I Have Heard About Your Faith

The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year.  Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can learn how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context.  We can hear their concerns and needs and can join in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression.

The service materials for the 2023 World Day of Prayer were written by a committee from Taiwan.  The theme is based on Ephesians 1: 15-19, the letter sent to a faith community to express gratitude.  Paul gave thanks to God for the Ephesians living out their love and faith, and prayed that they could see these three truths: the hope to which God has called the disciples, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance among the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of God’s power.

Over the years, there have been ecumenical World Day of Prayer services in both Barriere and Clearwater.  That is not happening this year.  However, for those who have appreciated attending these services, there are online options available.

• The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC), which coordinates the World Day of Prayer in Canada, has an online service that is already available on its website.  The service is just over fifty minutes.  It can also be viewed on YouTube.
• There is also a service designed for children and titled “Kids Pray Too”.  It can be found on both the WICC website and on YouTube.  This service is about twenty-five minutes.
• Then, on Saturday, March 4th at 10 am PST, WICC is hosting a National World Day of Prayer Virtual Service.  To register, go to this event site.  From the description:  “On Saturday, March 4th, 2023 at 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST join together with people across Canada and the WICC Board members in a World Day of Prayer 2023 Virtual Service. Breakout rooms after the service will give us a chance to meet others and share our thoughts.”

The World Day of Prayer International Committee website provides more background about this year’s World Day of Prayer.  The home page describes elements of the service:

Following the example of the letter (Ephesians 1:15-19), where the author praises the church for their faith in Jesus and love toward all the saints, the worship service contextualizes the witness of the saints with the stories from Taiwan.

The worship service shares the letters of encouragement sent to women who faced suffering and injustice. Their stories of faith contemplate issues that are shared by women and girls around the world and that continue to challenge us to prayerful action.

They remind us of the urgency to protect the environment and have a nuclear-free homeland; to be aware of the gender stereotypes women face when defying the traditional role in the workplace or in the family, and to care for the healing of the victims of verbal and sexual abuses. It also brings to light the hidden struggle of the essential workers during the pandemic who had to balance between work and family in a vulnerable economic situation. The sisters thank God for the natural resources of the island and pray for wisdom in face of the political isolation of Taiwan in the international community. They ask for our prayers.

The “Taiwan 2023” page provides background about the artist and her work for this year’s service; the land, people, and culture of Taiwan; the WDP Taiwan Committee; and the service’s theme.