World Communion of Reformed Churches
Reformation Day
The WCRC invites its members to use a common order of worship and/or watch an online worship service to mark Reformation Day at the end of October each year.
The WCRC further invites its members to both share information about the WCRC and dedicate their offering collection on Reformation Day to the work and witness of the Communion. Introductory materials about the WCRC can be downloaded and printed from this page: wcrc.ch/resources/about-us. Information on donating the collection to the WCRC can be found on the donate page.
2023: “Hope and a Future”
The 2023 Reformation Day worship service was live-streamed from Jakarta, Indonesia, on Sunday, 29 October. The can be seen on the WCRC’s Facebook pages in English, French, and Spanish.
The following liturgies may be downloaded and freely used in congregations for Reformation Sunday:
Songs recommended by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship for the liturgy can be found through this link: worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/recommended-songs-for-reformation-day-or-all-saints-day-worship-services/
2022: “Witnessing to the God of Life”
“This year, even as the world continues to emerge from the pandemic and faces ongoing existential crises, we want to remind everyone that ‘we live under the promise that Jesus Christ came so that all might have life in fullness,’ as the Accra Confession states,” said President Najla Kassab of the 2022 Reformation Day liturgy and service.
“The theme of the service honors the contribution of Kim Yong-Bock, who died in April 2022, to ecumenical theology. In the service we will give thanks and praise to the God of Life and pray for God’s blessing on the Reformed churches, the global church, and the entire creation, which has been groaning until now, but in hope ‘will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God,’” said Kathy Smith, CICW senior associate director, citing Romans 8.
The Reformation Day worship service was celebrated at the Waldensian Church at the Piazza Cavour, in Rome, Italy, on 30 October, and streamed live globally.
The order of worship—”Witnessing to the God of Life”—is available to download as PDFs:
2021: “Being Reformed in a Time of COVID-19 and Beyond”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken all of us in the Communion. We have lost many people. We have experienced men and women choking for breath. In our attempts to care for the sick and grieving, many of us have reached the limits of what we have been able to bear,” said President Najla Kassab and the Collegial General Secretariat in a letter of invitation to member churches.
“But in all these difficulties, we have also seen astonishing examples of reformation and renewal in our churches and communities. People care for one another; we see impressive networks for help and support. Many of our churches have turned digital and found astounding possibilities to stay in touch with each other, to reach out, and to witness,” the letter stated.
The order of worship—“Being Reformed in a Time of COVID-19 and Beyond”—is available to download: