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.