Day of Repentance and Prayer 2025: Congregations invite you to contemplative celebrations!

Day of Repentance and Prayer 2025: Congregations invite you to contemplative celebrations!

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, it's that time again: the day of repentance and prayer is just around the corner. This day, which has been celebrated by Protestant Christians for centuries, offers a valuable opportunity for reflection and personal conversion. Even though the Day of Repentance and Prayer was abolished as a public holiday in 1995, its spirit remains alive in the Protestant communities in Cologne and the surrounding area.

In the Cologne region, as well as in the Rhein-Erft district and the Rheinisch-Bergischer district, numerous communities invite you to various celebrations. The spectrum ranges from quiet devotions to lively musical evening events. The diverse church services offer believers the opportunity to engage with their faith and their community.

Diverse church services in Cologne

Numerous events begin in the evening to properly celebrate the day of repentance and prayer. In the Hope community There will be an ecumenical service at 7:00 p.m. in the Catholic Church of the Transfiguration of Christ. At the same time, an evening service with a rousing gospel choir will take place in the “Under God’s Grace” community center in the Ichthys Evangelical Church Community.

Another highlight is the ecumenical service with an Agape meal in the Weidenpesch Church of the Redeemer, where the community is cordially invited at 7:00 p.m. In addition, there are devotions and services held by various parishes that give believers a feeling of community and peace during this contemplative time.

The selection of church services in Cologne includes:

• 19:00 – Evangelische Hoffnungsgemeinde, ökumenischer Gottesdienst, kath. Kirche Christi Verklärung, Taborplatz 2
• 19:00 – Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Ichthys, Abendgottesdienst mit Gospelchor, Gemeindehaus Unter Gottes Gnaden, Zum Dammfelde 37
• 19:00 – Evangelische Begegnungsgemeinde Köln, ökumenischer Gottesdienst mit Agape-Mahl, Erlöserkirche Weidenpesch
• 18:00 – Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Köln-Lindenthal, Abendgottesdienst mit Amnesty International, Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche, Gleueler Straße 106
• 18:30 – Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Köln-Bayenthal, Andacht mit Abendmahl, Reformationskirche, Mehlemer Straße 29
• … und viele weitere Gottesdienste, die zur Besinnung einladen.

Celebrate in the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis

Numerous celebrations are also planned in the surrounding Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis. Highlights include the ecumenical service in the Kippekausen Evangelical Church and the evening prayer in the Volberg Church. Here, believers are offered a platform to pray together and reflect on the essentials.

The events in the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis are just as diverse:

• 19:30 – Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Bensberg, ökumenischer Gottesdienst in St. Antonius Abbas, Im Fronhof 28
• 15:00 – Evangelische Kirchengemeinde Bensberg, Gottesdienst in der Evangelischen Kirche Kippekausen
• 19:00 – Evangelische Gemeinde Volberg-Forsbach-Rösrath, Abendandacht in Volberger Kirche

Overall, the day of repentance and prayer not only highlights the cultural significance within the communities, but also the opportunity for individual return to questions of faith. The communities in Cologne and the surrounding area are determined to keep the legacy of this tradition alive and to offer everyone interested a space for reflection.

For anyone looking for meaningful activities on this special day, there are a wealth of opportunities to root themselves in the community and dig into the roots of faith. Try it out and attend one of the many services on Day of Penance and Prayer!