Buenas tardes! Good afternoon!
With that greeting, the annual World Day of Prayer service began at Knox Presbyterian Church recently.
Each year, the World Day of Prayer brings Christians from around the world together in their respective communities to sing and offer prayers to the women and children from a focus country.
This year, seven churches participated in a worship service written by the women of Cuba. Knox acted as host, and welcomed participants from Peace Lutheran, Trinity United, All Saints Anglican, St. John’s Lutheran, St. James and Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Churches. The chaplains from Vernon Jubilee Hospital and Heron Grove Retirement Residence read the scripture lessons.
Special guests included the Bell Amente Ringers from First Baptist Church, three members of the Jabulani Drummers and the youth associate from Trinity United, and residents from Orchard Valley, Carrington and Heron Grove Retirement Homes. An unexpected visit from “Aunt Matilda” provided some comic relief to the standing room only crowd.
A Cuban style reception followed the service with fruity punches, fresh fruit, banana trifle and upside down pineapple cake. The offering gathered was sent back to the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada to be used in providing grants for programs in Canada and abroad to support women and children.
World Day of Prayer is a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March. World Day of Prayer dates back to the 19th century when Christian women of the United States and Canada initiated a variety of cooperative activities in support of women’s involvement in mission at home and in other parts of the world.
