A recording in Rathkeale is part of USPG’s Anglican Day of Prayer for Mission

Saint Andrew’s Day is traditionally associated with prayers for mission … parishes and dioceses have been invited to join the 24-hour global wave of prayer, the Anglican Communion Day of Prayer, on 30 November

Patrick Comerford

Today is Saint Andrew’s Day (30 November), a day traditionally associated with prayers for mission.

Christians around the world are taking part in today’s 24-hour global wave of prayer for mission, co-ordinated by the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel).

The majority of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion are taking part in this Communion Day of Prayer, which has the support of the Anglican Communion Office and several Anglican agencies around the world.

Two contributions from the Church of Ireland – from Bishop Michael Burrows, of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, and from myself – were included in the day’s programme, between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Bishop Michael Burrows, a former trustee of USPG and a former chair of USPG Ireland, spoke of his friendships with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, Bishop Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya of Swaziland, who died earlier this year, the late Nelson Mandela, and the late Trevor Huddleston. My contribution was recorded in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, where I spoke of the reach and influence of Irish saints and missionaries over the centuries.

The event, which began at Midnight and continues until Midnight tonight, is open to everyone, and there is no need to register. You can get involved via zoom or Facebook. When you want to join just click on one of these links:

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82308523750?pwd=dzRXQ3A2TVM5VjhwZVpaaGpKTFdDdz09

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USPGglobal

The Day offers Christians all over the world an opportunity to unite in prayer. It will focus on individual provinces and extra-provinces of the Anglican Communion, and churches in relationship with the Communion, in 30-minute slots.

Anglican Provinces from all over the world produced short prayer films for the event with authentic local expressions of prayer, worship, readings and reflection. These will be played in separate time slots between 12 midnight and 12 midnight.

For example, the programme began at 00:00 (UTC and Irish time) with the Anglican Church of Melanesia, the Anglican Communion Office was at 17:30 UTC (5.30 p.m.) and the Church of Ireland was at 18:00 UTC (6 p.m.).

You can join still at any time that suits you, stay for as long as you like, and come back as many times as you want. You can join the slot allocated to a particular province or choose to pray with other parts of the world … or both.

You can choose to watch at home, at work – wherever works for you. And you can decide to pray alone or still organise a Prayer Watch Party, inviting friends or a church group to join you.

Praying with others can be a particularly powerful collective experience. Whatever you decide, you will be contributing to a global wave of prayer. And we hope you will feel inspired and united to the global church.

The printable poster from USPG is HERE.

USPG was also encouraging people to watch prayer videos from other countries, using the timetable to see the times for each province and then join the ones they would like to see.

You can download Resources related to USPG's Communion Day of Prayer HERE.