The National Council of Churches (NCC) will hold a public online memorial service this Sunday, May 24, 2020 to mourn the more than 300,000 people worldwide who have lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 90,000 of whom were in the United States.

A Time to Mourn: An Ecumenical Memorial Service for Lives Lost to COVID-19

The event will be broadcast at 6 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 24, on YouTube and Facebook Live.

Register for the event by visiting http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us

The service will include a sermon offered by the Right Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, known as the “Love Preacher” after speaking at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Meagan Markle. Many other clergy from at least eight other Christian traditions – including the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Reformed Church in America — will offer prayers, readings and songs during the observance.

A list of names of those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 is being collected and will be scrolled during the service. Add names to the list by clicking below:

The NCC is comprised of 38 member communions ranging from mainline Protestant to historic African American and Orthodox churches.

Plans for the program grew from a profound concern by faith leaders that, due to the lock-down and other restrictions surrounding the coronavirus, people have been unable to properly grieve the passing of loved ones. The nation has not had a public moment of collective grief to acknowledge and mourn the impact of losing so many lives in such a short period of time.