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The World Day of Prayer International committee recently launched a virtual choir program with volunteers from the worldwide WDP network. They began working on the four songs from the WDP 2024 program written by the women of Palestine and each song is now available on our YouTube channel! You can also view them here:
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“I Beg You… Bear With One Another in Love” Ephesians 4:1-7  Dear Sisters in Christ, I bring you warm greetings from Ghana and WDPIC. As we prepare to mark the 2024 World Day of Prayer, may we find it in our hearts to forgive and pray with one other, as we are all one in Christ. Let’s take a moment to reflect on this year’s celebration. Many of you are familiar with a book by Alexandre Dumas, titled The Three Musketeers. The heroes of this story have as their motto “All for one and one for all.” This means that each member of the group will fight for the others. They vow to stand together in a common struggle. This resonates with what we are doing as a WDP movement. Every year, we lift up the voices of women from a selected country. We pray with and for them. We care about their concerns. And we offer to share our resources. Each time we do this, we build up a strong ecumenical global sisterhood. We stand together amidst all of our struggles and difficulties. This year’s liturgy came from Christian women in Palestine. Together, our movement will lift up their stories, songs and prayers on Friday, March 1, 2024. Their theme, “I beg you … bear with one another in love,” was chosen in 2017, but it is appropriate and relevant today amidst the devastating war in Gaza and Israel. God has surely guided us for such a time as this. We respond as Christian women by going down on our knees and praying for peace, unity, love and justice. In the passage from Ephesians 4:1-7, there are two clear areas that form the basis of our unity as Christians. First, we share a common ground as Christians, created in the image of God. And second, we receive a common grace from God, who does not discriminate. We bear with one another in love because of this common ground and common grace. It is from this place that we find our unity. In this time of war and violence, we must stand united in protecting God’s creation. We must pray for a just peace. And we must work for a just peace. A line from Naseeru binur elkalima (one of the songs from Palestine) says: “Our world is full of sorrow, struggle, loss and pain, tempting us all into despair.” Despite the sorrows, struggles, loss and pain that we face, we are still called to bear with each other in love along this journey of life. May it be so. - Joyce Larko Steiner (PhD)
Chairperson, WDPIC The World Day of Prayer (WDP) believes that "Prayer is rooted in listening to God and to each other" (Guiding Principle #2). The listening that we seek is an active and demanding listening. It requires a stillness that can allow another to speak, as we hear and feel with another’s pains and joys. Our listening is both personal and in community. Our conviction is that WDP opens a window to the voices of women in a different part of the world each year—sometimes near, sometimes far away. Always, we join our prayer with theirs. We are committed to honoring the prayers offered by women who develop our liturgy each year for a common day of prayer on the first Friday of March. The women who write are selected at an International Meeting held every 5 years, which includes voting delegates from every country in our movement. At the 2017 International Meeting in Brazil, WDP Palestine was selected to write the 2024 program, followed by WDP Cook Islands in 2025 and WDP Nigeria in 2026. The liturgy is developed through a rigorous writing process that starts 4 years before the day when the world will gather to pray that liturgy. This liturgy is developed with our Executive Committee, a group of women elected to represent each region of our movement. On March 1, 2024, our global ecumenical movement will pray a liturgy developed by our sisters from WDP Palestine. World Day of Prayer has a strong and vibrant history in the Middle East, especially in Palestine. Women from various denominations in Palestine have faithfully prayed together every year for decades. Several women from WDP Palestine have been elected by the Middle East region to serve as Regional Representatives for our WDPIC Executive Committee. We are grateful for the dedication of our Palestinian sisters over the years to strengthen connections between Christians around the world. Our WDPIC office has been approached in the past year, particularly since the Israel Gaza war has brought devastation to the region following the violent attack on October 7, 2023. We have been asked if there will be any changes made to the liturgy in light of the current situation. Our response has been consistent with our practices as a movement for many years. We believe that the liturgy offered each year is a profound gift, and one that we receive in its fullness. We stand with the liturgy offered by our sisters from WDP Palestine, and we encourage all local celebrations around the world to honor those voices as they are offered. Our sisters from WDP Palestine are currently working on an additional prayer that can be added to the original liturgy, in light of the recent violence they are experiencing. We hope to have that available by February 15, 2024. - WDPIC Executive Committee
