The calendar of dates may be a catalyst to think about collaborations – ecumenical (local and regional) as well as inter-faith, and community based collaborations.
What may we do better together than on our own?
Also, some of the important dates for other religious communities may be a prompt to learn more about their traditions, and to call or write to offer words of support, encouragement and solidarity.
10th December UN Human Rights Day
18th December Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (1992)
Blue Christmas 2024 events – various
25th December Christmas Day
25th December 2024-2nd January 2025 Hanukkah (Judaism)
This festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after a group of Jewish warriors defeated the occupying mighty Greek armies. To celebrate the ancient miracle of the oil burning a candle for eight nights, Jews celebrating Hanukkah light a candleholder called a menorah for eight nights. The Pillars of Light Festival is held in Federation Square to celebrate Hanukkah (Chanukah)
25th December 2024 to 31st December 2025
Holy Year of the Jubilee 2025 (Catholic)
26th December Boxing Day
31st December New Years Eve/Watch Night
***
Note: EASTER 2025
The last common celebration was in 2017, the next one is expected in 2025, and some calculations report that after 2700 Orthodox and Catholic/Protestant Easter will never coincide again. 2025 also celebrates 700 years since the Council of Nicaea. What ecumenical plans might the common Easter and the celebration re Council of Nicaea offer to the Member Churches
2025 dates (Southern Hemisphere) – between Ascension Day (May 29th 2025) and Pentecost (June 8th 2025), a symbolic date for the unity of the Church.
Survivors Reunion 2025 – for noting
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and the liberation of the last of the Nazi concentration camps. Holocaust Survivors bear the scars of their horrific experiences at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators for their whole lives. Despite this they have been able to overcome their grief and trauma and build new lives raising happy and caring families. They have also contributed immeasurably to the prosperity and well-being of the countries to which they emigrated including Australia. On the instigation of Holocaust Survivor Eddy Boas, The Australian Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants together with other supporting organisations in both Sydney and Melbourne are organising a function to celebrate survivors and pay tribute to their achievements. We anticipate that there will be two functions, one in Sydney and one in Melbourne held in parallel. The functions will be a luncheon held on Sunday, 1 June at an appropriate venue. We would very much like to ensure that we can reach as many survivors as possible to invite to these functions. Therefore, we would be grateful if you could reply to this notice indicating your interest in attending or letting us know of other survivors whom you believe would also be interested. We know this will be a joyful event which will be remembered for years to come. You may reply by email to info@aajhsd.org.au.
CALENDAR ARCHIVE
JANUARY 2024
1st January New Years Day
6th January Epiphany season begins
7th January Orthodox Christmas
19th January 2024 World Religion Day
World Religion Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in January every year, and is a reminder of the need for harmony and understanding between religions and faith systems. On this day, communities of different faiths have the opportunity to get together and listen to each other, as well as celebrate the differences and commonalities that the delicate intermingling of culture and religion brings.
19th January 2024
Orthodox Epiphany begins (Feast of Theophany)
In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19th. Epiphany is one of three major Orthodox Christian celebrations, along with Christmas and Easter. In the Orthodox Church, Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi (3 wise men) which is celebrated on 6 January as Epiphany in the Western Church. The Feast of Theophany concludes the Christmas season.
21st January 2024
Aboriginal Sunday
Day of Mourning (Uniting Church) – resources here
An opportunity to reflect on the effects of invasion, colonisation and racism on First Peoples, in the lead up to ‘Australia Day’.
(see the link here for further information and resources)
26th January – ‘Australia Day’
8th February – International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking 2024 ACRATH
Tuesday February 13th Anniversary of the Apology to the Stolen Generations
Tuesday February 13th Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day
Wednesday February 14th – Ash Wednesday
(resource here linking Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day – scroll down to the 2018 resource)
24th February Universal Day of Prayer for Students (UDPS)
This is one of the longest established ecumenical events. The WSCF publishes ecumenical services of worship on a theme that relates to the Federation’s theme of study for the year or responds to current events and issues of concern to the world’s students.
8th March International Women’s Day
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment. Based on the priority theme for the United Nations 68th Commission on the Status of Women, Count Her In will examine the pathways to greater economic inclusion for women and girls everywhere.
9th March – Ramadan commences (evening)
(to Mon, 8 Apr 2024)
14th March – International Day of Action for Rivers 2024
This is a day dedicated to solidarity – when diverse communities around the world come together with one voice to say that rivers and the rights of communities who depend on them matters.
