‘Rise, take your mat and walk’ for World Day of Prayer

THIS year’s World Day of Prayer will be held on Friday 6th March at St Anthony of Padua Church, West End, at 10.30am.

Organisers say, “Women, men and children of all ages are called to ‘rise, take your mat and walk’ to join this day of prayer. Women of Zimbabwe have prepared this year’s service and they encourage us all to reflect on the difficulties and unrest that have plagued their country over many years. They share the challenges they have met and the hopes they have for the future. They encourage us to ‘rise, take your mat and walk’ with them as they continue their often turbulent journey towards full reconciliation.

“World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church organisation which enables us to hear the thoughts of women from all parts of the world; their hopes, concerns and prayers. The preparation for the day is vast. An international committee is based in New York and there are national committees in each participating country. Regional conferences meet to consider the service and then local groups make their plans. 

“The Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 170 countries. It begins in Samoa and prayer in native languages travels throughout the world – through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa more than 36 hours later.”