Join us for the World Day of Prayer

“The 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.”

The resources for this year’s World Day of Prayer were developed by an ecumenical group of Palestinian Christian women. The theme for 2024 is “I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love,” based on Ephesians 4:1-7. This program calls us to bear with each other in love, despite all difficulties and oppression.  

The Palestinian Christian women who wrote these resources have invited the world to pray for peace, justice and freedom of religion and freedom of movement. Their prayers specifically call us to pray with women, refugees, persons experiencing homelessness, and all who are sick, dying and grieving. They also call us to confess to our collective role in causing the climate crisis, and to commit to repairing what we have destroyed. Finally, they call us, the global church, to be united in treating all with justice and love.

You can learn more and find resources to help you pray by here.

In addition to prayer resources you will also find material to help facilitate a worship service. The Worship Service shares stories of three Palestinian Christian women, who witness to the power of bearing together in love. Their stories illuminate the experiences of Palestinian women from three different generations. The symbol of an olive tree is used throughout the worship service. This represents the three generations through the trunk, branches, and leaves of the olive tree.

The Mothers’ Union shops sells holding crosses handmade in Bethlehem. You may want to use one of these holding crosses as you engage in this prayer activity.  These crosses are sustainably made from Olive tree trimmings, using only pruned branches which is a natural consequence of how indigenous olive trees grow. 

100% of the profits supports Mothers’ Union work ending violence, ending poverty and ending injustice.

Don't forget, we'd love you to join us on Friday 1^st March 2024 with our president Sheran Harper leading Midday Prayers. Join us via our Facebook page.