19th March International Day against bullying and violence
Thursday 21st March Harmony Day (United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination)
Sunday 24th March – Palm Sunday
Sunday 24th March – Palm Sunday Walk for RefugeesThursday 28th March – Maundy Thursday
Friday 29th March – Good Friday (Year B)
Friday 29th March – Ecumenical Walk for Good Friday
Melbourne City Church in Action (MCCIA)
Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday
31st March – Trans Day of Visibility
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual international celebration recognising trans and gender-diverse experiences and achievements.
April 7th World Health Day
2024 theme: My health, My right
Tuesday 9th April – Wednesday 10th April – Ramadan ends at sundown, and Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan/breaking of the fast) commences.
Tuesday 9th April 6-7.30pm
Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Venue: St Peter’s Eastern Hill, cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
14th April – Taize service, 5pm
Whitehorse Uniting Church, 333A Canterbury Road, Forest Hill
21st April 8 hour day
On this day in 1856, stonemasons walked off the job to protest their long working days. They had an ambitious vision: dividing 24 hours into 8 hours work, 8 hours recreation and 8 hours rest. And they would achieve it with no loss of pay. We led the world in the creation of the 8 hour day, despite the odds.
22nd-30th April Jewish Pesach/Passover 2o24
(sundown on 22nd to nightfall on 30th April)
25th April – ANZAC Day
25th April – ANZAC Day Ecumenical Service (St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral)
22nd-30th April Jewish Pesach/Passover 2o24
(sundown on 22nd to nightfall on 30th April)
Sunday 5th May – Orthodox Easter Sunday Pascha
[Orthodox Christians calculate Easter using the Julian Calendar, and it often falls later on the calendar].
Sunday 5th May (sundown) – 6th May
2024 Yom HaShoah Commemoration (Holocaust Remembrance Day). Details here.
8th May
Echoes of Hope: A Palestinian Theology of Peacemaking
6.30-8.30pm
In person: Ridley College, 170 The Avenue, Parkville
Online: details will be sent when you register.
As a distinguished professor of Biblical Studies and Academic Dean at Nazareth Evangelical College, Rev Katanacho offers a unique perspective shaped by his personal journey as a Palestinian Israeli evangelical. The event will also include a Q&A session where attendees can interact and ask further questions.
You can either attend the event in person or livestream the event, details for the livestream will be sent to you when you register. Registration here.
11th May VCC AGM (online Zoom) commencing 9.30am
Register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
11th May World Fair Trade Day
Resource for congregations here
11th May Faith in a better future conference (free)
(9:00am – 4pm)
In-person at the Uniting Centre for Ministry (Sydney) AND online. ALL keynote sessions will be streamed for online participants. There will be dedicated workshops for both face-to-face and online attendees. Topics will range from issues facing rural communities, how catastrophic climate change magnifies social disadvantage, the importance of youth climate action, how to have effective climate conversations, Pacific climate impacts and solidarity and more!
Contact Jon O’Brien in the Uniting Advocacy team, at joobrien@uniting.org or on 0477 725 528.
Information and registration (free) here.
ARRCC link here
12th May – International Nurses Day
Theme: ‘Nurses: A Voice to Lead – Invest in Nursing and respect rights to secure global health. ‘
How might you celebrate the nurses in your congregation/ community? A thoughtful prayer is here.
12th May – Mother’s Day
12th May 2024 Asia Sunday (Christian Conference of Asia)
Asia Sunday is an annual prayer service organised by the Christian Conference of Asia on the Sunday before Pentecost.
12th May – World Communications Day
Sunday, 19 May to Saturday, 25 May
National Palliative Care Week 2024
Website here.
20th-26th May National Volunteers Week
2024 Theme: Something for Everyone
The annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers.
Consider sending an online Certificate of Appreciation to your volunteers (template available on this website)
If you are looking for a certificate template to add your logo to, please visit the National Volunteer Week Resources page.
(Note: Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators have a special certificate to acknowledge the efforts of outstanding and well-deserving volunteers in their electorate, state or territory. Why not contact your local politician/s to ask about acknowledging volunteers in your community/church/agency etc).
22nd May International Day for Biological Diversity
See post on VCC website here.
