World Day of Prayer

The World Day of Prayer takes place every year on the first Friday in March. Women in the United States and Canada first formed this event after the devastation of World War I, when they were convinced that world peace was tied to world mission. Each year, Christian women from all over the world join together to plan and organize events, and suggest a theme and focus. This year the theme was set by the women of Taiwan:

I Have Heard About Your Faith

This theme is an invitation to active listening. The planning committee shares 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.

Agenda today:

1. Read Ephesians 1:15-19

2. Resilience practice

3. Prayer for Taiwan

4. Prayerful Action

1. Read Ephesians 1:15-19:

This is the letter sent to the Ephesian 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.

2. Resilience practice: 

Practice #10 is to practice the BE-THIS grounding skills, an acronym for Breathe, Emotion, Touch, Hearing, Intentional 

stretching, and Sight/Smell. (Not a useful acronym, because it's too long!)

1. Take 2 or 3 soothing Breaths.
2. Tune in to your Emotional state.
3. Place your hands over your eyes, then your temples, then one on your forehead and one on the back of your neck, and feel the soothing Touch.
4. Notice as many different and subtle sounds as you can Hear.
5. Intentionally stretch your shoulders and neck.
6. Notice as many Sights and Smells as you can, with child-like wonder.

Practice this process whenever you feel scattered or anxious, to help to ground and settle all your senses.

3. Prayer for Taiwan:

Lord in a land that still has people who retain their own language and culture, we pray that there will be a way for them to live alongside the modern world without being lost into it.

Lord in a land so full of amazing natural formations and beautiful countryside, we pray that there is a good awareness of climate change and its effect on the land.

Lord in a land that faces the challenge of an ageing population, we pray for good support for all generations enabling an even burden of care throughout society.

Lord in a country formed out of strife and war, fear and fright, we pray for good and wise government and support through international relationships.

Lord in a land that delights in its democratic system of government, we pray that the younger generation will feel empowered to take part in the political aspects of life.

Lord in a land that feels so safe and secure, we pray for all those who set crime and punishment policies so they can achieve a balance in criminal law that is appropriate for all.

Lord in a land where there are the opportunities for good health, we pray for those who take care of those with cancer and the plans to reduce the number dying from cancer.

Lord in a land of co-existence and interfaith working, we pray that this interfaith approach shows something of the character of our God.

4. Prayerful Action: 

I love the motto of the World Day of Prayer: "Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action." What I understand from this year's theme is that we are asked to have the courage and wisdom to share stories of faith that transform lives.

The Taiwanese organizers 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. 

They ask, "What are the stories of faith in your community? How do you encourage them with your prayers and actions?"