WDP at a Glance
World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome all to join in prayer and action for peace and justice. The common day of observance is the first Friday of March, but local WDP activities are held all year long.
The 2021 Journal is based on the 72 reports out of the 146 countries that received the WDP worship service materials. The COVID-19 outbreak, followed by the precautionary measures to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, have kept churches closed and only allowed for gatherings with a limited number of people. Every country reported the series of alternatives created to deal with the impact of the pandemic in their well-planned WDP activities. Among the initiatives we find worship service videos, virtual worship services live on social media and via web conferencing, and worship services in small gathering in churches, homes, parks and gardens. However, committees found it difficult to estimate the number of participants and the worship services held.
WDPIC has increased the electronic access of the National Committees to our materials. The Journal is downloadable from the website and a PDF is emailed to National Committees and ecumenical parters; and the worship service materials prepared by the writer committees is accessible from the password protected Member's site of the WDPIC website by the liaison of each National Committee. The Journal Online and Members site in the graphic indicate the number of Committees that accessed those materials electronically.
The 2021 Journal is based on the 72 reports out of the 146 countries that received the WDP worship service materials. The COVID-19 outbreak, followed by the precautionary measures to slow the spread of the Coronavirus, have kept churches closed and only allowed for gatherings with a limited number of people. Every country reported the series of alternatives created to deal with the impact of the pandemic in their well-planned WDP activities. Among the initiatives we find worship service videos, virtual worship services live on social media and via web conferencing, and worship services in small gathering in churches, homes, parks and gardens. However, committees found it difficult to estimate the number of participants and the worship services held.
WDPIC has increased the electronic access of the National Committees to our materials. The Journal is downloadable from the website and a PDF is emailed to National Committees and ecumenical parters; and the worship service materials prepared by the writer committees is accessible from the password protected Member's site of the WDPIC website by the liaison of each National Committee. The Journal Online and Members site in the graphic indicate the number of Committees that accessed those materials electronically.
HOW WILL WDP OFFERING MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN VANUATU AND AROUND THE WORLD?
WDP Guiding Principles acknowledge that all people have something to give and to receive. The local groups receive the worship service and respond with giving. “Through the WDP offering women share their resources with women and children around the world (WDP Guiding Principle). The exchange of stories and gifts illustrates the WDP motto of “Informed prayer. Prayerful action.”
WDP Vanuatu has indicated a few projects from church women’s organizations to support as a sign of our solidarity. The projects aim to impact the lives of women and communities by empowering women to participate in economic activities, to develop the skills and knowledge for trauma counseling, and to be leaders. Attention is given to train women to preserve food crops as the cyclone season and disaster recovery impact the villages greatly. Also, to educate women to combat lifestyle related disease and gender violence.
The National/Regional Committees reported that this year’s offering will be given to their local community and abroad for the following purposes:
WDP Vanuatu has indicated a few projects from church women’s organizations to support as a sign of our solidarity. The projects aim to impact the lives of women and communities by empowering women to participate in economic activities, to develop the skills and knowledge for trauma counseling, and to be leaders. Attention is given to train women to preserve food crops as the cyclone season and disaster recovery impact the villages greatly. Also, to educate women to combat lifestyle related disease and gender violence.
The National/Regional Committees reported that this year’s offering will be given to their local community and abroad for the following purposes:
- Support women, youth and children through education, mentoring, shelter, seedbank and food distribution programs, clean water, and empower the victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Assist people living with HIV and AIDS;
Provide assistance for widows, refugees, migrants and victims of war. Help the reconstruction of schools destroyed by cyclones and homes damaged by earthquakes. Support education about climate change;
Care for the families hit by COVID-19. Donate masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to schools and respiratory equipment for COVID-19 patients;
- Promote Christian education for children and youth, grant scholarship for women’s theological formation and sponsor ecumenical initiatives;
- Organize WDP locally and nationally, support the regional and international WDP coordination, and contribute to WDPIC leadership by donating to the Fund for Tomorrow.