World Day of Prayer

Women are preparing for this year's World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 1. All are welcome to join local services throughout the country or use the materials for informed prayer. Local women's groups in more than 170 countries will use these resources to lead services and Bible studies in their communities.

This year's theme is taken from Ephesians 4, "I beg you… bear with one another in love". Palestinian women share their stories and perspectives in these resources. Throughout the liturgy, the olive tree provides a powerful symbol of hope.

A group of Palestinian Christian women spent four years crafting this year's materials - through the Covid pandemic but before the current hostilities. The women share their experience of writing, and talk about the current situation through a Global Conversation recorded on 2 December 2023 (1 hour 2 mins 53 seconds): https://youtu.be/PW9LuDdTAuE As one woman says in the video, our stories are sad, but their message is one of encouragement – no matter what happens, we need to bear with each other in love.

"Each year these resources are a gift, offering rare insights into women's lives. This year is no exception. The courage and strength of these women whose ancestors have lived in Palestine since the time of Jesus are a powerful source of hope. Please join us in prayerful action on March 1," says Pauline McKay, National Chairperson.

The World Day of Prayer is a global movement of Christian women who come together to celebrate in prayer and action on the first Friday in March. Begun in the USA and Canada in the nineteenth century, it became a global movement in 1927. The movement brings together women of many ages and ethnicities for prayer and action. National committees take turns at preparing the resources, building understanding and concern for women in many places.

Offerings at this year's services will support women's cooperatives on the West Bank set up with the assistance of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches, a local partner of Christian World Service, the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy and a Bible Society programme for children and young people in Gaza and the West Bank as well as costs.

For more information on this year's services, contact your local World Day of Prayer organising group or Zella at wdpnz@xtra.co.nz .

The resources including music, children's materials, a Bible Study on Ephesians 4: 1-3 and background are available at: http://www.worlddayofprayer.co.nz/

For more information, please contact: Pauline McKay, National Chairperson, pauline_mckay_@hotmail.com Mobile: 021 289 1225