World Day of Prayer is an international, ecumenical (representing different Christian churches) organisation which enables all to hear the thoughts of women from across the world, including their hopes, concerns and prayers.

Each year the service is prepared by women from a different country, and this year it has been written by the women of The Cook Islands. This group of 15 islands in the South Pacific Ocean has a rich and colourful Māori heritage and a deep connection to nature.

The service will include prayers, music and stories originating from The Cook Islands, alongside objects that represent the country, and will include the traditional greeting of ‘Kia orana’, which means ‘may you live long and may you live well. May you shine like the sun. May you dance with the waves’.

A service booklet will be available, which also includes lots of background information about those who have prepared the service.

The World Day of Prayer is celebrated in over 120 countries. It begins in Samoa and prayer in native languages travels throughout the world — through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas before finishing in American Samoa some 38 hours later. It is there to ‘create a worldwide wave of prayer’.

The Revd Cathy Milford, organiser of the service, says:

“This annual World Day of Prayer Service has been prepared by Christian Women around the world for over a hundred years. It is always a moving service and reminds us that we belong to a worldwide family and that we have much to give to and receive from each other.

“All are welcome to come to the Cathedral as we pray together and reflect on the theme ‘I made you wonderful’.”