Saturday 25th May* Africa Day
(possibly weave in a focus on Africa in worship? Invite a guest speaker to share their experiences? Invite someone from a refugee background?)
[*On 25 May 1963, Africa made history with the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) the precursor to the African Union (AU)]
26th May Sorry Day
26th May – Trinity Sunday
27th May Anniversary of 1967 Referendum
27th May – 3rd June Reconciliation Week
Theme: Now More Than Ever
(Congregations may choose a focus on Reconciliation Week on Sunday June 2nd)
28th May World Hunger Day
Some prayer resources here.
JUNE 2024
5th June World Environment Day
World Environment day is celebrated annually on 5 June and encourages awareness and action for the protection of the environment. The 2024 theme for World Environment Day is “Journey to a Greener Future,” focusing on the collective effort required to protect our planet and ensure a more sustainable future for all.
Saturday 8th June. World Wide Knit in Public Day
It takes place each year on the second Saturday of June. It began in 2005 as a way for knitters to come together and enjoy each other’s company.
Manningham UC is hosting a knitting afternoon to celebrate all things knitting on Saturday June 1st. RSVP’s appreciated, but not essential. https://manninghamuc.org/worldknittingday2024
10th June Monarch’s birthday (public holiday)
Tuesday 11th June 6-7.30pm
St Peter’s Eastern Hill is hosting sessions focussed on Poets and the Faith, presented by a range of local and international Christian lovers of poetry including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams. The program seeks to enrich understandings about belief, the poets and their compositions and convey insights into the world, life, faith and God in a deeply personal way while imparting a new perspective on eternal truth.
Second Tuesday of the Month (March – Nov), 6-7.30pm.
Cnr of Albert St & Gisborne St (entrance via Albert Street driveway), East Melbourne
More information here.
16th-22nd June World Refugee Week
20th June World Refugee Day
WRD 2024 flyer (online)
7.30pm AEST, 7pm ACST and 5.30pm AWST
Members of the Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce (ACRT) invite you to an online ecumenical service (Zoom) on 20th June which will include prayers, shared experiences by those who have been refugees, music and readings. All welcome! Pre-registration is required.
21st-24th June NCCA Forum (Adelaide)
11th Forum flyer
17th-23rd June – Refugee Week 2024
** Keep a lookout for information about 2024 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards (COTA, Victorian Seniors Festival, Victorian State government) – close towards end of July
https://www.seniorsonline.vic.gov.au/awards
https://www.dffh.vic.gov.au/victorian-senior-year-awards
seniorsfestival@dffh.vic.gov.au
Nominee must be Australian citizen 60+ or First Nations 50+.
Nominees will be assessed on their volunteer contribution and achievements since reaching the qualifying age. Nominees are assessed on these criteria: how they make a difference to community well-being through volunteering; their good standing in the community; and how their positive attitude to ageing inspires others. Include at least 2 letters supporting the nomination from colleagues or individuals in the community which are 250-450 words each.
Various categories: premier’s away for Vic Senior of the year; promotion of multiculturalism award (promoting the benefits of cultural diversity in their local or broader community); healthy and active living award; veteran community award; ageing well award; COTA Vic Senior Achiever Awards
ONLINE nomination – https://forms.office.com/r/iVqcnNHBEQ
Victorian Seniors Card program 1300 797 210
JULY 2024
1st July Coming of the Light
Celebrates adoption of Christianity in Torres Strait Island communities in the 19th century
July 7th – 14th July 2024 NAIDOC Week
Theme: Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud
NAIDOC website
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
Pilgrim Worship Resources website.
14th July Sea Sunday (Seafarer Sunday)
Can be acknowledged on second Sunday in July, 0r another Sunday to suit the congregation. Prayers and resources here.
19th July 2024 11 year anniversary
“Any asylum seeker who arrives in Australia by boat will have no chance of being settled in Australia as refugees”.
(PM Rudd policy announcement, 19th July 2013)
9000+ people are living in Australia in visa limbo.
21st July Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday (Uniting Church)
3rd Sunday in July (or another date best suited to the local
setting) is ‘Intercultural Neighbouring Sunday’, to celebrate UCA being a Multicultural Church and to create an opportunity for congregations and faith communities to connect and build relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in their neighbourhoods.
28th July – World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly 2024
AUGUST 2024
4th August National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day
2024 theme: tbc
August 5th-August 11th, 2024
National Homelessness Week
August 6th Hiroshima Day useful links for worship here.
