Bearing with one another in love
World Day of Prayer promotes the motto ‘Informed Prayer & Prayerful Action’, and is celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the first Friday in March. The movement brings together people 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.
Dear friends throughout The Salvation Army Australia,
I am writing to you about today’s World Day of Prayer. The theme for this year is: “I urge you … be completely humble and gentle, bearing with one another in love.”
This year’s Scripture is: Ephesians 4:1b-2. The full scripture of Ephesians 4:1-4 says this:
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
The World Day of Prayer service for this year has been lovingly prepared by the women of Palestine, who were selected in 2017 for this date. I believe it is a move of God, to turn the eyes, hearts and prayers of nations towards Palestine at this present moment. Lord, hear our prayer!
The heading of Ephesians 4, which is used to summarise the verses that are to follow, says, ‘Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ’. Let us, as we endeavour to beseech God with much discernment, seek God with much humility and hear from God, which our duty, do so with a shared commission of unity and maturity.
Thank you for your dedication and deep commitment to prayer. Thank you for your service to others and our Palestine women. God, bless the women who prepared this, and may all of this be a holy offering that prepares the way for the Prince of Peace, who rules all.
I wanted to provide you the following:
The link provided on mySalvos of The Salvation Army International Headquarters’ amended worship service using The Salvation Army 2015 Songbook
Statements below from The Salvation Army Australia’s Moral and Social Issues Council (MASIC) in relation to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
The World Day of Prayer International Committee Statement on WDOP Palestine
A tie-in between The Salvation Army Year of Prayer scripture and the World Day of Prayer service
Check out the World Day of Prayer songs arranged by an international choir on the WDOP YouTube Channel.
Please also pray for those facing the impending Rafah invasion. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Ministers of Canada and New Zealand have called for a ceasefire in a joint statement in response.
As you seek God and seek the good of the Palestinian people, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Galatians 6:9-10).
Be assured of my prayers over and with you.
Yours in Christ,
Auxiliary-Lieutenant Rosy Keane
Secretary for Spiritual Life
The Mission Resources team has created various resources for you and your faith communities to help bring awareness to this day.
Click here for the MySalvos link.
The Salvation Army Year of Prayer scripture for Week Eighteen
The Salvation Army Australia has been invited into a rhythm of prayer together through A Year of Prayer.
For seventeen weeks we have been seeking God daily and weekly. We will be in week eighteen when the World Day of Prayer service is being hosted, with the scripture Psalm 29:1-2.
This attitude of ascribing to the Lord glory, strength, worship, and splendour as we acknowledge God’s holiness is the correct way to position ourselves whenever we seek God in prayer and pray on behalf of others.
