Several Bradford West Gwillimbury churches are preparing to bow their heads in prayer and religious solidarity.
“The impetus for the notion for World Day of Prayer came from the fact that theologians, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, were coming to the conclusion that people were Christian because of their traditions, not in spite of them… a solidarity of Christians, no matter what their tradition may be,” said Rev. Jim Keenan, minister at Bradford United Church and guest speaker at this year’s World Day of Prayer in Bradford.
“It’s an event to share the experience of Christian women and Christian solidarity with Christians everywhere,” he said.
Celebrated on the first Friday in March, World Day of Prayer has been held in over 170 countries around the world. In 2016, the World Day of Prayer drew more than one million participants in 98 countries – not only women, but men and children, according to the Women’s Inter-church Council of Canada (WICC).
World Day of Prayer in Canada can trace its roots back at least to 1918, and the formation of the WICC – although even before then, Christian women of various churches in the U.S. and Canada women united in a day of ecumenical prayer, that brought together their various denominations.
The first World Day of Prayer, as an international event, was held in 1926 – a day for “informed prayer and prayerful action,” primarily organized by women.
Each year, the program is prepared by the Christian women of a different country. The 2019 service was written by the women of Slovenia, on the theme “Come, everything is ready.”
Gwen Green, a member of the Bradford United Church Women, has been involved in World Day of Prayer celebrations for years.
This year, the event will be celebrated March 1 at 1 p.m. at Bradford United Church, 66 Barrie St. – involving women from Bradford United, St. John’s Presbyterian, Trinity Anglican, and Holy Martyrs of Japan Catholic Church.
She noted the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Women’s Association has also expressed interest in the World Day of Prayer, which has the goal of bringing together different cultures and traditions in a day of worship to affirm that prayer and action go together.
“It is to make people aware of the issues in other countries,” said Green, “and to see how the women are working together – really trying to work hard to show people what they are doing in their own countries.”
All are welcome to attend World Day of Prayer. Free-will offerings will be accepted to support a WICC grant program for projects that empower women and children – from the Elizabeth Fry Society of St. John, N.B., to the Ratanak International community home for survivors of human trafficking in Cambodia.
