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Area churches celebrate World Day of Prayer Shelburne and area churches will observe World Day of Prayer (WDP) on Friday, March 4, with a service in the Mel Lloyd Centre at 2 p.m. “You don't have to be of a particular faith, or even be inclined to a particular faith, to attend the prayers of others,” says Reverend Candice Bist, the new interim minister at Trinity United Church in Shelburne. “We all pray, in some form or another. This particular prayer service is of the Christian tradition, developed and written by the Woman's Inter-church Council of Canada - this year led by the woman of Cuba.” Each year, women from a different country develop the service. World Day of Prayer originated in Canada and the United States in 1920 and became an international event in 1922 when Christians around the globe began to celebrate the occasion annually on the first Friday of every March. It is an opportunity for Christian women to take leadership roles in their community, with over 170 countries participating in the day. The national event is organized by the Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada, with a goal of uniting people in issues of injustice and disparity everywhere. Many area churches and ministers participate in the planning and presentation of the worship service, including Trinity United Church, St. Paul's Anglican Church, Abiding Place Ministry, Community of Christ Proton-Granville, Crossroad Community Church, Compass Community Church, and Grace Church of the Nazarene. Dufferin Oaks will also participate. Since its founding, a portion of offerings received at each World Day of Prayer service go to local and global projects in need. The offering received will provide grants to the women in Cuba and other countries. Prayer is “often given a bad rap,” says Rev. Bist, “In its simplest form, [prayer] is simply 'attentiveness.' And in the current context of rush, rush, any time we put aside a space in our day to contemplate others, how we help others, how we may develop compassion for others, how we may learn from others, well, I would say that is time well spent. “Because if we can't begin to do that, we will certainly continue to falter as a human race. There is much talk of mindfulness these days, and that is the place where prayer begins.” Elisabeth Liekermoser is the lead organizer for 2016 service, along with the women of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Melancthon. Trinity Church member Ruth Cruikshank reports “lots of enthusiasm around the event.” The guest speaker at the event will be LeeAnn McKenna, the Executive Director of Partera International which works in areas of conflict to bring about non-violent solutions. “The service is written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Cuba and prepared and adapted for use in Canada by the Women's Inter Church Council Canada,” says Ms. Liekermoser. The first reference to the celebration of the World Day of Prayer in Cuba dates back to 1930. For a period, the practice of any religion was marginalized by an atheist policy, but in 1990, the Cuban Constitution re-established and guaranteed religious freedom Shelburne will be one of more than 2,000 communities across Canada to share in World Day of Prayer. The motto is “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action” promoting the belief that prayer and action are indivisible and that both hold infinite possibilities for a better world. Those wishing to attend the service at the Mel Lloyd Centre on March 4 at 2 p.m. should enter through Door C. All are welcome. Refreshments to follow service. By Marni Walsh |
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