On March 4th, multiple denominations of women will gather at Saint-Malachie Church in Ormstown to observe the World Day of Prayer. This event is celebrated annually on the first Friday of March (recognized as women’s history month).
Fittingly, 19th century Christian women founded this day as a way to address the particular struggles of women and children worldwide, despite opposition from male-only mission boards. Today, though women still make up the planning and leadership teams behind the World Day of Prayer, all people are encouraged to attend its services.
The practice of gathering across denominations and distributing a universal lecture became popular throughout the 20th century. Each year a different country’s WDP committee writes a sermon that is adapted and read worldwide. The custom provides an opportunity to learn about another culture and address its individual challenges through prayer. In 1930, Helen Kim of Korea was chosen as the first woman outside of the US to write the order of worship. 2016’s sermon was written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Cuba and is entitled: “Receive Children. Receive Me.”
This year’s theme will discuss Cuba at a historic time—with the US trade embargo lifted and the former atheist state free to openly worship. The Cuban WDP Committee reflects on this moment in their press release: “The service transmits their witness and experience of being Cuban and Christian, even when their faith meant isolation within the country they love.”… “What can these women tell the rest of the world about how faith endures in a secular world, of material and social challenges, and of hope?”
The public is invited to attend the World Day of Prayer in Ormstown on Friday, March 4th at Saint-Malachie Church, Roy St. at 2:00p.m. / 14h00. The program is bilingual and everyone is welcome. To find a WDP event, to register an event in your area, or to read this year’s sermon, visit the Women’s Inter Church Council at: http://www.wicc.org/
