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ChurchCChurch Leaders with Ambassador of Cuba and Executive Secretary of AICCW in Delhi during World Day of Prayer Service
Nurturing Church Women’s Spirituality for Justice and Peace and promoting World Day of Prayer (WDP) is one of the priority focuses of All India Council of Christian Women ( AICCW). WDP is a global, ecumenical movement of Christian women joined together to observe a common day of prayer each year on the first Friday of March. The Motto of WDP is "Informed Prayer & Prayerful Action" signifies that prayer and action are inseparable. WDP unites church women in prayer in 170 countries.
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In 2016 WDP resource material
focuses on Cuba and is prepared by Cuba WDP Committee and contexualized by AICCW. The theme is ‘Receive Children, Receive Me’. Throughout the month of March in India Women’s Fellowship of different member churches commemorated WDP. AICCW gave a
clarion call to churches to pray for Cuba and also promote Child Rights, Child Protection Polices and engage in advocacy to end
Child abuse.
In New Delhi WDP prayer was jointly organized by Diocesan Women’s Fellowship of Christian Service
(DWFCS) of Church of North India – Delhi Diocese and National YWCA. The Cuban Ambassador Mr Oscar Marrtinez Cardovez and diplomats from Cuban Embassy
in Delhi participated in the worship. Mr Oscar Martinez
Cardovez mentioned during the worship
while sharing about Cuba that this is the first time he was attending a Church
service in India, According Ms Moumita Biswas - Executive
Secretary of AICCW, “WDP
not only helped us to promote relationship between two countries
but pray together learn from each other . We had also the opportunity to know
crisis and challenges of Cuba. So WDP provides us the opportunity to
think locally and act globally for justice and peace . This is the Power of
Prayer Movement”
It was during the worship Ms Biswas thanked Women
Fellowship of Delhi Diocese for engaging in advocacy and promoting the campaign
of AICCW/ NCCI- 365 Days Zero Tolerance to Gender Based Violence: Make it Happen Now! . She emphasized on the need to promote child rights and child
protection policies and theme of WDP “Receive Children, Receive Me” is
very relevant.
Mavis Russel President of DWFCS - Dehli Diocese shared during
WDP worship how women in her church are promoting WDP and
reflecting prayer in action and responded to AICCW/NCCI campaign . The Women's
Fellowship of Delhi Diocese have started 'Deborah
Scholarship Project' to
support children's education of widows and single mums. They are also in
process of rehabilitation of women and girls in sexual slavery by providing
them entrepreneurship opportunities and alternative training for survival.
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| Children in CNI Church in Delhi Actively engaged in creative activity learning about Cuba and India |
Children were very much part and parcel
of WDP worship as there were children’s activities and liturgies in the WDP resource material. WDP provides
scope for spiritual formation of children and promotes nurturing praxis oriented spirituality of children from tender age.Dr Saramma Varghese – President of AICCW from Orthodox Church introduced WDP worship in her local church for the first time .
The Presbyterian Church of India commemorates WDP every year WDP in special way. Throughout the year every day women pray and in every home save a handful of rice to raise WDP offering.
The Presbyterian Church of India commemorates WDP every year WDP in special way. Throughout the year every day women pray and in every home save a handful of rice to raise WDP offering.
Revd Eben Jason from Church of South India ( CSI) WDP Convener of AICCW the month of January was preparing different women’s fellowship of Church of South India for WDP. Revd Jason is dedicated her life and engaged in ministry in creating awareness in grassroots communities and local churches in Tamil Nadu state to end Female infanticide and fetocide. “Our girls children are precious and created in image of God. The theme this year of WDP we prayed for Cuba also it helped us to engage nurturing spirituality to save our girl children in India,” opines Revd Jason.
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| Revd Mrs Eben Jason from Church of South India Promoting WDP |
Dr Leelavathi Manasseh Director of Church Relations and Resource Mobilization of Bible Society of India reported WDP worship was organized in Bible Society, Bangalore.In Hindustan Covenant Church Annie Bhonsle played crucial role in promoting WDP in her own church.
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| WDP Service in Marthoma Syrian Church where men women and youth participated |
During the Women
and Gender justice Forum or Pre Assembly of National Council of Churches in
India on 14th -15th March there was reflection and Bible study on the theme “Receive Children, Receive Me. “ facilitated
by Rev Dr Ipe Joseph – General Secretary
All India Sunday School Association (
AISSA). The aim and goals of WDP was promoted in this Forum.
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| Children Marching towards altar with Sugar cane and symbols of worship and Praying for Cuba |
AICCW is requesting
Women’s fellowship of member Churches to send their WDP reports and their
offering graciously. WDP International
Committee through these prayer offerings support projects and programs and initiatives of women for justice and peace
throughout the world.
Dr Roger Gaikwad General Secretary of NCCI congratulates and thanks women’s fellowships of member churches of NCCI in India and WDP International Committee and Cuba Committee for all their commitment for praxis oriented spirituality to promote WDP.
Reported by Moumita Biswas
Executive Secretary
All India Council of Christian Women
