DAY OF PRAYER

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26971, 21 February 1953, Page 2

DAY OF PRAYER

OBSERVANCE YESTERDAY IN CHRISTCHURCH

Women of more than 100 countries united in prayer yesterday to observe the World Day of Prayer. About 178 services were held throughout New Zealand, including 41 in North Canterbury. The two central services in Christchurch were held at the Church of Christ. Moorhouse avenue. At the well-attended afternoon service the speaker was Mrs A. K. Warren. Mrs H. Broadhead, president of the women’s committee of the National Council of Churches, led the prayers and gave the Benediction. Speaking on the text “Walk as Children of Light,” the theme for this year’s programme, Mrs Warren spoke of the power of darkness at the time when St. Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, and of the importance of light in the Christian world today. Mrs Warren said she felt that one day of united prayer was insufficient to keep persons reminded of their responsibilities, and as a practical thought commended the work of the National Council of Churches. She appealed for more women to join its study and prayer groups in an endeavour to understand more fully the meaning of St. Paul’s letter. The collections taken at the services will be used for the relief of refugees in Hong Kong, the International Missionary Council (for orphaned missions) and the British and Foreign Bible Society,