Women's World Day of Prayer

Tomorrow (Friday 7th) is the Woman's World Day of Prayer (WWDP). This is an annual international event which happens around the same time as International Women's Day, (which is the 8th March). Every year there is a focus on one country, and the women of that country are involved in putting together the worship resources. Last year it was France, this year it is Egypt.

It has a rich history beginning in the 19th century in North America and spreading to the UK in the 1920s and 1930s. Thus, it provides a direct link with first wave feminism and the spiritual thread of this movement which saw women working for equal participation during that period, although often not connecting directly with the formal Feminist movement.

Men are welcome at Women's World Day of Prayer events, but this is essentially a feminist celebration of international sisterhood and shared faith - although many of those involved would have 40 fits if they heard people using that sort of language in regard to this event. I was therefore relieved to read on the website that the UK WWDP committee had decided to retain the word "Women's" in the title. There had been debate about this over the last year, but apparently 90% of responses indicated that in the UK the gendered title be retained. The website indicates the question hasn't gone away forever, but for the moment we can continue to celebrate this as an event put together by women.

For me this is one of the most moving and important services I will attend annually. There is something about these services and the way that they are designed so many of the participants find themselves contributing in some way that touches me very deeply within. These services also teach us much about the experience of women in different parts of the world, whose stories may not otherwise be heard. They are, even if the language is never used, in their own ways celebrations of Christian feminism or at the very least the principals at the root of it.

The bringing together of women of different ages and denominations from a variety of different social and cultural backgrounds is a very powerful.

As I looked at the revamped UK WWDP website and the images on it I felt sad that the pictures of the women on there didn't seem to fully reflect this rich diversity.

The website does give details of local services, although it appears not all are on there. When I put Milton Keynes in the website the ones at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone tomorrow didn't come up. The details are, however, on the new - somewhat busy - Cornerstone website if you are interested in attending the services at either 12:30 or 6pm. All would be more than welcome.