The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian lay women’s initiative. It is run under the motto ‘informed prayer and prayerful action’ and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday of March. The movement aims to bring together women of various races, cultures, and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year.
This year the women of Palestine have written the service which took place across the world last Friday.
The service was planned and written before the current conflicts across Palestine, the women who have written this have asked that it is still facilitated in the way in which it was written.
‘I beg you, bear with one another in love’
Ephesians 4: 1 – 7
Day of Prayer begins on the international dateline, in Samoa. Early in the morning, Christian women begin praying for our world … as the earth rotates, a great wave of prayer began to build. It swept across The Pacific, touching Fiji and New Zealand, rolling on through Asia – Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Bangladesh… The countries of Africa are next, and then the Middle East. The wave reached the shores of Europe as the day dawned there. Across the Atlantic, it moves onwards – the Caribbean, the Americas, and on to the Pacific again… until the sun finally set over American Samoa, where the final service took place … a worldwide circle of prayer is now complete.
WDP Virtual Choir can be viewed here واطلب اليكم (Wa atlubu) – I Urge You, by Najwa Hashweh Azazian (Palestine) (youtube.com)
It seems appropriate that this week’s prayers are those written by the Women of Palestine for 2024’s World Day of Prayer:
God of Righteousness,
bless us and make us witnesses of peace and justice. Open our eyes so that we can see things as you do. Protect us from all forms of violence, hurt and revenge. We pray especially for women who are denied education and other basic rights; for women who are abused and suffer violence. We pray that our churches, as well as our governments, will create safe places for women.
Help us to raise our voices and use our gifts and talents to help others. Lead us into a life worthy of our calling.
Refugee God,
because your son, Jesus, as a child had to flee a massacre in Bethlehem, you know the plight of refugees and the displaced. Remain with them and help them in these dark and difficult times. Guide and protect them and bring them to places of safety. Open the hearts of those receiving refugees, and guide the actions of political leaders so that all needs will be met.
Lead us into a life worthy of our calling.
God our Rock,
you have taught us to build our lives on you. We pray for those who are homeless and especially for families whose homes have been destroyed through war or natural disasters. We pray for all who work tirelessly to resolve these situations.
Lead us into a life worthy of our calling.
God of Peace,
we pray for a peaceful end to the ongoing situation in Palestine. We also pray for the city of Jerusalem, sacred to the three religions of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Let there be equality, freedom of religion, freedom of movement and freedom of expression. Teach us as Christians to follow the way of Jesus, sharing love with those we meet.
Lead us into a life worthy of our calling.
God of Unity,
your Son, Jesus, prayed that your disciples and followers would be one, as you are one. Teach us, your servants, to treat others justly, fairly and with love even though we may speak, live and pray differently. Bless the global church and bless the faithful women everywhere who share your Good News with others.
Lead us into a life worthy of our calling
Amen
Ruth Dawson – MWiB Media Officer
