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Women’s World Day of Prayer
1 Our service this year, held on Friday the 7th of March, was written by the women of the Lebanon with the theme ‘Holy Spirit, Fill Us’. A theme that reflected the longed for peace and harmony much sought after in their country. The words ‘Come, ever‑present Spirit of Truth, fill us and work through us’ that had been written by the Lebanon’s committee, were repeated throughout the Service. The prayers, readings and music, helped us all to feel the deep need of the people.
2 Lebanon is one of the smallest countries in the Middle East, less than half the size of Wales. A beautiful fertile country, it was once described as the ‘Paris’ of the East. Bordered by Syria and Israel, it has seen many problems in the last two decades, life in the country is still hard as the people try to re‑build after the long civil war. An ancient Bible land; its name appears 75 times in the Bible, the people are proud of their Christian tradition.
3 The services were well attended with over 350,000 orders of service used at the many different services held throughout, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Especially translated service sheets are produced for the Welsh speaking churches. Services were held in churches, cathedrals, hospitals, nursing homes, halls and schools, where the special children’s service sheets, along with the teachers notes are used at assemblies. Day conferences and preparation days have also increased with over 50 booked from Autumn 2003 to early Spring 2004.
4 This year the National Committee will share the great joy of hosting the International World Day of Prayer meeting at Swanwick in August. Delegates from all over the world will come together to share in fellowship and experiences of the World Day of Prayer. It will be wonderful to meet the people with whom you share this day year after year in another part of the world. Every first Friday in March throughout the day somewhere in the world the service is being held. From the first at day break in the Islands of Tonga, to the last on St Lawrence Island, off the coast of Alaska.
5 The service for 2004 has been prepared by the women of Panama, with the theme ‘In Faith, Women Shape the Future’.
6 More information about the services and conferences along with the service material can be obtained from the office, Women’s World Day of Prayer, Commercial Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2RR.
Telephone/Fax 01892 541411
E‑mail office@wwdp‑natcomm.org
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