Some 40 women and men gathered at the Grenfell Uniting Church on Friday, March 1, to celebrate World Day of Prayer.
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This is an international non-denominational event held on the first Friday in March each year. The service is prepared by Christian women in a focus country who choose a Bible verse or concept and develop a service around it reflecting the local culture and challenges. This year's service was prepared by Christian women in Palestine on the theme of 'I beg you ... bear with one another in love' [Ephesians 4:2]. Next year's service is the work of women from the Cook Islands on the theme 'I made you wonderful'.
A feature of this year's service was three stories from three representative Palestinian women outlining the challenges they have faced but how their faith in God strengthens them to cope each day and make a positive impact for all peoples in their community. There was heartfelt prayer for peace and justice to come to this very troubled area of the world.
During the service a very generous offering of $600 was collected to support the Palestinian Bible Society's Living Stones Project based in the city of Ramullah in Gaza. This project works to strengthen and encourage local Christians by deepening their engagement with God's Word through meetings, Bible studies and children's camps, and also providing a safe meeting place, Bibles and practical material aid. Palestinian Christians see themselves as "living stones" of Christianity in contrast to the "dead stones" of sites and monuments.
Attendees also heard a brief "Palestine 101" which offered a few facts about a country which is not particularly familiar to most. For example, did you know that there the prickly pear is a delicacy rather than a pest with the fruit very tasty and very nutritious, that Gaza has a population density three times that of Sydney, and that the national flower of Palestine is a species of iris?
Our guest speaker, Susan Hodge, spoke about the power of God to bring hope and healing in the midst of conflict and suffering.
After the service all enjoyed a very welcome cool drink and 'cuppa' in the church hall and an afternoon tea.
It was great to see representatives from all Grenfell's churches plus some visitors from Quandialla and Greenethorpe uniting in prayer and concern for Palestine and particularly Palestinian women.
