Barbara Latkowski
Caledonia Courier
On March 3, people from all over the world, from all backgrounds and cultures, will come together in prayer.
Here in Fort St. James, the community is invited to celebrate at Zion Chapel at 7 pm.
All denominations were welcome.
“The idea is to get people from all over, united in prayer,” said one of the organizers, Marci Whitford.
World Day of Prayer is an international event that has been connecting people in a meaningful way for almost a century.
It was begun by women in Canada and the United States in 1922. It is now celebrated and observed in over 170 countries throughout the world.
Despite being planned years in advance, Wold Day of Prayer services have a remarkable record for anticipating major events like the refugee crisis (France 2013) and the winding down of the U.S. embargo against Cuba. (Cuba 2016)
This year, the focus is written by the World Day of Prayer Committee of the Philippines.
The theme this year in this country will focus on: its culture, history, the economic and political struggles and the struggles of various girls and women within the country.
The service will highlight girls and women from the Philippines: how they cope, their feelings, their prayers, their love of their country, and what they hope for the future.
“This is so important because it brings people together and we learn about other countries and feelings expressed. We can better understand what’s happening in other countries,” Whitford said.
The World Day of Prayer is facilitated by the World Day of Prayer International Committee which meets every five years to discuss upcoming themes and countries for upcoming services.
According to the World Day of Prayer Committee, the secret to this depth and insight is the women who plan and write each World Day of Prayer service.
“Too often, women have the most intimate experiences of armed conflict, violence, social injustice and human rights violations. What might Canadians learn from women of the Philippines, a country on the front lines of climate changes, foreign mining and resources interests, a regional insurgency and social upheaval due to migration,” the Committee says.
“On March 3, 2017, Christians in more than 170 countries and in 2,000 communities across Canada will gather to learn about, pray and celebrate in solidarity with the women of the Philippines through the World Day of Prayer.”
For more information about the service in Fort St. James, contact:
Dorothy Waylenko at: (250) 996- 7245 or (250) Rachel Doyle (250) 996-4186