7th August Aged Care Employee Day #ThanksforCaring
Do you know someone working in the aged care sector? Or a loved one in aged care or providing care for older people at home? The concept of Aged Care Employee Day is centred around acknowledging the dedication and compassion demonstrated by the individuals who care for the elderly population. Aged care employees, encompassing everyone from the frontline staff to the behind-the-scenes teams, play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for elderly individuals. The Aged Care Employee Day, celebrated every 7th of August in Australia, is a day dedicated to recognising and appreciating the hard work of these invaluable individuals. These aged care employees, whether they are nurses, personal care workers, cooks, cleaners, volunteers or administrative staff, all contribute significantly to the well-being of the elderly. The day serves as a reminder to everyone that the care and support provided by these individuals are not just professional services, but acts of kindness and compassion that deserve recognition and appreciation. The celebration is a reminder to society about the importance of ageing with dignity, respect and care. It is a day to honour those who make a difference in the lives of the elderly and their families by providing comfort, companionship, and essential care. Aged Care Employee Day 2024 can be a chance to inspire more people to consider a career in aged care. As the day shines a light on the rewarding and meaningful work of aged care employees, it can serve as a powerful recruitment tool for the sector. (See more here) A blessing prayer for carers of the elderly.
9th August
United Nations International Day of World’s Indigenous People
10th August International Prisoners’ Justice Day
Prisoners’ Justice Day is a solidarity movement that takes place annually on August 10 in support of prisoners’ rights and to remember all the people who have died of unnatural deaths while incarcerated. Plenty to think about with Aboriginal deaths in custody, and refugees who have died in detention.
Resources (prayers and information) here.
12th August 2024
International Youth Day
22nd August The UN International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
In 2019, the United Nations passed a resolution designating August 22 as International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. The resolution passed shortly after the attacks on mosques in New Zealand and churches in Sri Lanka.
A brief overview of violence in the world’s regions is outlined on this website. WCC statement. UN 2023 statement
Many refugees who have made Australia home have escaped acts of violence in their homelands.
23rd August International Day For The Remembrance Of The Slave Trade And Its Abolition. More here.
Slavery Resource with prayers and resources, produced by JIM unit (UCA).
Slavery in Australia including Indigenous Australians and Pacific Islanders (‘black birding’) and modern slavery.
23rd-27th August 2024 World Water Week
Theme: “Bridging Borders: Water for a peaceful and sustainable future”.
Water is a catalyst for people to achieve peace, cooperation and security and hence a sustainable future. The concept of peace and security has a very wide scope: not only on a narrow military/defence understanding of the word security but more broadly to include human security, food and nutrition security, ecosystem security as well as water security. The borders to which the title refers can be borders between neighbours, communities, peoples and regions as well as between nations
Perhaps congregations might like to include a focus on water on Sunday 25th August?
Some worship resources for ‘water’ can be found here.
29th August 7pm Grief and Loss Service
Venue: St Albans-St Andrew Uniting Church, 276-282 Wilsons Road, St Albans Park
A time for remembering those we have lost and loved.
Bring a photo to display. Light a candle.
Write their name on the cross of remembrance.
31st August – announcement of the Australian Christian Book of the Year.
Sunday 1st September Fathers Day
A Father’s Day blessing (PC NZ)
Father’s Day resources (Strandz)
A Toolkit for Dads (Focus on the Family)
Father’s Day craft activities (Ministry to Children)
Prayers for Father’s Day & Mother’s Day (Building Faith)
Father’s Day (Pilgrim Worship Resources website)
Wattle Day
September: Season of Creation
(1st September to 4th October)
2024 Theme: To hope and act with creation
Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical celebration that unites the world’s 2.4 billion Christians in prayer and action for our common home.
(also see Season of Creation website here with the ‘earth’ weeks)
Season of Creation website
Pacific Conference of Churches (includes ecumenical prayer service liturgy
Green Anglican Church resources (including links to many other excellent resources)
Common Grace’s special five-part Season of Creation Bible Study Series exploring Creation and Climate justice.
For the Love of Creation (Canadian resources)
The Queensland Churches Environmental Network has produced a visually stunning ecumenical daily devotional for the Season of Creation which can be accessed here.
Worship resources website.
