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Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday

Praying Together for Lasting Change

Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday offers congregations and individuals a time to reflect, worship and act in gratitude for the gifts and strengths within ourselves, our communities and in communities across the world. Every Lent, we gather to thank God for the gifts of human capacity, creativity and courage that shape resilient communities near and far.
In 2009, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church designated Lent as a time when congregations and individuals are encouraged “to remember and support the life-saving work of Episcopal Relief & Development.” We invite you to join us in this time of prayerful solidarity for our program participants, partners, staff and stakeholders.


What You Can Do
Here are ways your congregation can observe Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday.

Worship with Intention
Incorporate prayers, readings and sermons that celebrate human dignity, community agency and hope. Use the resources below or create your own. Let your liturgy center on stories of resilience and transformation. If you create liturgical materials for Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday, we would love to see them. Share them with us at engagement@episcopalrelief.org.

Share and Learn
Use the resources on this page to explore stories of transformation led by local partners. Share how communities are using their gifts to adapt, heal, and flourish. You can share these stories in sermons or in your church’s bulletin or newsletter. And bring Episcopal Relief & Development’s Faith Formation resources into your Sunday school and family ministries.

Mobilize Your Strengths
Organize an offering, volunteer effort, or fundraiser that reflects the gifts your congregation brings – financial support, shared skills or encouragement. Consider what assets your parish already holds (talents, time, space) and how these can be shared to support resilience elsewhere.

Commit to Ongoing Partnership
Observe this day not just as an annual event, but as a reminder to stay connected – through prayer and generosity – so that the work begun persists and grows.

Sample Sermon

Prayers of the People

Petitions

Proper Preface

Collect

Bulletin Inserts

Pew Envelopes

Lenten Meditations

Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday at Grace Church, Charleston, SC

Every time there are five Sundays in a month, Grace Church Cathedral observes Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday. Watch the video below and listen to testimonies from parishioners about what this special day means to them and why they celebrate. Haga clic aquí para ver el video con subtítulos en español.