March 1st

~ from the World Day of Prayer International Committee’s website

The World Day of Prayer is an ecumenical movement inspired by the motto “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.” We follow the example of Jesus Christ, who prayed from a place of knowledge and care for the world, and who acted from a place of prayer and connection to God.

From Aug 20-27, delegates traveled from around the world to attend the World Day of Prayer International Meeting in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. These women came from Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions to pray together, share their stories in community, and make decisions for the future of the movement. It was these delegates who selected the theme and writer committee for 2024.

An ecumenical group of Palestinian Christian women have prayed and reflected together over the past several years to respond to the invitation to write the 2024 program. Their theme is “I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love,” based on Ephesians 4:1-7. This program calls us to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression.

The Worship Service shares stories of three Palestinian Christian women, who witness to the power of bearing together in love. Their stories illuminate the experiences of Palestinian women from three different generations. The symbol of an olive tree is used throughout the worship service. This represents the three generations through the trunk, branches, and leaves of the olive tree.

The Palestinian Christian women who wrote this worship service have invited the world to pray for peace, justice and freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Their prayers specifically call us to pray with women, refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and all who are sick, dying and grieving. They also call us to confess to our collective role in causing the climate crisis, and to commit to repairing what we have destroyed. Finally, they call us, the global church, to be united in treating all with justice and love.

This program was developed entirely in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking on the responsibility of being a writer country is always a rigorous journey, but it was particularly difficult given the changed realities of a world suffering under a global pandemic. We are grateful to our Palestinian Christian sisters for navigating this process with grace and patience.

May God continue to bless the world through our commitment to praying and acting together as a global sisterhood of ecumenical Christian women.

Background Information

This page on the World Day of Prayer International Committee’s website includes

• a brief Bible study of the scripture used in this year’s theme;
• a section on the history and culture of Palestine, including pictures;
• information about the art and artist;
• audio files of songs and the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic; and
• a video about the theme in which the writing committee was able to introduce themselves, describe their experience developing the 2024 programme, and discuss the current situation in Palestine.

World Day of Prayer International Committee Choir

World Day of Prayer International Committee Choir

Listen to a video of the World Day of Prayer International Committee Choir singing “I Urge You” by Najwa Hashweh Azazian. It was composed especially for the 2024 World Day of Prayer Palestine programme.  The video also includes a reading of Ephesians 4: 1-6 with each verse spoken in a different language. 

Local Service ~ March 2nd

St. Georges Roman Catholic Church in Barriere will be hosting a World Day of Prayer Service on Saturday, March 2nd at 1 pm.  All are welcome!