World Day of Prayer Is First Friday in March

World Day of Prayer Is First Friday in March - The Missourian: Feature Stories

Guest Speaker Will Be Rich Sandoval

Posted: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 12:15 am

World Day of Prayer Is First Friday in March

World Day of Prayer, a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christians of many faith traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March, will be held March 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church of Washington, 4834 South Point Road.

The church is easily accessible, and all are invited.

A reception will follow the service, and Ploughsharing Fair Trade will have handcrafted items from around the world for viewing and sale.

World Day of Prayer was founded on the idea that prayer and action are inseparable in the service of God’s kingdom. Services begin at sunrise in the Pacific and follow the sun across the globe on the day of celebration.

The women of France, this year’s writer-country, have chosen the theme “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me.” The French World Day of Prayer Committee looks for a Christian response to struggles concerning immigration and for ways to welcome “the stranger.”

The women who prepared this year’s worship service reach into Jesus’ identification with “the least of these” in Matthew 25 and draw on customs of hospitality found in Leviticus to paint a picture of welcoming the stranger.