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In Africa, “resilience of God’s people amidst adversity continues to amaze us”

During a regional consultation on 27 April focused on how churches in Africa are living out their commitment to a Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace in the context of COVID-19, World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator, Dr Agnes Abuom, reflected that Africa is experiencing a number of socio-economic and spiritual challenges and opportunities.

27 April 2021

Prayer

O Christ, our God, author of life and giver of peace, guide us so that we may walk in your ways of righteousness, and we may arrive at the heaven of life and salvation in peace, through your mercy. For you are our helper and our deliverer and to you is fitting glory, dominion and honour, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Morning Prayer for Monday, 26 April 2021

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

26 April 2021

Prayer

God, In faith and hope, we come to You and confess our weakness and vulnerability. At this time of our fragility, fear, and death, we come to You. Make us well, and we will be well, Be our Saviour and we will be safe, For us, You are our hope. We believe that You are our strength; You are our shield; In our helplessness, we trust that You are our refuge. In our vulnerability, You are our shelter. In the midst of darkness, You give us light and rays of hope...

A prayer from the Christian Conference of Asia

By CCA general secretary Mathews George Chunakara

21 April 2021

Prayer

O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, present in all places and filling all things; treasury of good things and giver of life, come and dwell in us and purify us from every stain, and of your goodness save our souls.

Morning Prayer for Monday, 19 April 2021

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of Belarus, Moldova, Russia and Ukraine.

19 April 2021

Prayer

Loving and embracing God, Through your son Jesus, you renew all things and offer abundant life. In these challenging times, we have been reminded that your grace has been sufficient for us. You challenge us to look beyond our own difficulties to those whose needs are greater than ours, whose cries for justice are louder than ours. Creator God, All of creation is groaning. There is fear, disconnect and anguish, as profit, as greed drives us only to address the symptoms...

A prayer from the Pacific Conference of Churches

By the PCC general secretary James Bhagwan

14 April 2021

Prayer

O, Lord, who give unto each nation its place and time and mission: grant us the gift of unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, that the ancient church, and all Christians of this land, each loyal to their confession, culture and nationality, may discover new forms of common Christian witness, and stand before the divided world as a united and humble fellowship. O Lord, who commanded your disciples to pray both for their neighbours and their enemies: give us such love for one another, that with one voice

Morning Prayer for Monday, 12 April 2021

This week in the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we pray with the people and churches of

Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania.

Prayers were prepared in cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation.

12 April 2021

Prayer

God of all people and all nations hear us as we pray. We hear the news that more than 2.6 million* people have died from this terrible pandemic, more than 500,000 in our nation alone, and we confess to becoming numb to the sorrow and pain. Help us to remember that these are not mere statistics on a chart or a graph. Remind us that each one was a human being with a family and friends, each is one of your beloved children. Do not allow us to move to quickly from our grief and become reckless in our desire to

A prayer from the National Council of Churches USA

By the NCC USA general secretary Jim Winkler

07 April 2021

Prayer

O God, you wipe away all tears from our faces. You have swallowed up death. Awaken and strengthen within us that hope into which you have called us: nothing will separate us from your love. Let us be glad and rejoice! We ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Morning Prayer for Tuesday, 6 April 2021

This week, with the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle, we pray for the churches and people of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Prayers were prepared in cooperation with the Lutheran World Federation.

06 April 2021

Prayer

Ever-faithful and compassionate God, “Emmanuel”, we thank you for accompanying us in this time of anguish. As we come into the light of your Presence, we open ourselves to the healing power of your Spirit, laying bare our brokenness, our anxieties, and our pain. In particular, we open to you the pain of separation and loss – especially the loss of loved ones to death’s deep shadow. Gracious God, we thank you that – despite its darkness – this moment has shed light on our common humanity. We pray that this s

A prayer from the Caribbean Conference of Churches

By the CCC general secretary Gerard A.J. Granado

31 March 2021

Prayer

Almighty God, you are the way, the truth and the life. You know how few people walk with you in these times. There are few who emulate you, their head, in humility and silence, in poverty and purity, in diligence and patience. The path of Satan is open, and many are walking along it. Minister to your small flock, so that they do not become discouraged, but follow you along the narrow path until the end.

