The Women of Suriname – South America
“All God’s Creation is Very Good!”
This year throughout the world women will gather to pray in various Christian churches for the work and lives of women. The women of Suriname have prepared the theme and readings for this International Day of Prayer for Women. The art work represents the table of the world presented to us as a divine gift of nature’s food to pass on for future generations – the humming bird, the white ibis represent the many species of birds from Suriname. Various species of fauna, mountain ranges and creatures that are peculiar only to Suriname are depicted in the art piece to highlight the magnificence of this country. The seven women symbolise the account of the world being created in seven days. The request throughout the prayer service is that we try, across the world, to protect the fragility of creation entrusted to us with its specific features of beauty.
Here in Wealdstone we will be praying for women around the world and we will have as our RNDM theme along with the women of Suriname the words of Graham Kendrick as we sing:
“Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair,
Lord, in your suffering world this is our prayer. . .
God of the poor friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray:
melt our cold hearts;
let tears fall like rain;
come, change our love from a spark to a flame….”
Let us pray for and remember women throughout our world today who work the fields and who are often left alone to protect their children and creation for various reasons.