Women’s World Day of Prayer is a unique organisation – truly interdenominational and truly international, it speaks with the voices of women from all corners of the globe.

Involvement in WWDP creates a network of Christian women on a worldwide scale which also reaches into our local communities.

Preparations go on for months in advance. Finally, at a church near you on March 1, women and men will be gathering to celebrate, using a programme of worship prepared this year by women in France.

When the women of the French Committee met to work on the material for 2013, the theme chosen for them became close to their hearts: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”.

The service they have written for us has a strong French feel and flavour.

France, like other European countries, receives many asylum requests. In 2011, 51,900 people applied for asylum in France.

The presence of these people in the country both enriches the culture and can cause social difficulties.

Behind each request, each statistic, is the story of a life. Some of those stories will be shared in the service.

France has always accepted asylum seekers fleeing on political grounds – Hungarians, Chileans and Vietnamese being some examples. Almost a quarter of the current population has at least one foreign grandparent.

We envisage a great annual wave of prayer, rising with the sun over the island of Samoa and then sweeping across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, until it comes to rest in America some 36 hours later. By then, services will have taken place in more than 170 countries.

All are welcome to attend – men and women and people of all ages. For further information and resources, together with details of services in your area, see the WWDP website at www.dp-natcomm.org If you are interested in attending the service at Cornerstone Church Great Horton, contact Enid McKelvie at (01274) 880039 or e-mail enidmckelvie @btinternet.com.

by Enid McKelvie