The United Church of Canada Joins Day of Prayer and Fasting on October 17

Published On: October 16, 2023
Responding to the call of the World Council of Churches, The United Church of Canada will join a Day of Prayer and Fasting on October 17 hosted by the Jerusalem Heads of Churches. Prayers are sought for all who have suffered, for grieving families, and for a de-escalation of the war to save innocent lives.

The World Council of Churches’ invitation is to “all member churches, and people of goodwill to unite in prayers for peace, for aid to those suffering, and for those who have lost loved ones.”

In participating in this Global Day of Prayer, The United Church of Canada also invites particular prayers for religious siblings in our own country—Jewish and Muslim—and any who have family in the region, who are grieving, anguished, and afraid.

While prayers are welcomed constantly throughout the day, United Church households and congregations are invited to unite in prayer by lighting a candle at 6:30 p.m. EDT (3:30 p.m. PDT, 4:30 p.m. MDT, 5:30 p.m. CDT, 7:30 p.m. ADT, and 8:00 p.m. in Newfoundland) October 17. To share in our petitions across the country, you may wish to post a picture of your prayer light on social media using the hashtags #UCCan, #WCC, and #PrayForPeace, adding your own prayers to your post.