National Child Protection Week (first week of September)
September 3rd St Phoebe Day
St. Phoebe’s feast day, September 3, is in the current Roman Martyrology. Her day’s liturgical status is not of a feast or a memorial but that of a “commemoration.” Her liturgy is celebrated in Eastern Rite and Orthodox Churches.
September 4th Indigenous Literacy Day
(first Wednesday in September each year)
Purpose: to amplify the importance of reading and learning among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and communities.
5th September UN International Day of Charity
September 5-11th, 2024 Child Protection Week
(first week in Sept every year)
For liturgical resources could check out Child Protection Week
8th September RUOK? Day
10th September World Suicide Prevention Day
2024 theme: ‘Creating Hope Through Action’
The theme is a reminder that suicide is preventable, not inevitable. It emphasises that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire the belief that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to people that are struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Thursday 12 September
R U OK? Day
14th to 24th September
ARRCC Multifaith Week of Climate Action
(Australian Religious Response to Climate Change)
People of all faiths around Australia will publicly call for a clear plan to get us out of this climate crisis and move boldly and rapidly away from coal and gas and towards a sustainable future. A 2 page information sheet is available here.
There will be media events. Find the event nearest you at www.arrcc.org.au/flagships.
Consider putting up a banner at your place of worship, joining places of worship all over Australia. For all of the details about how to order one and what messages to put on them, please see www.arrcc.org.au/banners. There is a quick turn around for the production and distribution of banners if your church wants to be part of the Week of Action.
16th-22nd September
World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel
Theme: “Whatever you did…you did for me”
The World Council of Churches invites member churches, faith-based communities, and civil society organizations around the world to join together for a week of prayer for just peace for all in Palestine and Israel. Congregations and individuals around the globe who share the hope of justice shall unite during the week to take peaceful actions, together, to create a common international public witness
Dementia Action Week (16-22 September)
21st September International Day of Peace
21st September 1886
William Barak delivers a petition to the Victorian Government.
It’s a 67km walk from Coranderrk to Melbourne. Barak did that walk on behalf of his community. Asking to be treated fairer, and bring light to the circumstances which were largely concealed from the general public.
23rd September International Day of Sign Languages. 2024 theme “Sign up for Sign Language Rights.” This day highlights the importance of sign languages in promoting the human rights of deaf people and encourages global participation and awareness.
27th September National Police Remembrance Day
29th September World Day of Migrants and Refugees
1st October (annual) United Nations International Day of Older Persons. Excellent resource here including a liturgy for a service.
2nd – 4th October 2024
Rosh Hashana for Hebrew Year 5785 begins at sundown on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 and ends at nightfall on Friday, 4 October 2024 . Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: ראש השנה), (literally “head of the year”), is the Jewish New Year. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation of G‑d as king.
Sunday 6th October 2024 World Quaker Day
World Quaker Day is an annual event to celebrate the diversity of global Quakerism and build connections.
Quakers Australia on Facebook.
Sunday 6th October 2024 World Communion Sunday
(first Sunday in October)
9th October Ageism Awareness Day
10th October World Mental Health Day
11th October
International Day of the Girl Child
This day exists to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges they face all over the world. And to promote the empowerment of young females everywhere while advocating for the attainment of their basic human rights, like education and bodily autonomy. The 1 billion girls alive today can grow up to change the world if they are simply given access to things like secondary education and healthy living.
Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
(dates tbc – held late October each year – this year will be the 41st Melbourne Prayer Breakfast, an annual gathering of people from across Melbourne to uphold our city in prayer. The event is unique in its capacity to bring together people from across denominations, age groups, and organisations.
Penny Mulvey, Chair, Melbourne Prayer Breakfast
penny@melbourneprayerbreakfast.com; 0403 063 499.
October 14th Anti-Slavery Day
October 15th Global Handwashing Day
October 15th International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
October 16th World Food day
October 16th International Pronouns Day (3rd Wednesday in October)
October 17th UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
14 October
First anniversary of the 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum held on 14 October 2023 in which the proposed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice was rejected.
16th October – World Food Day
October 17th
United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Worship resources and information here.
22 October
On this day in 2018, then PM Scott Morrison and then-Opposition Leader Bill Shorten delivered apologies on behalf of the Australian people to those who were sexually abused as children. The apology followed the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Many churches made their own acknowledgements and apologies.
