Around 30 women (and a few men) were welcomed to Reepham Methodist Church on Friday 6 March to celebrate Women’s World Day of Prayer. This is held throughout the world on the same day every year, always the first Friday in March. This year the service was put together by Christian women from the Bahamas.
Frances Price (left), who led the Women’s World Day of Prayer service at Reepham Methodist Church, and Sue Holman, who played the piano
The service in Reepham was led by Frances Price and music provided by Sue Holman on piano and Philip Chapman on guitar. The colourful display at the front of the church included tropical fruit and other items to create a Caribbean scene.
The theme was taken from the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet to show how much he loved and cared for them. We were encouraged to think about how God’s love is shown to us today.
The earliest recorded mention of the Bahamas was in 1492 when Christopher Columbus arrived. After taking slaves and killing native Indians he left to continue his search for gold elsewhere. In 1713 pirates outnumbered families by five to one!
The British government brought an end to the slave trade in 1802, but it was the 1830s before this became a reality. Full independence came in 1973. Tourism now provides half the jobs in the Bahamas.
The readers wore clothes in tropical colours and the whole Chapel looked beautiful with sunlight streaming through the windows. The service was followed by refreshments.
Next year the service is from Cuba and the theme is “Receive Children, Receive Me”.
Michael Price, Circuit Steward, Reepham Methodist Church