Childhood poverty and the vulnerability of children in Suriname will be a focus of World Day of Prayer services at Manning Uniting Church and Old Bar Catholic Church on March 2.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The two church communities invite people to take part in the World Day of Prayer services that will occur all over the world on the first Friday in March. The Manning Uniting Church service will begin at 10am and the Old Bar Catholic Church service will begin at 7.30pm.
You may also be interested in:
Throughout the entire day, Christians collectively pray all over the world, beginning with the first sunrise and ending at the last sunset, according to the World Day of Prayer website.
Co-ordinated services of Christian worship and prayer are held across the world in over 170 countries, directed by the international body – the World Day of Prayer International.
The World Day of Prayer motto is “Informed prayer leads to prayerful action”, and this year prayerful support will be directed at the 540,000 inhabitants of the Republic of Suriname, on the north-eastern coast of South America.
But behind closed doors, family violence, abuse and neglect are ongoing issues. Children are particularly vulnerable, many growing up in orphanages or one-parent families ...
- World Day of Prayer Australia
“Despite a history steeped in slavery and political coups, this tiny nation has achieved remarkable progress since its independence in 1975.
“But behind closed doors, family violence, abuse and neglect are ongoing issues. Children are particularly vulnerable, many growing up in orphanages or one-parent families. While education is free, there is no compulsory school attendance. Child labour in the form of street selling is common, but of far more serious concern is the fact that many children are labouring in the gold mines of Suriname.”
Artist Alice Pomstra worked to create a painting for the World Day of Prayer program and believes Suriname “is a rich country with beautiful flowers and animals, but also sufficient food for everyone.”
“We symbolically see the hands that receive the divine gift and pass it on to the next generations … the seven women symbolize all women in Suriname who cherish this gift and seven also symbolizes the seven days of God’s creation.”
For additional information about World Day of Prayer services in Taree and Old Bar contact Faye Kohlhagen on 6552 4073.