World Day of Prayer 2024

In 2017 the Christian women of Palestine were chosen to prepare the service for World Day of Prayer 2024. At the time, the international committee could not have foreseen how that decision, and the theme “I beg you, bear with one another in love” Ephesians 4:1-3 would resonate with the situation currently unfolding in Palestine. 

On Saturday 2 December 2023 at 4.00pm New York time (5am Sunday NZ time) a WDP Global Conversation included representatives from the Palestine National WDP Committee involved in preparing the 2024 service. Their work - in the planning phase for several years - has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It has taken on a new significance, given unfolding events in Gaza and the West Bank where more than 25,000 people, many women and children, have been killed in indiscriminate attacks since 7 October 2023.

Three representatives from the NZ WDP planning committee, including Methodist Publishing Board Chair, Pauline McKay, participated in the online forum where Palestinian committee members shared personal stories of the loss and devastation they have suffered over recent months.

Pauline has personal connections to the Palestinian involvement that reach beyond her role as a member of the NZWDP committee. In 2017 she attended the World Day of Prayer International Committee meeting in Brazil where the decision was made to invite WDP Palestine to write the 2024 service. Pauline says, “There was some controversy about the decision but the Aotearoa New Zealand delegation strongly supported the recommendation. We did not know at the time how poignant, meaningful and prophetic that decision was.”

Pauline found the Global Conversation content confronting and disturbing. “It was harrowing what they had to tell us about what is happening to family and friends. As communication from within Gaza and the West Bank was/is virtually impossible, the women who participated in the conversation lived in Bethlehem and Germany. The presentation included a written statement from Nora Carmi, who I know as a member of the YWCA of Palestine and WDP Palestine. She lives in Gaza.”

The Global Conversation – WDP service planners talk

WDP executive committee member, Maral Haidostian, opened the hour-long global conversation by providing context to the development of the service. Planning was initially impacted by the global coronavirus pandemic and then war denied members of the committee the ability to meet in person. She introduced other members of the executive committee and welcomed the global audience - tuning in live from all over the world – saying, “May God’s peace and reconciliation prevail.”

Australian-based Vicki Marney, WDP committee representative from the Pacific region, gave an overview of the process undertaken every five years to confirm the writer country selected to write the service and prepare resources for future iterations of WDP. The purpose is to ensure “that the voices of sisters all around the world are heard” and that the writer committee is well supported in their mission. In reference to the situation currently taking place in Palestine, Vicky said, “Prior to the pandemic we could not foresee God’s plans. The committee now finds itself in a place they might never have imagined.”

Rev Sally Azar, Chair of the WDP Committee, became the first ordained female Palestinian pastor in the Holy Land in 2023. Since 2017 she has worked alongside 17 other Palestinian Christian women to write the liturgy for WDP 2024. The group divided themselves into committees tasked with various aspects of the service e.g. music, worship liturgy and Bible study. Rev Azar said, “The service reflects the authenticity of the voices of all the women involved in preparing resources.”

In August 2023, the committee gathered for a strengthening workshop in in Beit Jala, near Jerusalem. During a two-day retreat, the group of Christian women representing many denominations worked on the service, and visited St Martha’s House, Bethlehem. As the gathering occurred on a Thursday, the group collectively celebrated the importance of Thursdays in Black, a movement that stands against violence towards women.

A Daily Struggle Being a Christian in the Holy Land

Each of the WDP committee representatives reiterated their pride in being a Christian Palestinian existing in the Holy Land. They also emphasised the difficulties associated with living as a minority group, experiencing aggression and hostility daily. Sharing their struggles and comforting each other in love, as defined by the 2024 WDP theme, enabled them to speak out, comfort each other and move forward in their daily lives and in their WDP preparations. The universal language of love was the main line of communication used throughout the planning and preparation.

Shireen Awwad, a member of the WDP Palestine committee residing on the outskirts of Bethlehem, was candid, emotional and brutally honest as she spoke about the situation in Gaza from a deeply personal perspective. Two of her aunts were sheltering in a church that was attacked; one was killed and the other severely injured. The injured woman subsequently underwent surgery without anaesthetic and her recovery has been compromised by a lack of rehabilitation. Shireen’s uncle died because he was not able to get a routine operation.

