More than 1,000 Christians from 13 churches in Zurich joined together Sept. 21 for an open-air worship service at Turbinenplatz, marking Switzerland’s Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer. The gathering included music led by ICF Zurich and concluded with 21 baptisms under the open sky, according to reporting by Swiss evangelical portal Livenet.ch.
The intergenerational service brought congregations together across denominational lines to pray for the city and the nation. “Our city needs a lot of prayer,” said Peter Hasler, pastor of Zoe Gospel Church, during the event.
Organizers said the highlight for many participants was the baptisms, where individuals publicly affirmed their faith in Jesus Christ. “In the middle of Zurich, under the open, blue sky,” said Simon Spalinger, pastor of C3 Church, who conducted several of the baptisms.
The open-air service has become a yearly tradition, with more congregations joining in recent years. “It excites me that over the years, this open-air service has been supported by more and more churches,” said Stephan Hörtig of Buchegg Church, one of the organizers.
Rebecca Zünd, pastor at the Salvation Army Zurich North, emphasized the unity expressed through the gathering. “For us, it is a wonderful opportunity to set a visible sign of unity in Zurich together with other churches,” she said.
The Federal Day of Thanksgiving, Repentance and Prayer is observed annually on the third Sunday of September. Emanuel Weiss, a pastor and lecturer, reminded attendees in a short sermon of a devastating earthquake that struck Zurich about 400 years ago, when people gathered to give thanks for survival and to pray for protection. “Even today we may ask God for miracles,” Weiss said. “Because even though society has changed – God has not changed.”
Organizers said they hope in the future to hold the open-air service at a more central location in Zurich so that more people can hear the gospel.
