WelCom May 2017:
Fr David Grushow –
Aurora Frost at the altar after taking part in the procession of gifts. Photo: Supplied
A large crowd from all of Ōtaki’s church congregations came together in the Presbyterian Church on 3 March to observe the Women’s World Day of Prayer.
This day is celebrated annually on the first Friday of March. Each congregation supplies representatives to actively take part in the liturgy. The various churches host the day in turn.
The Women’s World Day of Prayer began in North America in the 19th century and is now observed in over 170 countries and in 1000 languages in united prayer. Since there is the same basic service repeated throughout the world during the same 24 hours, it is the World Day of Prayer.
Each year women from a different country compose the liturgy according to their customs. This year, the liturgy was written by women from the Philippines. St Mary’s parishioner, Aurora Frost, from that country, led
the preparations for the day and gave us a deeper understanding of the language used and gifts presented.
The Women’s World Day of Prayer is a lovely opportunity for women – and men – to meet in prayer as well as socially, especially as we all worship the One God, and at a time of changing demographics.
Fr David Grushow is parish priest for Ōtaki and Levin’s Ss Mary and Joseph – Hāto Mere me Hohepa.