World Day of Prayer
The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian initiative celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March.
This year, materials have been written by women of the Cook Islands in the Pacific. They introduce the artwork of mother and daughter Tarani Napa and Tevairangi Napa. Their work (including "Wonderfully Made", right) has been inspired by words from Psalm 139:14: "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
These are materials that can be used all year round to get to know the Cook Islands and their people better.
Find out about the theme and the country.
A wide range of downloadable worship and activity resources have been prepared, including activity sheets fro children and young people. You can link to the specific resources for the World Day of Prayer Scotland, and to a Welsh-language prayer for the day.
If you want to attend a World Day of Prayer service, you can use this venue guide (England and Northern Ireland only).
A prayer for our senses
Loving Lord, who made me for your delight,
bless me with good use of the senses you created:
that I may use my sight to see the injustice in your world,
and respond with my heart;
that I may use my hearing to listen to the voice of suffering,
and respond with my heart;
that I may voice what is your will at all times, in all places
and respond with my heart.
Loving Lord, who made me for your delight,
bless me in your service.
Amen.
Pat Heynes, local preacher, North East Somerset and Bath Circuit
A prayer that we may love the holy word - Alternative Prayer
Let us love your holy word, O God, anxious to obey its commandments, eager to comprehend its meaning, longing to be guided by its precepts, yearning to hear the voice that speaks through its pages.
Walter James, Wesleyan minister (1879-1908)