Adelaide Latter-day Saint Women Take Part in World Day of Prayer

Representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Adelaide joined with other Christian women in World Day of Prayer, as services were held around the globe on Friday 4 March 2022.

World Day of Prayer is held on the first Friday of March and dates back to 1922.

According to its website, “The World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical Christian laywomen’s initiative. It is run under the motto ‘Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action,’ and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The movement aims to bring together women of various races, cultures and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and action throughout the year.”

It was created by women of faith as a call for compassion, understanding and action regarding specific issues facing women, children and individuals in various countries around the world.

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This year the service was written by women from England, Wales and Northern Ireland whose communities are among those to benefit from offerings and donations made during the World Day of Prayer.

The 2022 theme was very appropriate for these unprecedented times: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Supporting refugees and migrants was also a 2022 focus.

Church members, Sister Judith Lawry (Firle Stake Relief Society President) and Sister Caroline McIlwaine (Young Women Counsellor, Firle ward) accepted the invitation to be two of the readers at the prayer service held at Adelaide’s Maylands Church of Christ.

Following are quotes from Sister Lawry and Sister McIlwaine:

“Each year, Sisters and all interested members and friends of the Firle Stake are invited to attend the annual Multi Faith World Day of Prayer Service. On March 4th, we gathered at the Maylands Church of Christ. It is our blessing to have been reunited with our like minded Sisters and Brothers of other faiths, in testimony and service to share the program as [this year] was prepared by the dear women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through music and the spoken word. Over the years, we have come to know, love and respect one another and look forward each year to ‘work in unity to help those in need.'"(Sister Judith Lawry, Firle Stake Relief Society President)

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“It’s so uplifting to join with our friends of other church denominations each year, and unite in prayer and faith and fellowship with that common aim of helping communities and families in their need,” (Caroline McIlwaine, who took part for a sixth consecutive year).