World Day of Prayer has environmental theme

Yarmouth service to be held Friday, March 2 at New Life Church

A tradition stretching back nearly a century continues with World Day of Prayer, which is scheduled for Friday, March 2, and Yarmouth again is among the communities hosting events to mark the occasion.

This year’s Yarmouth World Day of Prayer service will take place at New Life Church, starting at 7 p.m. (In case of a storm, it will be held March 9.)

Christian women from the small South American country of Suriname have written this year’s World Day of Prayer service, which is titled All God’s Creation is Very Good, with a focus on the planet and the need to take care of it.

“That’s basically what they’re focusing on – creation and our responsibility,” said Marilyn Donaldson, chairwoman of the planning Lorna Dempsey, left, and Marilyn Donaldson are members of the committee organizing the World Day of Prayer service to be held Friday, March 2 at New Life Church in Yarmouth. Donaldson is the committee chairwoman. committee for this year’s World Day of Prayer in Yarmouth.

Seven local churches are on the planning committee, including New Life Church (this year’s host), Yarmouth North Baptist, Salvation Army, Beacon United Church, Holy Trinity (Anglican), St. Ambrose (Roman Catholic) and Yarmouth Wesleyan.

All of them will take part in the Yarmouth service. Last year’s service was held at Holy Trinity.

The evening will include music by New Life Church’s worship team and there will be refreshments afterwards. The service will last about an hour.

World Day of Prayer grew from an ecumenical day of prayer organized by women in Canada and the United States in 1920. It became World Day of Prayer in 1922.

Today it is observed by both women and men around the world.

“It’s not just for women,” Donaldson said. “It’s for everyone.”

A media release issued in advance of this year’s event says the day will be commemorated in 113 languages worldwide. In Canada alone, it says, more than 1,200 communities will take part, as people “gather to learn about, pray and celebrate environmental issues in solidarity with the women of Suriname.”

Said Rosångela Oliveira, executive director of Women’s World Day of Prayer, “Women from Suriname lift up their voices to remind us that we are caretakers of God’s creation. They are bringing to our attention the urgent need for caring at a time when more than 180 countries have signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

A commitment to keep the earth cooler depends on public policies implemented by governments, but also on our personal lifestyle.”