The World Day of Prayer service at the Uniting Church, Penrith, brought together those of many Christian churches, faiths and traditions for a special gathering focused on “I Made You Wonderful” (Psalm 139:14), with prayers for the Cook Islands, as this year’s focus country.
Held on Friday 7 March 2025, the World Day of Prayer is an international ecumenical prayer movement, led by Christian women, which comes together in prayer for peace and justice in the world, every year on the first Friday of March.
This year, Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic, from St Nicholas of Myra Parish, Penrith, and Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly from the Uniting Church, Penrith, united in prayer to celebrate the inherent worth of all whom God has made.
Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic, from St Nicholas of Myra Parish reading at the World Day of Prayer service. Image: Supplied
The focus country for this year was the Cook Islands, providing the opportunity for three women of varying ages, backgrounds and occupations, to share insight into their daily lives and how their faith reassures them they will get through their hardships.
Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly addressed this year’s theme country saying: “As a Uniting Church Minister of over 32 years ordained, being in ministry with different groups from the Pasifika has been wonderful to grow in learning more about the different challenges they face as well as understanding their resilience.
“To be able to share some of those challenges to help others understand a little more is a privilege,” she added.
Rev Christine Bayliss Kelly watching a song written from the Cook Islanders WDOP committee, entitled ‘Wonderfully and fearfully made’, based on Psalm 139:14. Image: Supplied
Fr Zvonimir emphasised the importance of coming together in prayer, saying: “The Lord didn’t establish a denomination. He established a church, whatever religious tradition we belong to of the Christian churches, is to be the church that Jesus wants.
“We are all children of the one Father,” he added.
Fr Zvonimir highlighted the importance of churches working together to serve the community, developing goodwill and friendship and providing a common witness to the local community.
“We won’t get anywhere unless we pray together. That’s why the World Day of Prayer is important, it’s an opportunity for Christian churches, Christians of various spiritual traditions, to come together and pray together. It’s God who is going to bring the churches together,” he said.
Mrs Tali Onesemo reading the story of one of the focus women from the Cook Islands. Image: Supplied
Rev Kelly said: “Coming together to pray for a specific country, to learn more about it and to discover more of the things we have in common, as well as different, is a wonderful opportunity.
“To know we are part of a global gathering of diverse people who join together, united in prayer, is something I believe Christ rejoices in.
“His prayer was that the disciples would be one, as he and the Father are one.
“Whilst the gathering in Penrith was small, it was a relaunch of Christians coming together, to put aside differences and to join together in prayer.
“We hope to continue to grow from this small rebirth to bring glory to God as we seek to pray for others and learn from each other as we worship God in Trinity,” said Rev Kelly.
The next ecumenical prayer opportunity is the ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ commencing 1 June 2025. It begins with the Sunday of the Ascension of the Lord and concludes on Pentecost Sunday.
The Uniting Church, Penrith adorned with Pasific Islander Art. Image: supplied
