World Day of Prayer focuses on Guyana

St Andrews Leckie congregation hosted this year's World Day of Prayer service. For more than 75 years, the World Day of Prayer has been celebrated by millions of Christians across the nations. Its powerful significance is that all use the same prayers, readings and hymns. This year, Christians in Guyana, South America, prepared a thought-provoking service on the theme God's Wisdom Provides New Understanding. In ecumenical fellowship, people from every church in Peebles took part. Vivid images of Guyana's natural beauty contrasted sharply with poverty, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, racial tension and gang crime. We reflected on these issues, which are mirrored across the world, and readings of Job's sufferings and the Martha and Mary story. Through Rev Jim Wallace's address, we learned that in crying out to God in the midst of suffering, God draws close to us. His wisdom gives us a new perspective on our troubles and guides us in ways to overcome them. As we build a deeper relationship with God, we allow His wisdom to transform our lives and our communities for the better. We would like to thank everyone who shared in the service, and in the lively fellowship afterwards.