I Know the Plans I Have For You
Jeremiah 29:1-14
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The WDP 2022 program is based on the letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylonia. The exiles were in a context of suffering, uncertainty, and opposing views on how to respond to the moment. Today, we come together to hear the stories of women who feel excluded, listen to the fear of a child refugee and learn to see the context of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-faith society in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (EWNI). For Jeremiah, God’s plan was clear, and we share this assurance by singing it.
The artwork, created by Angie Fox using a combination of embroidery, appliqué and metalwork, depicts key words such as, Freedom, represented as an open door to a pathway across an endless open vista; Justice, represented by broken chains; God’s Peace and Forgiveness, represented by the dove of peace and a peace lily breaking through the pavement. Over all, a rainbow which has come to represent all these things from the story of Noah through to the modern day. It is a symbol of the overreaching love of God. We are given a seed of hope to ponder where it needs to be planted in our lives and in our communities. Take this opportunity, to raise awareness on the needs of your community and offer the gifts of prayers and commitment. A seed, nourished by prayers of intercession and actions of love, bind us together around the world. |
The Country
England, Wales and Northern Ireland are three parts of the United Kingdom (UK), within the group of islands known as the British Isles. Scotland is also part of the United Kingdom. Although there is much that they share, they are also diverse, with different languages, cultures and governments. The histories are interlinked, sometimes peaceful, sometimes bumping up against one another, sometimes including times of oppression and violence.
Wales is rural in character, straddled by mountains and bounded by a rugged coastline. Its large coalfields to the South provided a key export from cities such as Newport, Swansea and Cardiff. Northern Ireland boasts Lough Neagh, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Western Europe, as well as the spectacular Giant's Causeway, a mass of interlocking basalt columns off the Antrim coast, caused by an ancient volcanic eruption. England has less dramatic landscapes but includes a spectacular coastline, especially in the West Country, while the north has lakes, mountains and large areas of moorland and forest. England has the highest level of urban development.
People have shaped the landscape, first through farming. Livestock grazed on hills, causing large areas of natural woodland to disappear. In the late middle ages, common land was enclosed by powerful feudal barons. In the 18th and 19th centuries, some parts of the country were depopulated, as industrialisation drew people from the countryside to growing towns and cities.
Today, we have a population of approximately 70 million people, enriched over the centuries by waves of migration. Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales, each has a population of more than half a million. Many parts of England are marked by urbanisation, with huge conurbations including Manchester and the West Midlands, as well as the megacity of London.
Wales is rural in character, straddled by mountains and bounded by a rugged coastline. Its large coalfields to the South provided a key export from cities such as Newport, Swansea and Cardiff. Northern Ireland boasts Lough Neagh, one of the largest freshwater lakes in Western Europe, as well as the spectacular Giant's Causeway, a mass of interlocking basalt columns off the Antrim coast, caused by an ancient volcanic eruption. England has less dramatic landscapes but includes a spectacular coastline, especially in the West Country, while the north has lakes, mountains and large areas of moorland and forest. England has the highest level of urban development.
People have shaped the landscape, first through farming. Livestock grazed on hills, causing large areas of natural woodland to disappear. In the late middle ages, common land was enclosed by powerful feudal barons. In the 18th and 19th centuries, some parts of the country were depopulated, as industrialisation drew people from the countryside to growing towns and cities.
Today, we have a population of approximately 70 million people, enriched over the centuries by waves of migration. Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, and Cardiff, the capital of Wales, each has a population of more than half a million. Many parts of England are marked by urbanisation, with huge conurbations including Manchester and the West Midlands, as well as the megacity of London.
The WDP England, Wales & Northern Ireland Committee
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In 1928, at the International Missionary Conference in Jerusalem, Scotswoman Grace Forgan first learned of the World Day of Prayer and brought the news to the United Kingdom. The first service was held in 1930 in Scotland; followed by England in 1932, Wales in 1933 and Northern Ireland in 1943. The first services in England were held in the London area and the wave of prayer moved across the south of England to Wales. In those days, travel was not as easy as it is now so it was more sensible for the women of England and Wales to set up their own National Committee rather than unite with Scotland. The two Committees remain separate but are on good terms, exchanging ideas and meeting regularly together with the Committee from the Republic of Ireland.
Currently, the WDP National Committee includes 18 different Christian denominations. They allocate over 40 grants to national and international charities. They continue to review what they do and to adapt to changes in communication and technology. Their office in Tunbridge Wells co-ordinates the distribution of service materials, including activities for children and youth and their website carries news of all they do. In response to what they saw as a need to involve younger participants, their WDP now organizes an annual Y Pray? event in May, when younger women are encouraged to join them for a weekend of prayer, fellowship and entertainment. As a single World Day of Prayer organisation, the three voices of England Wales and Northern Ireland, have come together to present service for 2022, recognising our differences but also our common ground. In the worship service program, WDP England, Wales and Northern Ireland included the Lord's Prayer in the Welsh language. On their website they have uploaded a spoken word video of the prayer provided by the WDP Welsh Committee. Please, visit the committee’s website to enrich your preparations with the Lord’s Prayer video and more as become available by WDP EWNI. |
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