Articles - Miscellaneous

Women's World Day of Prayer
Friday 6th March 2009

"Yumi planti manmeri tasoi long Kraist yumi stap wanpela bodi tasoi" is how the Christians of Papua New Guinea (PNG) would greet each other and translates as "In Christ we are many members yet one body" and is particularly relevant to the Christian community here.

And this is the theme the women have chosen for the service they have composed for the World Day of Prayer to be held universally on Friday 6th March 2009. Services in our locality are detailed below.

Over 3 million people worldwide, throughout the day from day-break in Tonga to sunset in Samoa, will share in this same event of prayer and praise, uniting with one voice in worship and literally "singing from the same hymn sheet", totally devised by Papuan women.

Situated near the Equator and one of the largest islands in the world, Papua New Guinea has had a very brutal and chequered history from its original discovery by Portuguese explorers in the early 16th century. After transitional rule by colonial powers, it is now an independent state with a parliamentary democratic system. But with a very inaccessible interior, 500 distinct languages and over 1000 diverse cultural traditions, tribal infighting is endemic. Still using clubs, bows and arrows and increasingly modern firm arms, the political situation is precarious and explosive.

From 1989 to 2004, a calamitous civil war led to the death of more than 20,000 men, women and children. There seemed no prospect of any resolution. Then, finally, 800 women from varying language and tribal groups determined to mediate. They were led by a young Catholic nun and together braved the terrifying journey across open seas and remote jungle tracks to converge on the crisis centre of Arawa. In due course, a small delegation fearlessly and audaciously managed to negotiate a peaceful solution to that particular conflict.

The following verses, composed in Papua New Guinea, illustrate some of the features of this tropical island which holds such potential with its vast mineral wealth and the many and rich qualities of its peoples but so fraught with underlying political and social problems.

"Islands and mountains, sunshine and breeze,
Flowers and moonlight, swaying palm trees,
Jungles and rivers, white coral sand.
This is my country, this is my land.
Dark were the days when men lived in fear,
Fear of the arrow, stone-club and spear:
Fighting and hatred filled every hand,
That was my country, that was my land.
Then came the change that brought peaceful days,
News of the Saviour, learning His ways;
Darkness is fading out of our land,
We know the peace of His guiding hand."

Please do try to attend one of the services and join hands in prayer for our sisters and brothers everywhere, but especially in this land of Papua New Guinea. Services are held as follows:-

10.30am St Paul's Church, King Lane, Leeds 17
10.30am St Anne's Cathedral, Cookridge Street, Leeds 1
11.00am Roscoe Methodist Church, Francis Street, Leeds 7
2.15pm Church of the Epiphany, Beech Lane, Leeds 9
7.00pm Lidgett Park Methodist Place, Lidgett Place, Leeds 8

All are most welcome - men, women and young people.

Joyce Sundram

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay