World Day of Prayer: Who we Are

World Day of Prayer is an international movement of Christian people in many different traditions that have a continuing relationship of prayer and service. People from various denominations gather in one another’s churches to celebrate, using a Worship Service prepared by women of a different country each year. Women, men and young people share the language, customs and music of that country, right around the globe.

World Day of Prayer was begun by a group of women in the United States in 1887 and has grown to include over 180 countries and regions worldwide. In New Zealand, the first nationwide worship service was held in 1931. In 2008, World Day of Prayer in this country was incorporated as a Society.

Each year the National committee takes the service and brings it to the local communities while gaining an ever-growing and deepening understanding of the global and ecumenical community as a dynamic unity made visible on the first Friday of March. This process takes a lot of love, care and work. It takes open hearts, and a willingness to go beyond what is familiar.

The leaders' guide included in the packs gives extra information and advice to help leaders of services to better understand the intentions of the writer country committees who have spent many hours writing the service, collecting music, artwork and other material. Each pack also contains a Bible study to explore the theme and the experiences of the writing team.

In 2020 the gifts of money made during services were distributed:

Christian World Service Dabane Trust, Bulawayo, Matabeleland, Zimbabwe which works with rural communities in arid and semi-arid regions of southern and western Zimbabwe $12,000
Bible Society, Bible Society in Zimbabwe supporting disabled children and their mothers who suffer from discrimination in society $5,000
Interchurch Hospital Chaplaincy $5,000
Church Women United Aotearoa NZ $1,000
WDP International Committee $3,500
WDPANZ Travel Fund $1,000
WDPANZ Provision for Expenses $16,500 (Including printing, copying CDs and distribution of 2019 materials)

How can you contact us?

National Liaison Officer - the volunteer member of the National Committee who tries to answer all your queries and meet all your needs is currently: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it of Methven, Canterbury. Phone Number 03 302 8587.

The hard-working National Committee is based in Christchurch. Our postal address is:

World Day of Prayer Aotearoa New Zealand, P O Box 8452, Riccarton, Christchurch 8440.

Committee members for 2020-2021 are:

Mary Caldwell, Roman Catholic (Deputy Chairperson), Jan Harland, Presbyterian (Treasurer), Stephanie Johnston (Youth Advisor), Zella McGirr, Roman Catholic (National Liaison Officer), Pauline McKay, Christian World Service, (Chairperson), Lynne Scott, Methodist (Secretary), and Roz Wilkie, Methodist.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

We would love to hear from you. If you have any photographs of your March 2021 Worship Service, we would welcome receiving these photographs. Thank you.