The origins of Women's World Day of Prayer date back to the late 1800s in the USA and Canada. Christian women started a variety of activities centred on concern for women and children and the role of prayer in mission work, in spite of opposition from all-male mission boards. Women saw the need for Christian Unity and interdenominational work and attempted to create a united day of prayer. By 1910 women across the United States were understanding the powerful experience of cooperation, local and global networking, prayer and information sharing and biblical reflection.
Eventually there was an agreed common date and in 1926 the women of North America gave out a worship service to many countries and partners in mission. The response worldwide was enthusiastic and Womenâs World Day of Prayer came into being. The 1930s saw the first services to be held in the British Isles.
Friday 7th March 2008
During this annual day of prayer over 3 million women worldwide will be praying and worshipping together. The National President says "This is always an exciting day. The extent of unity in prayer is shown by the fact that meetings will begin at sunrise in Tonga and finish only with sunset in neighbouring Western Samoa, after there have been meetings in over 170 countries. In the British Isles, there will be well over 6,000 prayer services in different places. They bring together women, men and young people from every background and a very wide range of Christian traditions."
The Order of Service, which will be used around the world, has been prepared by the Christian women of Guyana, a country of exceptional beauty perched on the north-east corner of South America. It lies between Suriname to the east, Brazil to the south, Venezuela to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and is the only English speaking country in the continent. Culturally, Guyana is Caribbean and is part of the West Indies. The Amerindians are the original inhabitants and "Guyana" is an Amerindian word meaning "Land of Many Waters". It has a long history of colonial control with slaves imported to work on the sugar plantations.
After abolition many of the people left the estates, making labour shortages and leading to new ethnic groups coming into the country, creating a very cosmopolitan population. With all the diversity of their background and ethnic groups, the people of Guyana are fulfilling their national motto "One people, one nation, one destiny".
Many women of Guyana still bear the marks of those who experienced and fought against slavery and indentured labour, with the imperialism and discrimination which that involved. In recent years women in Guyana have held many senior positions at home and in international organisations. However, domestic violence and human trafficking remain problems. The Women's World Day of Prayer Service gives the opportunity to pray with and for the people of Guyana, to contribute to strengthening the dignity of women and to reflect on the theme "God's Wisdom Provides New Understanding".
The women's interpretation of this theme is the service that we will follow and we are invited to come before God in awe and reverence at the wonder of his creation and this leads on to a reminder that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". It may be useful to reflect on such moments of awe and wonder in one's own life. The Bible readings and prayers will support and develop the theme. The challenge for us all is to accept the new understanding that wisdom brings; to assume responsibility for each other and the evils we see around us and to ask ourselves "Where are we complicit?" and "What steps can we take to bring all humankind into a right relationship with God?"
This year in Ponteland the service on 7th March will be held in our Church at 2.15 p.m. Tea will be served afterwards and there will be a Traidcraft Stall in the hall. Also, this year a Gift Aid envelope will be given out with the service leaflet. If you are a tax payer please fill in the envelope before the service begins, so that the value of your donation can be increased.
We hope many members will support this year's Women's World Day of Prayer service.
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