World Day of Prayer: Informed Prayer, Prayerful Action

Our Saviour says, ‘Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke on you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.’

These familiar words, from the Moravian Communion liturgy, are encouraging and hopeful. They also form the basis for this year’s World Day of Prayer service: ‘I will give you rest, come.’ (Matthew 11: 28 - 30)

I am always struck by the fact that countries and texts are decided many years in advance by the World Day of Prayer International Committee and yet they resonate with what’s happening in the world at the time of the service. The service in 2026 has been written by the Christian women of Nigeria, a country once part of the British Empire and only given its independence in 1960. As is often the case, being given independence and managing to achieve self-governance is often a difficult and painful transition. This has proved to be so in Nigeria. Although now a more stable country economically (it has the highest GDP of any African country), there are still many issues around gender equality of opportunities, abuse by foreign powers of Nigeria’s rich mineral deposits and continuing harassment of the population by terrorist groups like Boko Haram. In recent times the atrocities committed against religious groups in the north of the country have even reached Donald Trump’s ears and he has threatened action. There will be no winners if this should happen; the innocent will become pawns in a political situation out of their control (as has happened in Gaza).

The service contains the testimonies of four Nigerian women: Chioma (the burden of insecurity), Beatrice (the burden of marginalisation), Jato (the burden of religious persecution) and Blessing (the burden of poverty and despair). Prayers and hymns support their words and experiences, and the altar display uses symbolism to further our understanding of life as it is for these examples of Christian womanhood.

May I encourage all those who can to attend a service at a church nearby. The WDP organisation has a very efficient website (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) on which can be found a map showing services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Services are always held on the first Friday of March, in this case 6th March, and it is possible to find a time to suit those retired, in work or at school. In my role as Field Worker for the North of England and Northern Ireland, I am always encouraged by the number of Moravian sisters and brothers who belong to WDP branches and who help organise the annual ecumenical service.

Although it may seem that WDP is only a once-a-year event, it is a 365 day-a-year prayer organisation started by women in Canada almost 100 years ago. Look online for the daily prayer focus, join the monthly Zoom prayer group (first Tuesday from 10am) or consider attending the YPray? residential weekend in October (details can be found on the website). Materials for schools, youth organisations and Sunday Schools can be downloaded from the website as can a Messy Church programme.

‘And now, with you God, we look towards the future, trusting in your presence through the changing days. We pray that, as we love and serve our neighbours, the earth will ring with faith’s increasing praise.’

Sr Maureen Colbert

Moravian Representative on the WDP National Committee for EWNI