Providing Christian resources from the YMCA past and present to nourish inclusive, equitable work in our diverse and global neighborhoods that build up healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
Since 1904, the World YMCA and the World YWCA have traditionally come together to deliver the World Week of Prayer and World Fellowship. Celebrated each year in the second week of November, the Week sees both organisations joining forces 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 unite in prayer for a specific cause linked to current realities.
You are invited to join Christians across the world to pray with the YMCA and YWCA.
Pray with us at noon (click here for the blogpost series) – or whenever works best with your schedule – and lift up our brothers and sisters across the globe to the Lord, that we might be light in the darkness and healers to the broken.
Click here to download the prayer guide or subscribe to this blog to get posts in your email inviting you to pray.
World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer started Sunday Nov 8, this prayer is led by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA
Day 6: Rays of Hope Week of Prayer World YMCA/YWCA – Transforming Fear Into Love
DAY 6: TRANSFORMING FEAR INTO STRONG VULNERABILITY AND LOVING TRUST
Devotion By: María Lucía Uribe, Arigatou International Geneva Executive Director
BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: Psalm 23 – A Psalm of David
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• What prevents you from putting your trust in God?
• What holds you back when you try to make yourself vulnerable?
• What benefits have you experienced when you put your trust completely in God?
• Do some of the ‘benefits’ that David describes in the Psalm speak to you?
How and which ones?
• How can you help others who are experiencing distress, anxiety, depression due to the current situation, to regain strength and build resilience through trusting God?
• How can you become one of the signs that God provides to its people to restore them, protect them and transform them?”
World YMCA/YWCA Week of Prayer, started Sunday Nov 8, this prayer is led by Tim Hallman, Director of Christian Emphasis, YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne, Indiana USA
Day 5 Rays of Hope Week of Prayer World YMCA/YWCA – Weaving Fabrics of Support
DAY 5: WEAVING FABRICS OF SUPPORT
Devotion By: Rebecca Daniel, Indian Theologian Based in Geneva, working for the Lutheran World Federation & Nicole Ashwood, World Council of Churches Programme Executive, Just Community of Women and Men
BIBLICAL INSPIRATION: Exodus 1:15 – 16, 19 -22; 2:1-9A, 10B; 3:9A, 10B, 12B
15 “The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” 20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.” 2 1Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it
with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to
see what would happen to him. 5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” 8 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” 10 … She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out[c] of the water.” 3 9 The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I … will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” “I will be with you; and … you shall worship God on this mountain.”
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
• The dialogue takes place between women of difference classes and ethnicities all collaborating to break the cycle of violence in their context. Has this happened in your context?
• In Exodus 3:10; God instructs Moses to overturn injustice. Moses’ protectors were also instructed by God to combat GBV. Is God instructing you to do likewise? Who are the persons who influenced you toward combatting GBV?
• What can you do to make a difference now, and with whom might you collaborate?”