 What does the World Day of Prayer (WDP) mean to me? World Day of Prayer has been part of my faith journey, since my grandmother used to take me with her on Friday to be part of the World Day of Prayer service. At that time, I did not know what was exactly going on, but I remember that as children we had to behave, and we were involved in the service. I never thought that my role would be extended to be committed to translating the materials into Arabic since 1990. At that time, the worship service was also known as the “Ecumenical day”. The World Day of Prayer is indeed an ecumenical day still. It is an experience of crossing borders together with other churches, and be enriched together. I believe this day challenges us to recognize that we cannot understand our faith away from the other, discovering the blessings received as we pray together. As Christians in the Middle East praying together is an urgent need for presence, role and impact. The World Day of Prayer challenges us to cross borders with other countries, no matter where they are. Discovering how God is at work even in the farthest countries. World Day of Prayer is a solidarity chain where we are connected as the body of Christ. The World Day of Prayer is a day where we hear the voices of women. As they tell their stories of struggle from their perspective, we look at their insights in explaining the Bible and raising issues of injustice. The World Day of Prayer teaches us the deeper meaning of prayer. It is a time when we pray for others even when we are used to praying for ourselves. Even when we are in pain, we are challenged to pray for others' pain. To pray for countries that our political agendas are not aligned with. This day helps us to see beyond what we hear on the news and to see the people of God as our brothers and sisters no matter where they are. We meet on the level of God’s call that all may have an abundant life. I believe that during the distancing that COVID-19 created in the world, the WDP is a shaping experience against distancing, an experience of belonging to the Body of Christ in the world. We come together as the WDP to envision how we can be in mission today. How we can be the church for today that believes that prayer changes reality and together we can have a better tomorrow, hopefully with justice for all. “What does the Lord require” of us today is a key question that every service pauses on us. The World Day of Prayer is a day of hope, trusting that our prayers in action will change the World. By Rev. Najla Kassab, WDP Lebanon
(Reflection presented at the WDP Middle East Regional Meeting on 1/26/2022)  On the first Friday of March 2022, communities across the world will come together to launch the celebration of the World Day of Prayer prepared by the women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland! The 2022 theme, “I Know the Plans I Have for You”, is an invitation to have faith in God even when we don’t see or imagine hope, because surely God has a plan for each of us, plans filled with hope and promise. Like 2021, we expect that WDP celebrations will be affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as each country, region, town, and village are still dealing with the health crisis. We are grateful for the vaccines available and watch with concern for the communities that still do not have access to them. This is a time to be reminded of at least two of the WDP Guiding Principles. WDP services are an invitation to receive prayer and to be responsible and creative in organizing it according to the current pandemic context we live in. All of us have something to give and to receive. Through the WDP offering, women share their resources with women and children around the world. Be creative and supportive! What have we learned over the last two years that can be used for the 2022 WDP celebrations?
Also, remember that on June 16-18, 2022, WDP National Committees will gather for a unique experience: the very first virtual World Day of Prayer International Committee Meeting, for “New Heart, New Mind, Called to Hope!” Be on the lookout for more information. Together with our England, Wales, Northern Ireland sisters we light the candle and pray: God, our Mother and our Father, - Laurence Gangloff, WDPIC Chairperson
 As we look forward to the World Day of Prayer service on Friday 4th March 2022, we feel excited and blessed at the prospect of sharing our service with the world. The WDP 2022 service has been written by the women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland and many denominations were represented in the writing groups. The theme of the service is “I know the Plans I have for You” and two significant parts of this service involve the lighting of seven candles, to celebrate hope, and the distribution of seeds, as a sign of hope. With all that the world has been through recently it is an appropriate theme, with promise, and is an invitation to place our trust in God at all times. The past two years have been challenging and rewarding affecting the way the National Committee and local branches in England, Wales and Northern Ireland usually work. We prayed for perseverance and strength to survive the difficulties, learning all sorts of new skills quickly that enabled us to keep connected. Our world is experiencing a traumatic pandemic. However, the majority of people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have now had two vaccinations and a booster. Although we are separated physically, we are united spiritually. Our candles and seeds in our service represent hope and this is the best message we can give to our sisters throughout the world. Our God is real and intercedes in the world and in all situations. Come and celebrate with us, your sisters in England, Wales and Northern Ireland on Friday 4th March 2022. Nicola Hoskin-Stone
