ALONG with Christians throughout the world, members of the four churches in Crediton celebrated the World Day of Prayer during the afternoon at Crediton Methodist Church on Friday, March 7.
Each year the World Day of Prayer service is planned and prepared by Christian women throughout the world, and this year it was prepared by women in the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islanders have celebrated 200 years of Christianity in the group of 15 islands in the Pacific Kia orana! This is a Maori phrase that the Cook Islanders use to greet each other.
It means much more than just hello. It means May you live long and may you live well, May you shine like the sun, May you dance with the waves.
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Our sisters in the Cook Islands have invited the whole world to greet each other today with this Maori phrase.
The theme of the service was “God made us wonderful.”
A recurring song throughout the service was “I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Marvellous are your works’’ which was composed specifically for this service to be sung throughout the world.
As we took part in this service we were part of a wonderful wave of prayer which encircles the globe, praying with, and for, the Cook Islands and its people.
Bronwyn Nott
• World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice.
The motto of the World Day of Prayer movement is Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action.
It is is celebrated annually in more than 170 countries on the first Friday in March.
Theme for 2025 was: "I Made You Wonderful”, based on Psalm 139, emphasising the inherent value of each individual.