World Day of Prayer

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World Day of Prayer Logo since 1982 World Day of Prayer Logo.svg
World Day of Prayer Logo since 1982

The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen's initiative. [1] It is run under the motto "Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action" and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in 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.

Contents

History

The Women's World Day of Prayer started in the US in 1887 when Mary Ellen Fairchild James, wife of Darwin Rush James from Brooklyn, New York, called for a day of prayer for home missions, [2] and Methodist women called for a week of prayer and self-denial for foreign missions. Two years later, two Baptists called together a Day of Prayer for the World Mission. The Day of Prayer initiated by these two women expanded to Canada in 1922, then to the British Isles in the 1930s. The movement's focus on ecumenism and reconciliation led to growth after World War II. Since 1927 the day of prayer in the month of March has been known as the Women's World Day of Prayer. Catholic women joined the movement after the Second Vatican Council, beginning in 1967, and united what had been their May day of prayer with the March Women's World Day of Prayer in 1969. As such, Catholic women honor the World Day of Prayer. [3] [4]

Two other Christian denominations celebrate a World Day of Prayer in September. Firstly, the Unity Church, a New Thought denomination headquartered at Unity Village, Missouri celebrates a twenty-four-hour World Day of Prayer, principally on the second Thursday in September (member churches may start at sunset on September 11, and the themes differ from those of the Women's World Day of Prayer set forth below). [5] [6] And secondly, the terrorist events of September 11, 2001 prompted the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal order, to designate that date annually as a World Day of Prayer for Peace. [7]

Aims

Through the World Day of Prayer, women are encouraged to become aware of the other countries and cultures and no longer live in isolation. They are also encouraged take up the burdens of other people, to sympathize with the problems of other countries and cultures and pray with and for them. They are further encouraged to become aware of their talents and use them in the service of society. The World Day of Prayer aims to demonstrate that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence in the world.

Programme

Every year, worship service focuses on a different country and a specific theme. World Day of Prayer National/Regional Committees of that country prepare the order of worship on these themes to be used on the next World Day of Prayer.

On the first Friday of March, then, in services all over the world that country becomes the focus of prayer and understanding. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, women worldwide learn how their sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the biblical passages in their context. They learn of the concerns and needs of those women and to empathize and feel in solidarity with them.

World Day of Prayer themes and writer countries

see [8] [9] [10]

YearThemeWriter Country
1927Pray Ye ThereforeFlag of the United States.svg  USA
1928Breaking Down BarriersFlag of the United States.svg  USA
1929That They May All Be OneFlag of the United States.svg  USA
1930That Jesus May Be Lifted UpFlag of South Korea.svg  Korea
1931Ye Shall Be My WitnessesFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1932Hold Fast in PrayerBritish Raj Red Ensign.svg  India
1933Follow Thou MeFlag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China
1934Pray for the Peace of JerusalemFlag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
1935Bear Ye One Another's BurdensFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Holland
1936On Earth, Peace, Goodwill Toward MenFlag of Chile.svg  Chile
1937Thou art The Christ, The Son of the Living GodAfrica
1938The Church – A World FellowshipFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1939Let Us Put Our Love Into Deeds – and Make it RealFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States of America
1940In Quietness and in Confidence shall be Your StrengthFlag of England.svg  England
1941Thy Kingdom ComeFlag of the Shanghai International Settlement.svg Shanghai
1942I Am The WayFlag of France.svg  French Refugees

Flag of Germany (1933-1935).svg  German Refugees

1943That They all May Be OneFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States of America
1944God wondered that there was no IntercessorFrom statements of 150 nationals and repatriated missionaries from over 100 countries
1945That Ye Should Show Forth the Praises of Him Who Hath Called You Out of Darkness into His Marvelous LightFlag of England.svg  England

Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Northern Ireland

1946The Things That Make for our PeaceCentral Africa
1947Make Level in the Desert a Highway for our GodFlag of India.svg  India
1948The World at Prayer Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States of America
1949The Lord is Thy KeeperFlag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
1950Faith for our TimeFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
1951Perfect Love Casteth out FearFlag of Germany.svg  Germany
1952Christ, our HopeFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States of America: Migrants, Sharecroppers, and Native Americans
1953Walk as Children of the LightAfrica
1954That They May Have LifeFlag of India.svg  India
1955Abide in MeBandera de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires.svg  Buenos Aires
(Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina)
1956One Flock, One ShepherdFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  Cook Christian Training School for Native American Christian Leaders in Arizona, USA
1957Who shall separate us ...?Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary
1958The Bread of LifeFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1959Lord, I believeFlag of the United Arab Republic.svg  Egypt
1960Labourers together with GodCanadian Red Ensign (1957-1965).svg  Committee of the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada
1961Forward through the Ages: In everything give thanksFlag of the United States.svg  United States of America
1962For God So Loved the WorldFlag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay
1963More than ConquerorsFlag of Korea (1899).svg  Korea
1964Let us PrayFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
1965What doth the Lord require?Flag of the United States.svg  United States of America
1966Ye are my WitnessesFlag of Scotland.svg  WWDP Committee of Scotland
1967Of His Kingdom there shall be no endFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga
1968Bear ye one another's BurdensFlag of Ceylon.svg  Ceylon
1969Growing Together in ChristFlag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone

Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya

1970Be of Good CourageFlag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica

Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Flag of the United States.svg  United States of America
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana

1971A New People for a New AgeCaribbean
1972All Joy Be YoursFlag of Europe.svg  Europe
1973Alert in our timeFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
1974Make us builders of peaceFlag of Japan.svg  Japan
1975Become perfectly OneFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
1976Education through LivingFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico

 South America

1977Love in ActionFlag of East Germany.svg  German Democratic Republic
1978Community Spirit in Modern LivingFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
1979Spiritual GrowthEast Africa
1980Responsible FreedomFlag of Thailand.svg  Thailand
1981The Earth is the Lord'sFlag of the United States.svg  USA
1982The People of God: Gathered for Worship- Scattered for ServiceFlag of Ireland.svg  Ireland

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Northern Ireland

1983New persons in ChristCaribbean
1984Living Water from Christ our HopeFlag of Sweden.svg  Sweden
1985Peace through Prayer and ActionFlag of India.svg  India
1986Choose LifeFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
1987Come and Rejoice!Flag of the United Nations.svg  International Committee of WWDP
1988Open DoorsFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil
1989Lord, Teach us to PrayFlag of Myanmar (1974-2010).svg  Burma
1990A Better Tomorrow, Justice for AllFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
1991On the Journey TogetherFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
1992Living Wisely with CreationFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   German Speaking Switzerland

Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany

1993God's People: Instruments of HealingFlag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala
1994Go, See & ActFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
1995The Earth is a House for all PeopleFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana
1996God Calls Us To RespondFlag of Haiti.svg  Haiti
1997Like a Seed Which Grows into a TreeFlag of Korea (1899).svg  Korea
1998Who is My Neighbour?Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar
1999God's Tender TouchFlag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela
2000Talitha Kumi: Young Woman Stand UpFlag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
2001Informed Prayer, Prayerful ActionFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
2002Challenged to ReconcileFlag of Romania.svg  Romania
2003Holy Spirit, Fill UsFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
2004In Faith, Women Shape the FutureFlag of Panama.svg  Panama
2005Let Our Light ShineFlag of Poland.svg  Poland
2006Signs Of The TimesFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
2007United Under God's TentFlag of Paraguay.svg  Paraguay
2008God's Wisdom Provides New UnderstandingFlag of Guyana.svg  Guyana
2009In Christ, There Are Many Members, Yet One BodyFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea
2010Let Everything that has Breath Praise GodFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon
2011How Many Loaves Have You?Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
2012Let Justice PrevailFlag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
2013I was a Stranger and You Welcomed MeFlag of France.svg  France
2014Streams in the DesertFlag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
2015Jesus Said to them: "Do You Know What I Have Done to you?"Flag of the Bahamas.svg  The Bahamas
2016Receive Children, Receive MeFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
2017Am I Being Unfair to You?Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines
2018All God's Creation is Very Good!Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname
2019Come – Everything is ReadyFlag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia
2020Rise! Take your Mat and WalkFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe
2021Build on a Strong FoundationFlag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu
2022I Know the Plans I Have For YouFlag of England.svg  England

Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Northern Ireland

Forthcoming World Day of Prayer themes and writer countries

YearThemeWriter Country
2023I Have Heard About Your FaithFlag of the Republic of China.svg  Taiwan
2024I Beg You... Bear With One Another in LoveFlag of Palestine.svg  Palestine
2025I Made You WonderfulFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands
2026I Will Give You Rest: ComeFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria

See also

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