World Day of Prayer Friday 4 March 2011

Prepared by the Chilean World Day of Prayer Committee.

2011 Theme “How Many Loaves Have You?”

Sponsored by:

The International Committee of World Day of Prayer

Administered by:

World Day of Prayer Aotearoa New Zealand

The Republic of Chile stretches between the Pacific Ocean  and the Andes Mountain Range. It has an area of 756,950 sq km, a length of 4,780 km and an average width of 200 km. Chile's neighbours are Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. Its most western possession is Easter Island. Chile has three climate zones: desert in the north, a pleasant Mediterranean climate in the centre, and a very wet and cool zone in the south. 16.5 million people live in Chile, and their main languages are Spanish, Mapuche, Aymara and Rapa Nui. About 89% of Chileans are Roman Catholics, 10% are Protestant, and the remainder are Jewish, Orthodox Christians, Muslims and other minorities. 

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. Over 300 Services are held by more than 1,300 congregations in churches, Rest Homes and schools throughout the country. Gifts of money are sent after each Service to places of need at home and abroad

How can you contact us?

National Liaison Officer - the volunteer member of the National Committee who tries to answer all your queries and meet all your needs - is currently Raewyn Dawson (Home ph 03 359 3439).

The hard-working National Committee is based in Christchurch - PO Box 27088, Christchurch 8640. The committee members for 2011 are: Mary Caldwell, Roman Catholic; Dorothy Gray, Salvation Army; Leatrice McIntyre, Methodist; Joyce Wallace, Presbyterian; Joyce Boyes, Baptist; Raewyn Dawson, Anglican; Jackie Langdale-Hunt, Methodist; Jean Richards, Anglican, and Pauline McKay, Christian World Service.

We love to hear from you, especially after the Service! Send us as many photographs of your Worship Services as you can, please!