2020
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 24th May – 31st May
Theme: “They showed us unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Angola, Mozambique (24th-30th May)
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Reconciliation Sunday 31st May, 2020
COCU39A, Pentecost, 31st May 2020
(see also Pentecost C, which has lots of prayers and resources)
Reconciliation Week, #inthistogether (27th May-3rd June 2020)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland (31st May – 6th June)
June 1st – start of winter in the southern hemisphere
World Environment Day, 5th June 2020
COCU40A, Trinity Sunday A, 7th June 2020 (see also Year B and Year C)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Botswana, Zimbabwe (7th -13th June)
World Oceans Day, 8th June 2020
COCU43A, Pentecost 2A,14th June 2020
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2020, 15 June
( ‘Virtual‘ Refugee Week, 14th-20th June 2020)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Malawi, Zambia (14th-20th June)
Men’s Health Week, 15th-21st June
COCU44A, 21st June 2020
(UCA Anniversary 22nd June)
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: Kenya, Tanzania (21-27th June)
COCU45A, 28th June 2020
WCC Ecumenical Prayers: South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda (28th June-4 July)
COCU46A, 5th July 2020
Also Winter Solstice (Australia) – July 5th
(NAIDOC Week, 7-12 July 2020 – deferred till 8th-15th Nov 2020)
UCA Calendar: Jan Hus and Peter Waldo (July 7), reformers of the Church
COCU47A, 12th July 2020
WCC prayers: Djibouti, Somalia (12-18 July)
COCU48A, 19th July 2020
One Great Sunday of Sharing, 19th July 2020
A recognition and celebration of the Uniting Church being a multicultural Church for all God’s people.
WCC prayers: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda (19-25 July)
COCU49A 26th July 2020
UCA Calendar: William Wilberforce (July 30), renewer of society
WCC Prayers: Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sao Tome and Principe (26 July-1August)
July 30, International Day of Friendship
COCU50A, 2nd August 2020
National Tree Day Sunday August 2nd 2020
August 2nd is Imbolc (which means Ewe’s Milk) also known as Brigids’ Day in the Southern Hemisphere, an old Gaelic festival – a time of metaphoric rebirth when we see, feel and hear the beginning signs of Spring. Winter is over, Spring cometh. Imbolc is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts and cleaning out the old ready to welcome the new. (North Hemisphere is Lughnasadh)
WCC Prayers: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea (2nd-8th August)
Hiroshima Day August 6th (also Nagasaki August 9th).
75 year anniversary in 2020. Could use some prayers for peace resources.
August 9th, International Day of the World’s Indigenous People recognition
COCU51A 9th August 2020
International Prisoners’ Justice Day, 10th August
WCC Prayers: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger (9th-15th August)
Prayers for Peace – Korean Peninsula – August 15
August 15 is Liberation Day in both South and North Korea. It marks the date in 1945 when Korea gained independence from Japanese colonial oppression. Sadly and ironically, the 15th of August also marks the day Korea divided into two countries.
COCU52A, 16th August 2020
Fairtrade Fortnight, 7th-20th August 2020
WCC Prayers: Liberia, Sierra Leone (16th-22nd August)
UCA Calendar: Helena, mother of Constantine (Aug 18), faithful servant
World Humanitarian Day, August 19th, 2020
COCU53A, 23rd August 2020
(Also Migrant and Refugee Sunday in the UCA)
COCU54A, 30th August 2020
September:
UCA Calendar: John Thomas (September 1) Christian pioneer
Fathers’ Day, September 6th 2020
COCU55A, 6th September 2020
Season of Creation
Spring season – southern hemisphere (Autumn/Fall)
(September is Dementia Month)
(also, National Suicide Prevention Month)
Child Protection Week, 6-12th September: ‘Putting children first’
(see also September 11)
World Week for Peace Palestine Israel 13-21 September
COCU56A, 13th September 2020
COCU57A, 20th September 2020
(also Social Justice Sunday)
UCA Calendar: Matthew, witness to Christ (Sept 21)
UCA Calendar: Lazarus Lamilami, faithful servant (Sept 22)
UCA Calendar: Henri Nouwen, faithful servant (Sept 23)
(also International day of Older Persons)
COCU59A, Penteocost 18A, 8th October 2017
October 11, International Day of the Girl 2017
WCC Prayer Cycle: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru (Sept 20-26)
COCU58A, 27th September 2020
UCA Calendar: James Watson, Christian pioneer (Sept 27)
WCC Prayer Cycle: Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela (27 Sept – 03 Oct)
International Day of Older Persons, 1st October (each year)
World Habitat Day, 2nd October (each year)
International Day of Non-Violence 2 October (Gandhi’s birthday)
UCA Calendar: Clare and Francis of Assisi (Oct 4)
World Communion Sunday, 4th October 2020
COCU59A, 4th October 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama (4 – 10 Oct)
UCA Calendar: Seluvaia Ma’u martyr (Oct 4)
UCA Calendar: William Tyndale (Oct 6)
UCA Calendar: Helen Pearl Mackenzie, medical missionary and educator (Oct 6)
Mental Health Day, October 10
COCU60A, 11th October 2020
Mental Health Week, 10-17 October 2020
October 11, International Day of the Girl
Anti-Poverty Week, 11-17th October 2020
WCC Prayer Cycle: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (11 – 17 October)
UCA Calendar: Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) reformer of the Church (Oct 11)
UCA Calendar: Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) renewer of society (Oct 12)
Anti-Slavery Day, 14th October (resources by Church of Scotland here)
UCA Calendar: Teresa of Avila*& John of the Cross people of prayer (Oct 15)
International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, 15th October
World Food Day, October 16th (background video 2020 here)
COCU61A, 18th October 2020
UCA Calendar: Luke, witness to Jesus (Oct 18)
* A hymn based on a prayer by Teresa of Avila (October 15)
Christ has no body now, but ours;
No hands, no feet on earth, but ours.
Ours are the eyes with which Christ looks
Compassion into all the world.
Ours are the feet with which Christ walks
to serve all those who are in need.
Ours are the hands which Christ can use
To love and touch and bless the world.
Ours are the hands, ours are the feet
Ours are the eyes, for Christ to use.
His body then, we take the road
To love and serve as he has done.
(Source: Ross Mackinnon; tune: Niagara TiS 530)
Components of worship
Acknowledgement of Land
Gathering
Prayer of thanksgiving
Prayer of confession/prayers of who we are
Words of Assurance
Prayer for Illumination
Readings
Prayers for others
Lord’s Prayer
Prayer of Dedication
Benediction and sending out
(Communion)
(Communion Hymns)
(Music)
Dates – https://www.ourcommunity.com.au/calendar?fromDate=29-09-2018#01Oct2018