Anti-Poverty Week
Saturday 28th October – World Teachers Day
31st October Reformation Day 2024
NOVEMBER 2024
1st November All Saints Day
2nd November All Souls Day
Sunday 3 November
Intentional Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church
An online event will be held for Intentional Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church, organised in the UK. Super early timeslot for Victoria but may suit some early risers. More information here. This is an opportunity to intercede for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. It’s also a prayer focus for worship services.
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” – 2 Corinthians 4:8 & 9
(Or prayers for the persecuted church may be part of the prayers of the people for Sunday’s service which may also include All Saints Day and All Souls Day).
4th November
A Day of Prayer for Anglican and Roman Catholic reconciliation
More details here
(5th November – Melbourne Cup – public holiday)
November 11th Remembrance Day
(13th November World Kindness Day)
18th – 26th November – 2024 dates tbc
Social Inclusion Week: Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate!
Social Inclusion Week aims to help all Australians feel included and valued, giving everyone the opportunity to participate fully in society. Created by Jonathon Welch AM, founder of the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks, Social Inclusion Week is about connecting local communities, workmates, family and friends, in order to build and strengthen relationships or networks and address isolation and exclusion of those who may be marginalised. Key communities who can often feel excluded are young people 12–25 years of age, jobless families with children, people with a disability or mental illness, those who are homeless, the elderly and Indigenous Australians.
Congregations might plan projects, foci and activities as part of Social Inclusion Week in the wider community.
11th-17th November 2024 World Kindness Week
20th November 2022
World Children’s Day
20th November 2024 Transgender Day of Remembrance
The Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honours the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. In a simple service of prayer and reflection, family and friends and supporters will mark the TDOR and remember those who have died.
(Transgender Awareness Week, November 13-19 2024. More here)
Wednesday 22nd November Night of the Witnesses
Night of the Witnesses is an evening of testimony, prayer, song and reflection to honour the witness of modern-day Christian martyrs, and to stand in solidarity with Christians around the world who are suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. With its origins at Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur Cathedrals in Paris over 15 years ago, Night of the Witnesses is now a regular feature in many cities around the world.
(no details for any events in Victoria)
Wednesday 23rd November
Go Home on Time Day
This is an initiative of the Australia Institute’s Centre for Future Work, and serves as an accessible way to start conversations about work-life balance and the enormous unpaid contributions staff make to their workplaces. ‘Time Theft‘; ABC report
24th November 2024World Youth Day (Catholic)
Theme: “Those who hope in the Lord will run and not be weary,” drawing from the Lord’s promise in Isaiah 40:31.
24th November Reign of Christ/Christ the King
25th November to 10th December
16 days of activism against gender based violence
Held annually from Nov 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day).
Common Grace 16 Days of Prayer series here.
28th November, 5pm Holding the Light service
(part of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence)
Venue: Wesley Uniting Church, Lonsdale St, Melbourne CBD
Remembering victims and survivors of family domestic violence. Now in its ninth year, the service is invitational and held in a spirit of welcome. While it is held within the Christian tradition, it is open to anyone who might wish to join together and take part in a ritual and is a time for anyone to engage in a period of quiet, lament, and prayer/reflection on the tragic results of violence and in hope for a better future for our communities.
An idea for all congregations: the Red Chair
[Red Chair Campaign Against Gender-Based Violence]
Raise awareness of gender-based violence by placing an empty chair left by women who have lost their lives through violence.
Print out a poster and place it on a single (ideally red) chair before taking a photo of it and sharing it on social media.
Post on your own social media and on VCC.
Respect Victoria said domestic and family violence against women was “absolutely at epidemic proportions. It’s a national emergency, and it has been for many decades – and without work to prevent it happening in the first place, will be for decades to come.” On average, one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner, according to statistics cited by Our Watch, the nation’s leading organisation for the prevention of violence against women and children. One in four women has experienced violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, compared to one in 13 men. One in 3 women has experienced physical violence since the age of 15, one in 4 has experienced emotional abuse by a partner or former partner since that age, and one in 5 has experienced sexual violence since 15.
Helpful links:
The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032
Family and Domestic and Sexual Violence – AIHW
Violence against women
29th November UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
DECEMBER 2024
1st December World AIDS Day
1st December Advent 1
3rd December UN International Day of People with Disability
6th December St Nicholas Day
OTHER ARCHIVED EVENTS here