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Lisburn, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

WOMEN�S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE 2006

Hosted by First Lisburn Presbyterian Church for 25 Lisburn area churches

World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year, and who, in many countries, have a continuing relationship in prayer and service.  It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions and is a movement symbolized by an annual day of celebration - the first Friday of March.

One couldn�t help feeling the Christian women of South Africa who prepared this year�s service under the theme �Signs of the Times�, would have been pleased by the participation in the service to highlight their struggles.  The service from South Africa, one of the most ethnically diverse countries in Africa and often referred to as �The Rainbow Nation�, called upon the gifts and imagination of members of First Lisburn congregation to create a meaningful and lively evening against an authentic African backdrop.  The young and the young-at-heart responded with IT skills, submission of scripture verses, printing, hall d�cor, catering, tie-dyeing, wearing of kaftans, floral arrangements, provision of African artefacts and general overseeing.

The leaders, Jacqui Brackenridge and Evelyn Whyte welcomed the three hundred visitors and the guest speaker, the Rev. Hiram Higgins.  There was a great uplifting of spirit as the large massed choir of over sixty voices from the Lisburn area churches led the praise, accompanied by Tom Whyte - Director of Music, Jill Craig - pianist and supporting band.  Readings and prayers by women of all ages from Lisbun area Churches: Nola Dundas - Christ Church, Elizabeth Scott - Society of Friends, Bronwen Dark - Maghergall Parish, Jean Weir - Loughaghery Presbyterian, Rosaleen Lennon - St Patrick�s Roman Catholic Church, Cherry Guy - Seymour Street Methodist, May Moreland - St. Mark�s Parish, Jean Henderson - The Salvation Army, Bridie Conlon - St. Colman�s, Elizabeth McElhinney - Harmony Hill Presbyterian and Sally Richardson - Hillhall Presbyterian.

The guest speaker was the Rev. Hiram Higgins who has just returned from South Africa after serving Eshowe Presbyterian Church in Central Zululand for 24 years.  Mr. Higgins spoke on the hopeless situation of the AIDS orphans in Zululand.  He referred to the work of the Presbyterian Church and how they helped The John Montgomery AIDS Foundation build a foster home within an informal settlement in the Nganini Tribal Area.  Using a slide presentation, he highlighted the terrible living conditions, the lack of clean water, sewerage and electricity and called on the Presbyterian Woman�s Association to assist in the improvement of the children�s life style.

The WWDP Motto � Informed Prayer - Prayerful Action� became meaningful when for the first time WWDP asked that petitions be signed and sent to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, calling upon our government, among all governments of the world to honour its commitment made in July 2005, to provide the full resources needed to enable universal AIDS treatment be made available by 2010.  Our prayer is that it may be so.

Prior to the main WWDP Service of the day, a shortened version of the service took place for the patients at Thompson House Hospital and the tenants of Blaris Fold.  Led by a team of ten volunteers, and guest speakers, Rev. Diane Matchett - Curate Christ Church and Angela Sofely - Pastoral Assistant Trinity Methodist; these services were received with much gratitude.

Pictured against the backdrop of the South African flag at the Women�s World Day of Prayer in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March 2006 are L to R: (front The Rev. Hiram Higgins, Elizabeth Watt and Tom Whyte.  (back) Evelyn Whyte, Jacqueline Brackenridge and Jill Craig.

 

Pictured above are the ladies that organized the Women�s World Day of Prayer in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March 2006.  L to R: Joyce Moran, Inez Price, Anne Kain and Elizabeth Watt.  Behind them is the beautiful themed display, which was prepared by some of the ladies from First Lisburn Church.

The reception committee, dressed in authentic South African kaftans welcomed over three hundred visitors to the Women�s World Day of Prayer Service in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March. L to R: (front) Karen Canning, Cathy Steele and Audrey Steele. (back) Nicola Andrews, Hazel Millen and Irene Richer.

Tom Whyte - Director of Music and Pianist - Jill Craig pictured with some of the large choir of over sixty voices from the Lisburn area churches that led the praise at the Women�s World Day of Prayer Service in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March.

 

Pictured at the Women�s World Day of Prayer in First Lisburn Presbyterian Church on Friday 3rd March 2006 are L to R:  (front) The Rev. Hiram Higgins and Elizabeth Watt. (back) Joyce Moran, Annabelle Poots, Sylvia Cairnduff and Anne Kain.