People across the globe celebrated the 96th annual World Day of Prayer on Friday. Locally, a worship celebration at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Cecil attracted about 60 people from several denominations.
Organizers describe the World Day of Prayer as a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer. The event is held annually on the first Friday of March.
Shawano County churches have participated in the program since 1965. This year’s event was coordinated by people from St. Martin’s and and St. John’s United Church of Christ.
“It is the joint efforts of churches throughout the world, representing numerous denominations,” said Elaine Novak, chairperson of the local World Day of Prayer committee.
The 2015 worship celebration was written by women in the Bahamas.
“A different country serves as the writers for this worship service each year,” Novak said. “The women of that country’s national committee interpret scripture within their cultural context.”
In her presentation, Pastor Moira Finley, of St. John’s, emphasized the need to help others in the community.
Novak echoed Finley’s comments, saying the celebration’s central theme is to support and address concerns related to women and children.
Novak was satisfied with this year’s attendance.
“I am very pleased by it all, and I am pleased that we had 11 different denominations involved in this,” Novak said.
The event’s local location rotates among several churches and denominations, including Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Jehovah’s Witness, Lutheran and Methodist.
“We would like to see more churches get involved in this,” Novak said.
The women of Cuba will be responsible for writing the 2016 service. Top of the Hill United Methodist Church in Shawano will host the local celebration.
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