Morning Prayer for Monday, 29 March 2021

With the Ecumenical Prayer Cycle we pray for the churches and people of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

29 March 2021

News

Collage of poster with Coronavirus restrictions and people praying in a church

Let us pray together in the time of COVID-19

We pray in lament. We pray for our communities. We pray for our leaders. For protection. For healing.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) will convene a global online prayer service on 26 March at 2 pm (CET) as part of “A Week of Prayer in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic.”

25 March 2021

Prayer

God of life, you promised your people abundant life. And this is what we seek and long for. At the same time, you tell us that in this world we will have tribulation. Still, you call us to have courage, for you have overcome the world. As the world finds itself in a time of a terrible pandemic, many families having to bury their loved ones and sustain pain and hopelessness, we ask you to grant us courage and wisdom so that we trust in your promise to overcome whatever faces us. Stand with us as we try to...

A prayer from the All Africa Conference of Churches

By the AACC general secretary Rev. Dr Fidon Mwombeki

24 March 2021

News

Prayers of lamentation begin Week of Prayer in the Time of COVID-19

The World Council of Churches (WCC) began its Week of Prayer in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic on 22 March, with prayers and reflections of lamentation.

23 March 2021

Blog post

The COVID-19 pandemic and community life: reflections and challenges

The Greek word Koinonia, which Paul especially uses in the New Testament, translates as community, communion, union, fellowship, participation, among other meanings. The term "solidarity" expresses the meaning of Koinonia. The community based on solidarity seeks peace, justice, well-being, the Shalom of the people. The word "coexistence" can also be equivalent of Koinonia, because it means to live in unity for several generations under the same roof or house. The "coexistence" leads us to take care of the integrity of creation, to recognize that we are not the only inhabitants of this house.

23 March 2021

Dianet de la C. Martínez Valdés

News

a woman wearing a face shield sells vegetables in a public market in Brazil

WCC participates in dialogue on COVID-19 vaccines with WHO director general

World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca participated in a virtual “High-Level Dialogue on Multi-religious Response to COVID-19 Vaccine” on 19 March with Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as leaders from other religious groups.

19 March 2021

News

Churches, civil groups amplify calls to stop human rights abuses in Philippines

As a report on human rights abuses in the Philippines was delivered to the UN by the global group Investigate PH, churches and human rights groups reiterated their concerns over propagation of a culture that allows the abuse to happen.

18 March 2021

Publication

Voices of Lament, Hope, and Courage

A Week of Prayer in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic

To commemorate a year since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the spread of COVID-19 a pandemic, the World Council of Churches provides this resource for a week of prayer.

This book was designed as a resource for use in prayer groups, congregational services, personal prayer, and in the pastoral accompaniment of those directly affected in different ways by the pandemic. The prayers, messages, reflections, statistics and WCC resources have roots in faith challenged by mourning, fear and uncertainty in different contexts worldwide.

18 March 2021

Prayer

Week of Prayer over COVID-19, Day 6: Prayers of Hope

We celebrate the signs of hope as people are being helped, particularly children and the vulnerable.

17 March 2021

Prayer

Week of Prayer over COVID-19, Day 5: Prayers for Protection

With more than 312 million doses of vaccine having been administered by 9 March 2021, we pray for an equitable distribution of vaccines, especially in low-income countries, so that people everywhere will be protected.

17 March 2021

Prayer

Week of Prayer over COVID-19, Day 1: Prayers of Lament

We lament the more than 2 million people who have died and the deadly impact of the pandemic on the vulnerable, especially children.

17 March 2021