New Experience

I am not quite sure how two weeks have already passed since Ash Wednesday. This means that we are two weeks into Lent...and two weeks closer to Easter! It has been a busy two weeks.

We hosted additional guests from the US, as they arrived on Ash Wednesday!

We celebrated the birthday of our very happy 3 year daughter!

And I spoke for the Women's World Day of Prayer gathering in the Thatcham community!

I happily accepted the invitation for this a couple of months ago. It was something that I had not experienced previously. I was not familiar with this event and had never participated in its annual day, and I am very pleased to have had the new experience!

The 2009 worship liturgy for the Women's World Day of Prayer was crafted by women of Papua New Guinea and was shared by people throughout the world. From Tonga at the start to the far stretches of Alaska at the close, people joined in the spirit of worship to connect the global body of Christ. We allowed Romans 12 to guide our thoughts through the theme of unity: "In Christ There Are Many Members Yet One Body." I was excited to participate!

As women, men, and children joined together on this evening, we benefited from the global nature of this Day by learning about our sisters and brothers in Papua New Guinea. We oriented ourselves to the location of this island. We viewed photos of its tropical and mountainous terrain. We were exposed to the practices particularly of women in daily life. We expanded our lives in faith amidst the far-reaching yet meaningful encounter with Christians on the other side of the globe.

And we did all of this by gathering and worshipping!! What a wonderful celebration!

In closing, I will share the prayers of thanksgiving from the worship service--only one example of the faithful expressions offered in the liturgy.

We thank you Lord for the unity and wholeness of the human body. We especially thank you for all our senses whereby we come to know the world and one another. Our hearts are full of gratitude for the gift of life.

We give thanks for the gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.

We thank you Lord for the gift of Jesus, the Christ, who lived among us, who suffered and died and who rose again that we would have life more abundantly. We are grateful for the empowering message of the Gospel that we are to love one another. May the unity that we have in Christ be experienced in every aspect of our lives, our families, our clans, our tribes and communities, our countries and the world.

We give thanks for a genuine Christlike love.

We thank you Lord for directing our lives. We are grateful for those who hold fast to what is good: those who advocate justice for the least, the oppressed and the marginalised in our society; those who speak truth to the powerful; those who share generously; those who are compassionate to all. By the power of your Spirit enable us to make necessary changes in our lives with hope, now and forever.

We give thanks for the gifts that differ according to the grace given to us.

We thank you Lord for those who lead with diligence, mindful of the good of all and not of their own special interests. We thank you for giving us opportunities to use our leadership qualities. We remember our leaders--the able and dedicated men and women in the government, in the private sector and in non-governmental organisations. Lord, we thank you also for changing the hearts of men to recognise and value the leadership of women in Papua New Guinea.

We give you thanks for a genuine Christlike love.

Amen!

And thank you to our faithful friends in Papua New Guinea!