World Day of Prayer 2014

For The Sidney Sun-Telegraph

Women, men and children in more than 170 countries and regions will celebrate World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 7, 2014. This year, the women of the WDP Committee of Egypt invite us into a time of worship with the words of the prophet Isaiah; “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.” With these words as backdrop, we are invited to learn about Egypt’s history and rich cultural diversity. An exploration of the Samaritan woman’s conversation with Jesus at the well offers us an opportunity for deep dialogue and reflection about the borders that we, like Jesus and the Samaritan woman, must cross to get to streams of living water. The woman by the well has a theological conversation with Jesus that ends with action. Our motto—“informed prayer leads to prayerful action”—follows that example. Jesus and the woman were able to transcend their religious and cultural differences and build a common ground that then empowered the woman to bring change to her community.

This year’s service will be held on Friday, March 7th at Noon at First United Methodist Church 2622 11th Ave Sidney contact number 308-254-4505.

Invite your friends, family and communities of faith to join the women of Egypt in prayer and song to support ecumenical efforts toward justice, peace, healing and wholeness. The annual offering supports the work of World Day of Prayer USA and helps meet the needs of families in Egypt and around the world who are victims of many forms of poverty, violence and injustice.

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday in March. 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. Each year a different country’s committee serves as the writers of the World Day of Prayer worship service.

World Day of Prayer USA promotes justice and equality for women through prayer, partnerships, service and celebration. For more information, contact the United Methodist Church or the national office of World Day of Prayer USA (www.wdp-usa.org).