Airdrie residents from a variety of church traditions will join together in early March to commit themselves to prayer as part of the 2020 World Day of Prayer.
According to Rev. Jennifer Ingram, a deacon with St. Francis of Assissi Anglican Church, several local Christian churches rotate hosting duties for the Airdrie service. This year’s iteration will take place March 6 at 7 p.m. at St. Francis of Assissi.
World Day of Prayer, Ingram said, is an opportunity to “share a service and pray with other people that you normally aren’t [at a service with].”
According to the Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada’s website, the event is a “global ecumenical movement, which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year.
For Christians, Ingram said, prayer is an important aspect of faith, as it is an important way to commune with their deity, seek guidance and centre themselves.
Each year, World Day of Prayer focuses on a different country – this year, the service has been written by the women of Zimbabwe. People around the world taking part in the religious event will participate in the same service. Ingram said the knowledge that, worldwide, Christians are praying on the same day is very powerful.
Portions of the service will be specific to the concerns of Zimbabweans, she said, while others will be more personal to Airdronians.
The service will last about 30 to 45 minutes, Ingram said, with time following it for people to fellowship and socialize after it is completed.
She said the ecumenical aspect of the service – promoting unity between Christian churches, regardless of their traditions – is the most important part of the annual occasion.
“It doesn’t matter what church you go to, we can all pray,” she said.
Praying alongside someone from a different tradition can offer a fresh perspective on your own faith practices, Ingram said, and renew your devotion.
“Someone may say things slightly different than what you’re normally used to hearing, and maybe it will trigger something in your thoughts to dig a little bit deeper,” she said.
Ingram said she’s already confirmed congregants from the Anglican, Catholic and Baptist traditions will take part in the prayer service, and invitations have been extended to all of Airdrie’s churches.
While the service will be a Christian service – specifically, Ingram said prayers will be made to Jesus and there will be a Bible reading – she said “anybody who prays” from any religious background is welcome to take part.
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
