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International Day of Prayer for Peace - 2007 Print E-mail
Written by World Council of Churches   
Monday, 17 September 2007
Friday 21 September 2007

WCC member churches worldwide are once more invited to pray for peace on 21 September 2007 or the closest Sunday. The International Day of Prayer for Peace offers an opportunity for church communities in all places to pray and act together to nurture lasting peace in the hearts of people, their families, communities and societies. The idea was proposed in 2004 during a meeting between WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and coincides with the UN International Day of Peace. The Day of Prayer is one of the initiatives of the WCC's Decade to Overcome Violence.

Congregations worldwide are invited to pray for peace - possibly using the same prayers - in all participating churches on September 21 or the Sunday preceding it.

The International Day of Peace

1981 the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a new resolution 55/282 declaring 21 September of each year as the International Day of Peace. The intention of the resolution is to have the entire world observe a day of peace and nonviolence. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked all United Nations departments and agencies to expand their observance this year, extending a special invitation to civil society as well.

Read more: International Day of Peace

The United Nations International Day of Peace Vigil

An ever-expanding number of people worldwide, representing a wide variety of religious and spiritual traditions, have committed to the task of working with other like-minded individuals and groups for an International Day of Peace Vigil.

The objective of the International Day of Peace Vigil is "to encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, 21 September 2007 in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world."

Please register your commitment on the International Day of Peace Vigil website at www.idpvigil.com and make it thus known to others who would like to join in.

Look up the International Day of Peace Vigil website for more information: http://www.idpvigil.com/
Last Updated ( Sunday, 16 September 2007 )