Photo by Andrew Kondrakov on Unsplash
Updated 23 March 2020.
Tens of thousands of Christians lit candles in their homes and prayed on Sunday 22 March in response to a call to prayer initiated by the Presidents of Churches Together in England (CTE). This was supported by Cytûn for churches in Wales, the churches in Scotland, the Evangelical Alliance and others. Christians also took part elsewhere in the world, with photos shared from Malta, Canada and the USA.
With participants encouraged to share photos on social media, CTE reports that the hashtag #candleofhope became Twitter’s second most trending hashtag in the UK during the evening.
Christians are being encouraged to continue to pray and show acts of kindness to those around them, while keeping to all government health advice.
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, thanked those who took part, asking Christians to ‘commit to praying each day, as well as taking action to look out for your neighbours.’
For more details see the CTE website.
Separately, the Salvation Army is asking members to pray every day at noon for all the people around the world impacted by the coronavirus.
Social media
Below is a selection of posts from Twitter. To see more search Twitter for #candleofhope.
Thank you to all who joined us in prayer. Please commit to praying each day, as well as taking action to look out for your neighbours.#candleofhope pic.twitter.com/hTohYD6US6
— Archbishop of Canterbury (@JustinWelby) March 22, 2020
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.#ChurchAtHome #PrayTogether #candleofhope #StayAtHome pic.twitter.com/qmd4LdanDU— Catholic Church (@catholicEW) March 22, 2020
Joining you in prayer from St Patrick’s Cathedral in #Armagh #Ireland #lightinthedarkness #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/CSTbjiA28h
— Eamon Martin (@ArchbishopEamon) March 22, 2020
Our #candleofhope …
A light shining in the darkness… https://t.co/BtbO6dP1pD— Paula Gooder (@paulargooder) March 22, 2020
“Ask where God is being revealed now, as people cope, adjust, show compassion, help neighbours, find new ways of connecting, stop their busyness, support the weak…”
Prof Clive Marsh, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference.https://t.co/3MNkUyTZe0#candleofhope pic.twitter.com/ErpCU2rb56— The Methodist Church (@MethodistGB) March 22, 2020
We join Christians everywhere in lighting candles in our windows. Symbols of prayer & our hope in Christ.
“Mae’r golau’n dal i ddisgleirio yn y tywyllwch, a’r tywyllwch wedi methu ei ddiffodd.”
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn 1.5) pic.twitter.com/Q4kW86nWc4— St Peter Machynlleth (@StPeterMach) March 22, 2020
God who in Jesus is the light of the world, shine through the darkness and grant us peace n healing dispelling our fears of uncertainty during these times of Coronavirus #candleofhope @ChurchesEngland @CTBI @MethodistGB @Oikoumene @lutheranworld @PublicIssues pic.twitter.com/bIzlznxDwx
— raj bharath patta (@rajpatta) March 22, 2020
? As today’s National Day of Prayer draws to a close, it’s reassuring to see so many candles burning brightly. The light of Christ shines in the many #candleofhope which have been lit tonight. Please share your candle online, too! pic.twitter.com/wCnxuszmMf
— St. Mary’s RC Church (@rcboness) March 22, 2020
I’ve lit a #candleofhope for us all: for those who live nearby as well as our global neighbours living in the places of greatest need #CandleInTheWindow @ChurchesEngland pic.twitter.com/aVw5BbWu7N
— Ruth Valerio (@ruthvalerio) March 22, 2020
Bishop Martin lighting his candle and saying a prayer just a few minutes ago #candleofhope #CoronaCrisisuk pic.twitter.com/jjhkNzrGix
— Chichester Diocese (@ChichesterDio) March 22, 2020
#candleofhope in M13 Manchester – Come Holy Spirit pic.twitter.com/gI8B6Oewqg
— Greater Manchester Churches Together (@GreaterChurches) March 22, 2020
Praying for everyone. #candleofhope #unity #togetherapart #churchestogether #ecumenical #onebody pic.twitter.com/lfTwvQhLhw
— CT South London (@CTSouthLondon) March 22, 2020
Uno gyda Christnogion ar draws gwledydd Prydain heno: @AnnibynwyrCymru @EBC_PCW @BUWales @ChurchinWales @CytunNew @CTBI @ChurchesEngland @churchscotland @EAUKnews pic.twitter.com/TOf1z5PLXb
— Hefin Jones (@THJ1961) March 22, 2020
Every window in the church has a candle of hope at Putney Methodist.#CandleOfHope #NationalDayOfPrayer pic.twitter.com/0qAfAzVUgd
— Geoffrey Farrar (@revgeoffrey) March 22, 2020
We lit a #candleofhope on the #dayofprayer as a symbol of hope in these dark times. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World pic.twitter.com/jalj58davP
— StThomasDerby (@StThomasDerby) March 22, 2020
Amen #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/raKyDv8W0k
— Chine McDonald (@ChineMcDonald) March 22, 2020
A candle lit in a house that has survived through similar times of contagion in it’s history #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/mvCDPf8WTG
— Maggie McLean (@canonmaggie) March 22, 2020
#candleofhope in Cornwall @ChurchesEngland #candleforcorona pic.twitter.com/qdeQcP6fbY
— Churches Together in Cornwall (@CtcMissioner) March 22, 2020
Feeling incredibly moved by tonight’s #CandleOfHope movement.
A (literal) glimmer of light and solidarity in these uncertain times. pic.twitter.com/1JNYCOosEb
— Iso Neville (@IsoNeville) March 22, 2020
Praying for the world #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/pNSwGz4cst
— New River Methodist Circuit (@circuit_new) March 22, 2020
“We cry to You with all our brothers and sisters around Your beloved world. Come Lord, You are the Light of the World, You are Life stronger than death. Help us to find our Hope in Your everlasting love.” #CandleofHope #NationalDayofPrayer 22.03.2020 pic.twitter.com/whIoPSOmRo
— CommunityofStAnselm (@YearInGodsTime) March 23, 2020
We’ve lit our #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/Wg7uxM4xBO
— Rebecca Wills (@RebeccaLWills) March 22, 2020
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ John 8:12 #CandleofHope #NationalDayOfPrayer pic.twitter.com/sbPcJhY9vB
— Rose Jones (@revrosejones) March 22, 2020
Lighting a #candleofhope tonight – with the additional benefit of it being a scented one – reminder, like today’s gospel, to be grateful that we can see, hear, feel, smell and taste. That, and the fact we remain connected despite it all. pic.twitter.com/FNftYYTDsW
— Katharina Smith-Müller (@ms_kasm) March 22, 2020
#candleofhope praying together in this crazy time @EAUKnews @baptistuniongb @baptist_heba @ChurchesEngland pic.twitter.com/lmWX0V6Odw
— Ian McDonald (@IanCMcD) March 22, 2020
Lighting a candle of hope. #NationalDayOfPrayer. The church may be unable to gather today. But we stand together in one spirit crying out for God’s will to be done. For the sake of our leaders, the sake of the vulnerable, for the sake of those who help. #MayHisKingdomCome pic.twitter.com/N3Csgjxc8Q
— Jo Frost (@jofrosty) March 22, 2020
Woolwich Central Baptist Church members #candleofhope collage pic.twitter.com/t0HJc5sG0C
— Woolwich CBC (@WoolwichCBC) March 23, 2020
The Moderators of @UnitedReformed have shared this prayer in response to COVID-19. #Covid19 #candleofhope pic.twitter.com/ARlYbCvv8l
— JPIT (@PublicIssues) March 22, 2020
