World Day of Prayer

Details

Published on Sunday, February 25, 2018

Christine Waddell
Neepawa Banner & Press

The World Day of Prayer (W.D.P.) is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year. It is celebrated in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The roots of this day can be dated back to the 1800s. Through WDP women around the world are encouraged to become aware of the whole world and no longer live in isolation and to be enriched by faith experiences of Christians of other countries and cultures and to pray for and with them.

Canada’s first WDP was in January in Lindsay, Ontario in 1920. The national body in Canada is the women’s inter-church council of Canada and will celebrate its 100 year anniversary this year.  It formed first to be able to plan a day of prayer. This year about 1,250 services are expected to take place in Canada. Every year services focus on a different country and with a specific theme. Through preparation and participation women learn of other countries and the needs and concerns of the women and to sympathize and feel solidarity with them.

This year’s service is “All God’s creation is Very Good.” and the host country is the Republic of Suriname which lies in the northeastern part of South America. Part of its boundary is shared with Brazil and is coastal and part of the Guianas. There are three ladies from Manitoba who are serving on the Women’s Inter Church Council. WDP offerings provide grants for projects that benefit women touched by injustice and helps to fund for each years services. Some money from last year in Manitoba went to “Survivors Hope Crisis Centre Inc.” in Selkirk.

This year WDP in Neepawa is hosted by the United Church on Friday March 2 at 2 p.m. with refreshments following. All are welcome.