World Communion Sunday is a celebration observed by several
Protestant
Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...
denominations, taking place on the first Sunday of every October, that promotes Christian unity and
ecumenical cooperation.
[World Communion Sunday]
National Council of Churches website, accessed 15 August 2011. It focuses on an observance of the
Eucharist
The Eucharist ( ; from , ), also called Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament or the Lord's Supper, is a Christianity, Christian Rite (Christianity), rite, considered a sacrament in most churches and an Ordinance (Christianity), ordinance in ...
. The tradition was begun in 1933 by Hugh Thomson Kerr who ministered in the
Shadyside Presbyterian Church.
According to ''Presbyterian Outlook'':
It was then adopted throughout the
Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1936
[ and subsequently spread to other denominations. In 1940, the Federal Council of Churches (now the National Council of Churches), led by Jesse Moren Bader, endorsed World Communion Sunday and began to promote it to Christian churches worldwide.][
]
See also
* Awareness Sunday
* Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
References
Christian ecumenism
Christian Sunday observances
Eucharist
Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
October observances
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