Parents write their children's names on their hands or legs as a way of identifying them as many people killed in the incessant bombing are being buried without being identified. Shireen talked about the carnage that ensued when an ancient historic Greek Orthodox Church, in which many were taking sanctuary, was bombed.

As the indigenous Christian population of Palestine is being forced to leave Gaza, her fear is that their churches will become museum pieces – no longer places of worship for the small, courageous and brave Christian community. Her moving commentary was supported by graphic images showing scenes of devastation, mass graves and raw human grief.

“It is a sad situation and there is no justification that Israel can continue doing what they are doing now. There is no safe place The only solution now is to pray.”

Shireen’s plea for world action to encourage Israel to stop the inhumane attacks that represent “a collective punishment on all civilians because of Hamas,” must include peace and justice. “Peace without justice is not peace.”

Need for Prayer

Pauline McKay supports that call for prayer. “At a time when the people of Palestine need our solidarity and prayers more than in any time of their turbulent history, I urge people to attend the World Day of Prayer on Friday 1 March. Paul reminds the Ephesians that God chose both Jews and Gentiles to be saved, bringing together people of vastly diverse backgrounds. These words are as relevant today as they were when Paul wrote them around 60-61 CE”.

Pauline is aware that not all people side with the Palestinian situation and witnessed first-hand resistance to supporting the Palestinian cause in her role as Director of Christian World Service. “Our support for the Department for Services to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR) was sometimes challenged. I remember a robust discussion in Southland where I was told emphatically that Jews are the chosen people of God. CWS should be pro-Israel rather than supporting Palestine. They were unaware of the Christian community in Palestine and that they stay there because otherwise there would be no Christian presence in the Holy Land. Tragically that may eventuate. CWS has financially supported DSPR since 1949 - its oldest partner. The offering from the 2024 World Day of Prayer service will be used to support their work,” Pauline says.

Via the chat box, Pauline was able to tell the presenters about the weekly demonstrations in Christchurch in support of the Palestinian cause - as there have been around New Zealand and the world. “I got the feeling that they thought the world had forgotten about them, especially when the question was posed, ‘How could the international community let this happen?’”

How to Participate

Preparation for the day is enormous. A New York based international committee works in collaboration with national committees in each participating country. Regional conferences meet to consider the service and then local groups make their plans.

On Friday 1 March 2024 people will gather in 146 countries to celebrate the service prepared by the women of Palestine. It begins in Samoa and travels through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 38 hours later.

if you are holding a service please let the NZ WDP National Committee know (wdpnz@xtra.co.nz) as they are often asked for details of services from people who wish to attend.

If you are unable to attend a service or there is not one in near you - you can watch the live stream of the service on the WDPANZ website ( www.worlddayofprayer.co.nz).

To listen to the Global Conversation visit https://worlddayofprayer.net/palestine-2024.html

NZWDP committee members are Pauline McKay, Zella McGirr, Mary Caldwell, Cornelia Grant Stephanie Johnston, Sheila Nokes, Lynne Scott and Roz Wilkie.

The artwork: ‘Praying Palestinian Women’
The artwork ‘Praying Palestinian Women,’ is by Halima Aziz, a Palestinian visual artist and design student based in Germany. Born in Hagen, Germany in 1999, Halima grew up in Palestine. Following the war in 2008, her family moved back to Germany. Halima had an interest in art from an early age and started painting professionally in 2017.

Halima has used motifs and symbols which indicate the origin and cohesiveness of these women. Olive trees are a sign of everlasting and abundant life because they can live for thousands of years. The Palestinian people are deeply rooted in their country and this is underlined by the golden roots of the tree. Poppy flowers are a reminder of loved ones who have given their lives for their country. Traditional Palestinian dress symbolises the people’s creativity and their country’s rich heritage. The keys are a symbol of the hope to return to Palestine.