Week of Prayer and World Fellowship begins 2010
Building upon the prayers that have been spoken for over 100 years staff, members, friends and well-wishers of the World YWCA and World Alliance of YMCAs gathered at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva on November 15, 2010. Together they worshiped and opened the Week of Prayer and World Fellowship.
The Week of Prayer and World Fellowship is held each year in November. During this week, the two movements pray and act together on a particular theme in solidarity with members and partners around the world. The theme for this year is “Women Creating a Safe World” which is also the theme for the World YWCA Council, which will be held in July, 2011 in Zurich, Switzerland.
Following the theme, the prayers for the service were dedicated to women, mothers, nurses, models, daughters, sex-workers, literate women, abused women, women of all classes and creed. The prayers were also dedicated to their daily struggles to create and preserve spaces of equality within their societies and homes. The challenges that were portrayed in the morning gospel began many years ago and still continue to this day.
Matthew 15, 21 – 28 spoke of a woman who came to Jesus with a cry for help on behalf of her daughter and was faced with the disciples who wanted to send her away. There will always be some disciples who will want to push women away. This passage however, reminded the worshipers present that if they believe in their cause and never give up, their wishes will be granted.
With further reference to the gospel from St. Matthew, the morning service also included a ceremonial distribution of crumbs. A crumb, a small dispensable thing in the hands of a wise woman, transformed Jesus’ thinking. It was a reminder that the smallest bit of faith can lead to action.
The remainder of the week will be dedicated to prayers and reflections on how, as members and volunteers of the World YWCA and the World Alliance of YMCAs, we can create a safer world for women and girls. The Week of Prayer will also focus on how as women we can create a safer world for our selves. The daily reflections will follow these sub-themes:
- Blessed are those who risk, for they shall be offered safety
- Blessed are those who refuse to violate women, for they have chosen life
- Blessed are those who recognise and value the unique talent of others, for they shall succeed
- Blessed are those who raise their voices for health justice, they shall be heard
- Blessed are those who build community, for they shall be blessed with belonging
- Blessed are those who dare to change, for they shall be blessed with the future
In the Presidents’ message for the Week of Prayer, World YWCA President Susan Brennan, and President of the World Alliance of YMCAs Ken Colloton, encouraged that as we pray and reflect this week, “let us not despair; God is with us as we dare to make the world a safer place.”
Download the PDF version of the Week of Prayer in English, Spanish and French:
