Preparing for the Suriname Celebration
All God's Creation is Very Good!The theme for the Suriname worship service urges us to evaluate how our actions affect our planet - one of our Lord's greatest creations.
The environmental crisis is also a crisis of global justice. God’s justice always meant loving and sacrificial self-giving. We, as Christians cannot be silent. We live with the hope and belief that people have the means, and increasingly, the will to focus on justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. To recycle is to give a new use to objects, thus reducing the consumption of resources that may degrade the planet. We may use the way we do WDP activities to educate and campaign for climate justice. REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!
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The CountryThe Republic of Suriname lies in the northeastern part of South America. Suriname is named after the Surinen tribe, one of the indigenous peoples of the land.
About 90% of the population of Suriname lives in the coastal areas, of which more than half in the capital city of Paramaribo, which is situated on the left bank of the Suriname River. The name Paramaribo is believed to have been drawn from an indigenous word meaning ‘city of flowers’. The coastal area of Suriname, covers approximately 15% of the land surface and is not only important for residential purposes, but also for its economic activity. However, this part of the country is less than two meters above the sea level and because of climate change and rising sea waters faces eventual floods. Today, about 15% of the land surface is a protected territory. The biggest nature reserve is the Central Suriname Nature Reserve, which was established in 1996. Because of the mountainous areas, rapids in the rivers, Savannah soil with rock formations and the remarkable vegetation and animal wildlife, this nature reserve has been placed on UNESCO’s list of Heritage Sites. |
WDP Suriname Committee
Diana Pengel
The ecumenical collaboration was established in Suriname in November 1942 under the name Committee of Christian Churches (CCK). The Women’s World Day of Prayer started in the year 1953. In February 1954, a board was officially appointed.
Since December 2000, we have established a direct relationship with World Day of Prayer International Committee (WDPIC). In September 2003, two of our board members participated in the Quadrennial Meeting in Swanwick (England) and since then the board has attended WDPIC conferences. In 2007, Diana Pengel was elected Chairperson of the WDP Suriname Committee and worked very hard to promote WDP in her country. She was actively involved in coordinating the writing process for the Suriname worship service. As of 2017, the current Chairperson is Rosana Pindon.
On November 2014, a Strengthening National Committee workshop was held to start the writing process with the support of WDPIC. The focus of the workshop was to understand the theme according to the environmental context of Suriname.
The Preparatory Workshop for a writer country held on April 2015 with around 35 women and young women provided a writing training and opportunity to organize the writer working groups. It was our pleasure to welcome R. Oliveira, P. Balasundaram and C. Harbig as leaders of the workshop. We left the workshop full of enthusiasm and well-equipped to start out our task.
Since December 2000, we have established a direct relationship with World Day of Prayer International Committee (WDPIC). In September 2003, two of our board members participated in the Quadrennial Meeting in Swanwick (England) and since then the board has attended WDPIC conferences. In 2007, Diana Pengel was elected Chairperson of the WDP Suriname Committee and worked very hard to promote WDP in her country. She was actively involved in coordinating the writing process for the Suriname worship service. As of 2017, the current Chairperson is Rosana Pindon.
On November 2014, a Strengthening National Committee workshop was held to start the writing process with the support of WDPIC. The focus of the workshop was to understand the theme according to the environmental context of Suriname.
The Preparatory Workshop for a writer country held on April 2015 with around 35 women and young women provided a writing training and opportunity to organize the writer working groups. It was our pleasure to welcome R. Oliveira, P. Balasundaram and C. Harbig as leaders of the workshop. We left the workshop full of enthusiasm and well-equipped to start out our task.
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Click here to visit the WDP Suriname website. Click on the icons to the right for their Facebook page or to send them an email!
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To join World Day of Prayer in your area, to participate in the program, and to learn the prayers, concerns and ways to be in solidarity with WDP, please click on the contact link of the country of your preference or contact us.
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The Divine GiftWe live in a beautiful country that we received from our Creator. I see this as a special gift that we must cherish - a beautiful nature with wonderful forests and mountains that boasts great rivers with impressive rapids.
It is a rich country with beautiful flowers and animals, but also sufficient food for everyone. Let us cherish this beautiful gift so that we can pass it on in its beautiful state to the coming generations. |
I am Alice Pomstra - Elmont, born on 20 January 1947 in a very special place in Suriname. I am a member of the Hervormde gemeente (Dutch Reformed Church). At an environment exhibition, I was asked to participate in designing a cover for WDP program. I was born on the ship ‘Paramaribo’ in the Cottica River near Mocca in the District of Marowijne.
I worked in general education in Suriname where my creativity soared. After some years, I moved to the Netherlands where I worked in special education. By working with children with disabilities I learned to enjoy the little things. Now that I live in Suriname again, I enjoy this wonderful country with its rich nature. It is delightful to see the sun rise in the morning and see the birds flying. What a precious gift. Let us keep it as beautiful as we received it.
I worked in general education in Suriname where my creativity soared. After some years, I moved to the Netherlands where I worked in special education. By working with children with disabilities I learned to enjoy the little things. Now that I live in Suriname again, I enjoy this wonderful country with its rich nature. It is delightful to see the sun rise in the morning and see the birds flying. What a precious gift. Let us keep it as beautiful as we received it.
Fun for Kids & Adults |
Pronunciation Guide |
The 2018 Children's Program has a unique and educational game that can be enjoyed by all! It promotes awareness on how children can contribute to the care of creation through simple, practical examples. All you need is a cardboard, two dice and some pawns. Simply roll the dice and land on an either an environmentally conscious act that moves you forward or an environmentally harmful act that moves you back. Get creative! Draw icons that represent your country and include environmentally friendly acts that would benefit your situation. A perfect opportunity for inter-generational interaction!
MAKE IT YOUR OWN & HAVE FUN!
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Within the Suriname worship service there are three phrases, written in Sranan Tongue, to be repeated out loud. Here is a basic guide on how these three phrases should be pronounced:
Welcome and greeting: A heri grontapu di Gado meki bun doro, dóro! H HAIR-ee gron-TA-poo DEE GA-dah meh-Kee bun door-o, door-o Confession: Masra wi e begi fu gi wi pardon. MAZ-ra we BIG-ee FOO gee we pardon Intercession: Masra Gado, arki wi begi. MAZ-ra GA-dah, ARE-kee we BIG-ee |
Additional Resources
This Bible Study was held at the WDPIC International Committee Meeting. It is based on the main Bible text of the World Day of Prayer Service for 2018, written by women from Suriname. We thank Silvia Regina de Lima Silva for offering this additional resource to World Day of Prayer annual celebration!
©Texto de el estudio bíblico: Silvia Regina de Lima Silva
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Estudio bíblico – Génesis 1
Por: Silvia Regina de Lima Silva El texto de Génesis 1 presenta la forma literaria de poema e insiste en la repetición como una manera de comunicar un orden del mundo deseado por Dios. La repetición conforma también la estructura que mantiene todas las cosas unidas, una bien conectada con a otra. En este orden encontramos que el mundo es bueno, la creación es buena. Podemos descansar en el regazo de un mundo confiable, fruto del deseo del creador/a, una casa preparada con cariño para cada una de sus creaturas. Es un mundo poblado de seres diversos… la diversidad puede ser una de las características más lindas, atractivas de la creación. Una diversidad donde seres diferentes pueden coexistir y coexisten en respeto y amistad. Se trata de un orden a partir de la diversidad de los seres creados. Podemos creer en ese orden, en ese sentido de la creación, y descansarnos en ella. 
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