The Diocese of Southwest Florida invites congregations to join Christians and faith communities around the world in observing Nuclear Prayer Day, August 6 through 9. Marking the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this global movement calls people of faith to gather in prayer, education, and action while renewing our commitment to peace and the flourishing of future generations.
Whether your congregation is large or small, there are many meaningful ways to participate. Consider incorporating prayers for peace into your Sunday worship, ringing church bells on August 6 or 9, hosting a prayer service or candlelight vigil, engaging youth through a paper crane activity, planting a peace garden, or joining a local or virtual commemoration. Together, we can join our voices with Christians around the world in proclaiming Christ’s peace and praying for a future free from the threat of nuclear weapons. If you are looking for a speaker regarding Nuclear Prayer Day, Dr. Nancy Scanlon is on the national Nuclear Prayer Day Committee and open to speaking at congregations across Southwest Florida.
Nuclear Prayer Day—Global Days of Prayer and Action (August 6–9)
Nuclear Prayer Day is an urgent, unwavering clarion call to the conscience of humanity.
Remembering the unspeakable death and devastation inflicted upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, we stand together to declare: nuclear weapons must never be used again—and they must be eliminated entirely.
Not only their use, but their testing, production, modernization, stockpiling, and possession must end. The continued existence of nuclear weapons—whether deployed, stored, or tested—places all life at risk. We refuse to accept a world held hostage by annihilation.
We gather so that future generations may live free from the shadow of nuclear threat.
Each year, August 6–9, communities around the world—faith leaders, civic groups, youth, artists, survivors, peacemakers, and policymakers—gather to remember, pray, educate, advocate and take action. We invite you to be part of this global movement this year.
Idea #1: Organize a Nuclear Prayer Day event on or around August 6
- Hold a prayer service or interfaith gathering that acknowledges how serious the climate and nuclear threats are but focuses on the spiritual resilience necessary to face them – bring in music, scripture, poetry, and ritual from various traditions that inspire connection and action
- Focus on different aspects of hope and healing—prayers for the Earth, prayers for peace, prayers for future generations. Could be an outdoor ritual of gratitude for nature, followed by planting a tree or creating a peace garden or planting a tree, focused on rituals to help people of faith connect to their spiritual resources in hard times.
Idea #2: Convene a public event leading up to the anniversaries
- Public panel: Convene a public panel focused on breaking the silence around existential threats and awakening spiritual language to encourage hope and commitment – speakers could include a chaplain, a scientist who can speak honestly but not despairingly, a student or activist living the questions
- Speaker series/storytelling night: Sponsor a speaker series or storytelling night to inspire students with real stories of people working for change despite despair—activists, artists, spiritual leaders, etc. This could include 15–20-minute stories or testimonies, followed by student response or dialogue circles, with a concluding invitation to get involved with nuclear or climate action groups
- Space of lament and grief—and hope: Create a space for people of faith to gather and express grief, fear, and lament over the state of the world, as well as share stories of hope, resilience, and action. Follow this with a candlelight vigil or moment of silence, inviting a deep spiritual connection to each other and to each other’s laments. End with a circle of affirmations, where people can offer words of hope and solidarity to each other.
Idea #3: Join a rally or other event commemorating the anniversary
- Many groups have been commemorating, and praying on, August 6 over many decades. Look for local gatherings or virtual commemorations, and join them.
Idea #4: Dedicate a service to commemorating the atomic bombings
- Dedicate a Sunday service (or equivalent in your faith tradition) to remembering the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- This could include reading the Nuclear Prayer written by the URI founder the Rt. Rev. Bishop Swing or other prayers, showing a video of support from the head of the denomination/faith tradition, and/or dedicating the offering and funds raised to work for nuclear abolition
- This could be held the Sunday before the anniversaries or in June or July to raise awareness ahead of the anniversaries
Idea #5: Hold a paper crane folding event for your youth group or Bible study group
- If your church or community has a youth group or Bible study group, dedicate one session to learning more about the devastating impacts of nuclear weapons and the fight for nuclear abolition through study or a workshop
- An event learning how to fold paper cranes could be a creative way to bring people in who may not otherwise be engaged in the work for nuclear abolition
- Could also include an interactive art build where participants can contribute prayers, drawings, or words of hope and resilience, growing a visual representation of collective strength
Idea #6: Ring church bells on August 6 or 9
- Echoing the ringing of the peace bell in Hiroshima that signifies creation of a world of a true peaceful coexistence without any nuclear weapons or wars, see if you can ring your church bells at the time of the bombings: 8:15am on August 6 for Hiroshima and 11:02am on August 9 for Nagasaki
Come up with your own ideas on how to engage
You know your communities best! If there’s another idea you have that’s not reflected here that you believe would suit your groups better, we encourage you to do so. Please reach out to [email protected] for any assistance.
This document, detailing a menu of options for groups to engage in Nuclear Prayer Day, as well as a sample letter for heads of denominations, was drafted by Colleen Moore of the General Board of Church & Society of the United Methodist Church.