Christians across the region came together last month for a yearly spiritual event. Combined services were held at the Penola Presbyterian and Mount Gambier Anglican churches.

It was the rostered turn of Uniting Church in Millicent to host the annual ecumenical event. Around 35 members of nine of Millicent’s Christian churches gathered at the Mount Gambier Road church for the World Day of Prayer.

The hour-long service followed a common format and was led by Uniting Church member Fay Richards and members from the various denominations took roles in the service and the pianist was Jennifer Golding.

Other participants were Doris Bleby and Ruth Stratford (Anglican Church), Liz Smyth and Gwenda Browne (Catholic Church), Captain Judy Shaw (Salvation Army), Doreen Eberhard (Baptist Church), Moira Doecke (Presbyterian Church), Lois Schwarz (Lutheran Church), Jeanette Grosser (Seventh Day Adventist Church), Pastor Shaun Mulick (Community Church) and Margaret Johnson, Joyce Osmond, Gloria Garrett, Fay Childs and Ilma Lolacono (Uniting Church).

The theme of the 2021 service was “Build on a strong foundation” and it was followed by morning tea and prayers and bible readings were prepared by the Christian women of the Republic of Vanuatu.

The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer each year. It is a movement initiated and carried out by women in more than 170 countries and regions.

It will be the turn of the Catholic Church to host Millicent’s World Day of Prayer in 2022. It is one of a number of ventures which are conducted by the Millicent Ministers Association.