CWU-Newtown World Day Of Prayer, March 7

Women, men, and children in more than 170 countries and regions will celebrate World Day of Prayer 2009 next month.

The Newtown unit of Church Women United invites all residents to join them for their celebration, which will be presented on Saturday, March 7, at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook. The service will begin at 4 pm, and guests will be invited to join CWU members for the church’s monthly spaghetti dinner following the service.

Women in Papua New Guinea have written the World Day of Prayer 2009 service around the theme drawing from the New Testament assurance “In Christ there are many members, yet one body.” Though many of its communities experience isolation due to rugged terrain, therefore creating a land of many languages, cultures, traditions and beliefs, there is unity in diversity within Papua New Guinea.

The Reverend Mel Kawakami, senior pastor of Newtown United Methodist Church, will be the guest speaker and offer welcoming remarks. Members of CWU-Newtown will lead the service, to include Scripture readings, hymns, and prayer to support women’s ecumenical ministries toward justice, peace, healing, and wholeness.

An offering will support the world of World Day of Prayer and help meet the needs of families who are victims of violence and poverty worldwide.

For those who decide to enjoy the spaghetti supper, dinner is served in the church’s fellowship hall; access is available from within the church building. Dinner is served from 5 to 7:30 pm with donation being $9 per adult, $8 for seniors, and $3.50 for children.

Dinner includes fruit cup, salad with choice of dressings, pasta with choice of sauces (meatless, mild, or spicy), garlic bread, and an array of homemade desserts.

World Day of Prayer has been observed annually since January 1920 in Canada, and February 1920 in the United States. Since that time Christian women in these two countries have initiated cooperative activities in many areas of concern for women and children, the role of prayer in mission world, and the promotion of world peace through involvement in mission work worldwide.

For additional information concerning World Day of Prayer call Darlene Jackson, president of CWU-Newtown, at 426-5192.