Chair WDP England, Wales and Northern Ireland Denied the opportunities of highly paid employment, women have historically involved themselves in pastoral work with women, children and others: their cares and concerns have always embraced other women struggling with injustice and poverty in different parts of the world. Denied a place in formal church ministry, women have proved they are able to deal with the challenges of ecumenism: they have reached out to each other beyond denominations without putting their own churches or positions first. In 1932, the first Women’s World Day of Prayer Services were held in England. Scotland started services four years earlier. Our World Day of Prayer National Committee in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has, over the years, devised ways of preparing and presenting the service material for our own nations, distributing this, and ensuring the representation of as many denominations as possible, from Catholics, who joined us in 1969, to free and Pentecostal churches. Quakers, the Salvation Army, Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Moravians, Lutherans and Congregationalists have long been represented. Interestingly, the number of different denominations rarely produces major differences in views. More often than not, National Committee members are first and foremost, simply Christian women on the National Committee! Beyond the National Committee is a huge network of branches throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We encourage these local organisations to meet at intervals during the year to follow up the themes of our services and to maintain the links between the different churches. We also meet area representatives in July as we run through the service, which they in turn will roll out in a series of Preparation Days in the autumn. To learn more about WDP England Wales and Northern Ireland in preparations for this year celebration visit their website. Carole Bourne
Vice-chairperson WDP England, Wales and Northern Ireland  The 2021 Celebration theme "Build on a Strong Foundation" has been with me spiritually since the writing process began in 2018, and especially since COVID-19 entered our lives. In the face of illness, isolation, suffering, and grief, this theme forced me to reflect on what is most important to me. The parable of the wise builder of the house on the rock helped me cling to Jesus' teaching, to keep hope alive during the storm, and to discover the part of me that, at times, made choices more like the foolish builder. For Jesus’ invitation at the end of the narrative is indeed to listen to his words of life and to act on them. In addition to the text of Matthew 7, which was the inspiration for the theme, the song composed during the writing workshop particularly touched me. The refrain invites the world: "Let us build up Vanuatu with love and unity. We are family, we are one. We are Ni-Vanuatu." What a joy to see that the intention set by the first stanza has become a reality for our sisters who did not yet know each other when they arrived to the workshop in April 2018 - "It is time to get together as a nation and family. Let's forget our differences and let us work in unity. From the North down to the South, all the islands we are one. In God we stand, brothers and sisters, we are one." The joy I felt was even greater while watching the live celebration on March 5th, 2021. I recognized all the sisters present at the same church! For me, it was like an affirmation that they had heard the invitation to work together, and that they put into practice the words of Jesus: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12). In front of my computer screen, I experienced a moment of grace that I wish for each one of you. In the following pages of this Journal, you will discover many testimonies. Testimonies from countries or groups who may not have celebrated in person but found solutions to worship in a different way and continue building relationships. The creativity was incredible, and all the modern means of communication were used to hold a moment of prayer. You will also read that other groups were able to celebrate the World Day of Prayer in person, and that there too, the creativity was great, even extraordinary, to respect the sanitary requirements and experience a time of communion. As the preparations for next year’s celebration, written by the women of WDP England, Wales and Northern Ireland, begins we discover a word of life given by God that we can make our own: "I Know the Plans I Have for You". I cannot end these few lines without expressing my gratitude for the work of each woman involved. By offering the best of ourselves, wherever we are, we become witnesses of the risen Christ. This is a blessing! - Laurence Gangloff, WDPIC Chairperson 
 En las reuniones por videollamada, de preparación por motivo de la pandemia y los cambios en las situaciones de vida de las integrantes del Comité, hemos considerado importante tener un tiempo para compartir individualmente cómo nos sentimos. Esto nos ha beneficiado para estrechar las relaciones, siendo un tiempo para escucharnos y fortalecernos. Oramos unas por las otras en cada situación de vida difícil, de trabajo o separación de seres queridos por fallecimiento. Buscamos al reunirnos y mantenernos cerca, actuar con empatía y solidaridad por la vida de quienes sufren para dar esperanza en medio de las dificultades y limitaciones. Las rutinas en la vida de las mujeres y su disposición de tiempo se han recargado para algunas por trabajo a distancia dentro del hogar y atención a la educación de hijas e hijos y otras horas de estudio a distancia también. Las medidas y cuidados de otras personas dentro del hogar o familia también fueron delegadas y hacia