The Women's World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen's initiative. 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.
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, 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.
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, that country then becomes the focus of prayer and understanding. The worship service is meant to teach women how other countries, languages and cultures understand biblical passages in their context. They learn of the concerns and needs of those women and to empathize and feel solidarity with them.
World Day of Prayer themes and writer countries see World Day of Prayer Website of England, Wales, & Northern Ireland Year Theme Writer Country 1927 Pray Ye Therefore 1928 Breaking Down Barriers 1929 That They May All Be One 1930 That Jesus May Be Lifted Up 1931 Ye Shall Be My Witnesses 1932 Hold Fast in Prayer 1933 Follow Thou Me 1934 Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem 1935 Bear Ye One Another's Burdens 1936 On Earth, Peace, Goodwill Toward Men 1937 Thou art The Christ, The Son of the Living God Africa 1938 The Church – A World Fellowship 1939 Let Us Put Our Love Into Deeds – and Make it Real 1940 In Quietness and in Confidence shall be Your Strength 1941 Thy Kingdom Come Shanghai 1942 I Am The Way 1943 That They all May Be One 1944 God wondered that there was no Intercessor From statements of 150 nationals and repatriated missionaries from over 100 countries 1945 That Ye Should Show Forth the Praises of Him Who Hath Called You Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light 1946 The Things That Make for our Peace Central Africa 1947 Make Level in the Desert a Highway for our God 1948 The World at Prayer 1949 The Lord is Thy Keeper 1950 Faith for our Time 1951 Perfect Love Casteth out Fear 1952 Christ, our Hope : Migrants, Sharecroppers, and Native Americans 1953 Walk as Children of the Light Africa 1954 That They May Have Life 1955 Abide in Me () 1956 One Flock, One Shepherd 1957 Who shall separate us ...? 1958 The Bread of Life 1959 Lord, I believe 1960 Labourers together with God 1961 Forward through the Ages: In everything give thanks 1962 For God So Loved the World 1963 More than Conquerors 1964 Let us Pray 1965 What doth the Lord require? 1966 Ye are my Witnesses 1967 Of His Kingdom there shall be no end 1968 Bear ye one another's Burdens 1969 Growing Together in Christ 1970 Be of Good Courage 1971 A New People for a New Age Caribbean 1972 All Joy Be Yours 1973 Alert in our time 1974 Make us builders of peace 1975 Become perfectly One 1976 Education through Living 1977 Love in Action 1978 Community Spirit in Modern Living 1979 Spiritual Growth East Africa 1980 Responsible Freedom 1981 The Earth is the Lord's 1982 The People of God: Gathered for Worship- Scattered for Service 1983 New persons in Christ Caribbean 1984 Living Water from Christ our Hope 1985 Peace through Prayer and Action 1986 Choose Life 1987 Come and Rejoice! 1988 Open Doors 1989 Lord, Teach us to Pray 1990 A Better Tomorrow, Justice for All 1991 On the Journey Together 1992 Living Wisely with Creation 1993 God's People: Instruments of Healing 1994 Go, See & Act 1995 The Earth is a House for all People 1996 God Calls Us To Respond 1997 Like a Seed Which Grows into a Tree 1998 Who is My Neighbour? 1999 God's Tender Touch 2000 Talitha Kumi: Young Woman Stand Up 2001 Informed Prayer, Prayerful Action 2002 Challenged to Reconcile 2003 Holy Spirit, Fill Us 2004 In Faith, Women Shape the Future 2005 Let Our Light Shine 2006 Signs Of The Times 2007 United Under God's Tent 2008 God's Wisdom Provides New Understanding 2009 In Christ, There Are Many Members, Yet One Body 2010 Let Everything that has Breath Praise God 2011 How Many Loaves Have You? 2012 Let Justice Prevail 2013 I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me 2014 Streams in the Desert 2015 Jesus Said to them: "Do You Know What I Have Done to you?" 2016 Receive Children, Receive Me 2017 Am I Being Unfair to You? 2018 All God's Creation is Very Good! 2019 Come – Everything is Ready 2020 Rise! Take your Mat and Walk 2021 Build on a Strong Foundation 2022 I Know the Plans I Have For You 2023 I Have Heard About Your Faith 2024 I Beg You... Bear With One Another in Love 2025 I Made You Wonderful 2026 I Will Give You Rest: Come
Forthcoming World Day of Prayer themes and writer countries see Year Theme Writer Country 2027 Centennial: United in Prayer for Justice and Peace! Worldwide 2028 Leading the Way in Grace 2029 Compassion Brings Healing 2030 As the Earth Rests, People Can Eat 2031 A Sign of Faith
See also
Christian ecumenism
References
External links World Day of Prayer Australia Canada England, Wales, Northern Ireland France Germany Scotland Switzerland USA