World Day of Prayer

 

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.

 For it was you who formed my inward parts;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
    Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.

    My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
    all the days that were formed for me,
    when none of them as yet existed.[b]
 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!

I try to count them—they are more than the sand;
    I come to the end—I am still with you.

Psalm 139: 1-2, 13-18 NRSVue

I posted a blog entry for today but I decided to write another because I glanced over at my trusty United Church calendar and realized that this is the World Day of Prayer. This used to be a big deal in mainline churches and as the Women's World Day of Prayer there were often ecumenical services, one of the few times in the year when Christians came together across denominational lines. The practice is to have groups from different places on the planet prepare the resources for the day and all participating gatherings employing them in their worship services. Here is the description for this year: 

The women of Cook Islands have prepared the service this year. We are encouraged to reflect on the changes and challenges faced by this country as it approaches its 60th year of independent government. The writing team has shared how the Cook Islanders found a way to beautifully blend their Polynesian heritage with Christian faith introduced just over 200 years ago.

World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church event that began almost 100 years ago bridging social, geographic, and political barriers in over 170 countries. The weekend of prayer begins in Samoa and then travels in many languages throughout the world — through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Australia, and the Americas. Together we pursue justice, peace, and reconciliation by standing together in prayer and action.

Offerings received through the World Day of Prayer transform our prayers into action in the form of project grants empowering women and children in our own country and throughout the world. All regions share in the grants, with consideration given to greatest need. Through WDP offerings, WICC has distributed around 3 million dollars for small projects in the past 40 years. The vision is to restore hope to women and children touched by injustice.

The theme scripture passage is from Psalm 139, an affirmation of the Creator's love for each one of us from the beginning. After our blustery morning walk I think I would prefer to be praying on a Cook Island beach today!