Month: November 2020

Breathing Together: Day 1 Rays of Hope World YMCA Week of Prayer

Click on pic to watch a 30 second prayer on resiliency and hope together

Day 1: Rays of Hope – A prayer of global solidarity that God would give us strength to be resilient and courageous.

World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer, starts Sunday Nov 8, this prayer led by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

Click to read more from Rays of Hope

For more visit https://www.ymca.int/wp/wp-content/uploads/World-YWCA-YMCA-Week-of-Prayer-Booklet-2020.pdf

DAY 1 – BREATHING TOGETHER IN SOLIDARITY
Devotion By: Elaine Neuenfeldt, Act Alliance Gender Programme Manager
“At times of catastrophes and calamities it is difficult to breathe. Catastrophes are not affecting everyone equally – they tend to intensify inequalities and exacerbate injustices.”


BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: “In the Old Testament story, there is this story of the widows of the famine, the widow of drought, in the book of Kings Chapter 17“

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• What makes us feel the warm and tender touch of life back to our body?
• Where the compassionate touch of love that nurtures our faith and hope can be experienced in today’s world, where individualism, loneliness, and indifference for human suffering are a daily reality. How can we, as individuals and as community / congregation of faith work as a space where the touches of compassion, that bring back life can be felt?
• How can we do all this “touching” when physical distance is required as part of sanitary measures in times of the pandemic?”

Rays of Hope World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer Intro

Click on pic to watch a short 30 second intro to Rays of Hope

Enjoy the introduction video to Rays of Hope World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer starting Sunday Nov 8, by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA

A prayer is available each day, corresponding to the daily theme. Subscribe to the blog to automatically receive the prayer each day this week, and future blogposts.

THEME 2020
Rays of Hope: creating resilient communities through practical spirituality


For more info on the World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer visit https://www.ymca.int/wop2020/

“Since 1904, the World YMCA and World YWCA have traditionally collaborated together for the World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship. Celebrated each year on the second week of November, both organisations join efforts to produce a booklet with a theme, a set of bible studies for each day, and an annual bible reading plan so that communities around the world can come together in prayer for a specific cause linked to current realities.”

“This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world immeasurably. It has exposed unjust structural systems and demonstrated how a global emergency affects lives disproportionally, especially those who are more vulnerable to inequalities. We are therefore called upon to reflect on all the good things in our lives, and challenged to take action to rebuild a world that promotes justice, love and peace in our communities and beyond.”

“The pandemic has also come with new opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. It has shed light and helped us see what is truly essential in our lives, how can we rediscover ourselves and how can we best invest our time spreading kindness and supporting those in need, including investing in our own mental and physical health.”

“This year, the World YMCA and World YWCA- Week of Prayer and World Fellowship will be an invitation to journey together throughout the week, reflecting on how to move from our individual calling to the collective for transformation to happen in times of the current global pandemic.”