las mujeres. Estamos en oración  Oramos por las familias, por personas contagiadas de COVID19, por quienes perdieron a un ser querido. Ha sido duro y dramático enfrentar la muerte de seres queridos por la manera en que se realizan los traslados y entierros de los cuerpos. Hemos conversado y reflexionado sobre el temor frente a la naturalización de las muertes a causa de COVID19 y la fragilidad en retirar la sensibilidad y empatía por las pérdidas cercanas. Observamos como situación traumática las diferentes formas de cómo se asume la pandemia en cada hogar. En medio de las restricciones, se ha enfrentado con tanta dificultad las enfermedades por la falta de acceso a la salud y servicios colapsados para atender a pacientes regulares. Estas emociones encontradas las hemos compartido, recordando que la fe en Jesús es la que nos fortalece para continuar, siendo solidarias, manifestando empatía para con las hermanas y compañeras de DMO. De cierta manera es una guerra vivida de diferente forma, nos levantamos, oramos por las y los enfermos, nos mantenemos pendientes del curso de la enfermedad y del proceso de salud de amigas y familiares. Estando en casa durante la preparación y reuniones, nuestros familiares se interesaron en participar en la celebración, y de seguir conociendo sobre los países, así como se involucraron apoyando los equipos para realizar las reuniones en las plataformas digitales. Conocer para transformar Agradecemos que, durante este año difícil, pudimos mantener comunicación por mensajes (WhatsApp), llamadas, y reuniones en zoom; de esta forma nos vimos fortaleciéndonos unas a las otras. Es un agradecimiento a Dios por la vida y la salud, y por encontrar junto a las amigas y hermanas maneras de accionar para continuar el ministerio del DMO. Agradecidas de tener la oportunidad de realizar la celebración y orar por Vanuatu, así como afirmar nuestro compromiso en trabajar por los derechos de las mujeres, la juventud y las niñas y niños. Conocer la realidad del país Vanuatu nos permite seguir sensibilizándonos y desafiándonos al compromiso con el Reino de Dios. Aprendimos y recordamos a través del trasfondo del país de Vanuatu a “valorar el trabajo que hacen las mujeres y la alegría con la que lo hacen.” Nos sentimos animadas al leer sobre ellas, siendo protagonistas del desarrollo de su país de su nación. Nos sentimos conmovidas e inspiradas al reconocer que las mujeres son valientes. De esta forma deseamos transmitirlo de manera similar a las mujeres en Guatemala lo que aprendimos de las mujeres hermanas de Vanuatu. Para algunas mujeres jóvenes que participaron por primera vez en la celebración por medio de Facebook, les impactó las situaciones de vida de las mujeres de Vanuatu; pues aunque su gobierno les otorga derechos y ocupan una parte importante de la economía, no gozan aún de los beneficios en salud, y educación. Nos sentimos identificadas por el contexto de educación de las mujeres y las niñas, nos lamentamos por la falta de acceso gratuito a la educación, al igual que en el área rural de Guatemala el acceso a la educación es muy difícil. Estamos interesadas en continuar conociendo la situación de las mujeres en otras partes del mundo y orar y accionar para que la situación desfavorable para las mujeres cambie. En el área norte de Guatemala en Cobán, en donde si pudimos reunirnos de manera presencial, fue un motivo mlaboración y equipo, al preparar la comida que compartimos. Leímos la Biblia en clave feminista Tomamos como un desafío presentar la liturgia de la celebración para que sea novedoso y práctico para las diferentes denominaciones, y que se pueda renovar y contextualizar de acuerdo con la situación de cada congregación o grupo. En Cobán, leímos el pasaje bíblico en clave feminista, resumimos el contenido, y adaptamos las alabanzas. Es muy positivo tener la oportunidad de adaptar el material y utilizar todos los recursos de manera flexible. Este año fue un desafío realizar la celebración por medios digitales porque no todas las personas tienen acceso a internet o no cuentan con la facilidad tecnológica de participar. Así que innovamos con los videos que realizamos para orar en la semana previa al 5 de marzo; sentimos fortaleza y unidad al saber que orábamos en conjunto a través de un video; nos admiramos en conocer las experiencias de la fe en Dios y que a pesar de las dificultades ellas lograron comunicar y compartir sus vivencias para la celebración. La reflexión del tema con distintos grupos de mujeres y en diferentes momentos brindó miradas amplias y nuevas perspectivas sobre el texto bíblico. Una reflexión que se realizó en comunidad fue que este texto se ha usado para separar y designar a personas creyentes en Dios de las que no, dividiendo en quienes construyen en la roca de las que construyen en la arena. Repensar qué es la roca y la propuesta nueva que nos presentaron las mujeres de Vanuatu fue muy revelador: la roca es vivir creyendo en las enseñanzas de Jesús y conocer el amor de Dios para nuestras vidas, y la arena son todas aquellas inconsistencias o incoherencias que nos llevan a ser vulnerables a la violencia. Creer que es normal recibir la violencia y aceptarla en los espacios familiares y sociales limitan el vivir con alegría y bienestar a muchas personas. En nuestro contexto sobre la violencia que se está sufriendo hacia las mujeres no solo escuchar que la otra sufre sino hacer algo, como llamar a la policía o interesándose en la vida particular de las mujeres es muy importante. El estudio nos llevó a reflexionar sobre considerar bien nuestras acciones para no decidir de manera insensata sin meditar en las consecuencias; prestar mucha atención y cuidado con los juicios que emitimos, o con la percepción que tengo sobre la otra persona. Es retador comprender qué significa vivir el reino de Dios aquí y ahora, especialmente ahora en el encierro. El reto es escuchar y hacer la palabra de Dios mostrando su amor, practicando la fe, buscando maneras de accionar, apoyar a familiares que han perdido a seres queridos y manifestar de nuevas formas el “estar presentes”. No fue posible realizar celebraciones con las niñas y niños de manera presencial, se compartió el material con personas que trabajan con niñas y niños en congregaciones de iglesias evangélicas. En los lugares que realizaron de manera presencial la celebración, se decidió limitar la participación de niñas y niños por la propia seguridad de ellas y ellos. La convocatoria para esta celebración y participación de las mujeres fue un desafío por el limitado aforo de personas permitido en los lugares. Como comité ha sido un logro haber podido reunirnos como equipo para planificar, preparar y celebrar el DMO en Guatemala, con tantas limitaciones. Contar con espacios virtuales y físicos para celebrar nos anima al observar lo que se logró. Fue motivante participar con otras mujeres a nivel regional, fue una manera palpable de compartir con esta red internacional, así como la oportunidad que tuvimos de planificar escuchando y compartiendo ideas de cómo celebrar DMO. - Bianka Johanna Elizabeth Paz Carrera, DMO Guatemala
 We are very grateful to our God during a pandemic that brought much uncertainty and affliction to our country. But we also had the opportunity to show our love to those people, who needed to be comforted by the fact that God's love has not changed. He has not abandoned us. God is still generous. He wants to be with us in these moments of our life. He has poured out many blessings and has arranged them all for our good (Romans 8). Although things have been difficult, we know that these challenges and sufferings have a purpose for our lives and have helped us to grow more. There were many things to pray for: asking our God to take control of all our actions; motivating the group to pray but also to act in the midst of so many difficulties. We prayed with the people who were affected by anxiety and fear over the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to our Lord, who up to now has taken care of us, protected us to be able to comfort and continue loving and praying always. The celebration gave us a call for reflection in terms of making decisions and facing challenges (Matthew 7:24-27). The words of Jesus challenge us so that our life goes well and does not end in disaster. The call is to build on the rock who is Jesus and to listen; listen carefully to his words and put them into practice. The message invites us to decide to live by what the Lord says in his word, to love, forgive, cry with those who mourn, be simple and clean of heart, work for peace and justice. This way we will have a safe and welcoming home for everyone. A house built on the rock, which is Jesus Christ. Our role in the community We have a high percentage of unemployed youth who have not been able to enter the labor market due to the economic crisis in our country. This problem has increased due to the pandemic. Like the voices of Vanuatu women, the women of our country are also affected by the same problems, perhaps more or less. There are women who, due to their poverty conditions, cannot and have not been able to acquire basic education. They leave their homes in rural areas and travel to the big cities, seeking solutions and many times the situation becomes worse. Many end up working in degrading manners to support themselves and the family they left in their hometowns. Our help to women in these unfavorable conditions would be to collaborate with them, guide them and connect them with organizations that protect women and provide alternatives so that they can train and acquire the necessary tools to be able to perform an honest job that dignifies them. As in Vanuatu, malnutrition is an alarming health problem in Panama. A large number of children under the age of five suffer the physical consequences of poor diet, they suffer from stunting and frequent infections. In other words, children are hungry and often get sick. They don't eat foods that can keep their bodies and brains growing strong. Poverty makes the most disadvantaged children face the greatest risk of all forms of malnutrition. To the children in these situations, the help that the women of the WDP would give is to pray for our God to take control of this situation and to support with financial resources the foundations that protect and help these children. Pray and take action. Communication is key We were in total quarantine throughout 2020 and it was difficult for us to meet but thank God we maintained communication through calls to coordinate everything related to the program. The Worship Service was carried out and the attendance of 35 people was achieved in accordance with what was established with the restrictions of the health authorities allowed in the temples and parishes with the required capacity. It was possible to simultaneously transmit the worship in a virtual way for those sisters and invited people who could not participate personally. The service was a great blessing specifically because of its theme. It was a different year in every way. Less face-to-face participation, but today we want to get up and build our houses, our nations and the entire world on the word of Jesus, who is our firm foundation. That must be the fundamental principle of our message today and forever. May the Lord make us wise builders for eternity. Mayor Inez Proverbs, WDP Panama
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