Press Releases
Reminder: Day of Prayer for Young People & Youth Ministry
Coming up on Sunday, 21st November 2021
Parishes are reminded that the Church of Ireland Youth Department’s Day of Prayer is coming up on Sunday, 21st November. This annual event previously took place on the Sunday before Lent but has now been moved to the Sunday before Advent. CIYD is encouraging all churches to make space to pray for young people on that day.
A PDF version of a book published by CIYD in 2019 with lots of ideas of how to pray is available to help local churches to plan ahead for the Day of Prayer. Please email admin@ciyd.org for your copy.
Steve Grasham, CIYD’s Development Officer for the Southern Region, has also prepared a resource with prayer ideas for Advent, and can be contacted at steve@ciyd.org
Bishop Pat Storey, President of CIYD, says: “As our annual Day of Prayer moves to the Sunday before Advent each year, we remember that Advent is a time to prepare and to look forward. As we exit this pandemic, we will take time ahead of and during Advent to pray for our young people who have had their lives on hold for so long. We pray for their spiritual future and their unique contribution to the Church. We celebrate their commitment and enthusiasm. We long to meet together again and to connect.“This Advent, our Day of Prayer for our young people and youth ministry thus holds special significance. We bring them before God and we celebrate each one. We pray; God hears!”Simon Henry, CIYD’s National Youth Officer, adds: “Youth ministry has been mightily challenged over the past year and young people have missed out on so much. This is an opportunity to bring them once again to the forefront of our thoughts and prayers.”
How one parish will mark the Day of Prayer …
On Sunday, 21st November, a group of over 20 young church leaders in Mullingar Parish will present a very impressive and dramatic presentation – ‘Spreading the News’ – to Bishop Storey, leaders from the other Christian churches in Mullingar, and representatives of Wilson’s Hospital School, along with elected politicians, businesspeople and leaders from public services in Westmeath. This presentation is part of a significant parish initiative, ‘Lighten Our Darkness’, led by the young leaders to help address the problem of climate change which has become a global emergency.
Church of Ireland Youth Officer
Simon Henry
simon@ciyd.org