HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-03-12, Page 15Yn , -----
Second Section - March 12, 1997
World Day of Prayer theme features Korean hostilities
1997 theme prepared by Korean women during time of division ar hostility
By Heather Mir
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Members of nine area'churches
gathered Friday at the Bethel Reformed
Church to mark World Day of Prayer. Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel also hosted nearly 50
members of womens' groups from
Greenway and Crediton United Churches.
This year's theme, 'Like a Seed Which
Grows into a Tree' was prepared by
Christian women of South Korea and it was
hoped women of both North and South
Korea would work together to write the
order of'worship.
"Due to the hostilities which still divide
their country, these women were not able to
write the service togethe, with their sisters
in North Korea," states a press'release froth
Women's Inter -Church t. ouncil (WICC) of
Canada. ..
Korea has been separated for more than
50 years; since the end of+ World War II. It
was divided at the 18th parallel; the south
was overseen by the US and the north by
Russia. The Korean War, fought from 1950-
53, resulted in a total of 6'million deaths.
Hostility between the east and the west was'
KOREA
WHICH GROWS INTO A TREE
reflected in escalating militarism between
North and South Korea. •
During the Second World War, it is
estimated between 100,000 and 200,000
Korean women were conscripted by the
Japanese government to provide sexual
services to its military. Today, survivors and
their families seek compensation for this
victimization;
Although South Korean women are
persecuted for their efforts to reunify their
county however they continue their work,
which includes preparing the 1997 World
Day of Prayer theme. This year's service described the painful history of Korean
women. It is also a demonstration of
-, women's efforts to bring about change.
The World •Day of Prayer International
Committee meets once every four years to
select themes and countries in preparation
for upcoming services. The committee,
which maintains and office in New York, is
a non -denominational organization.
National World Day of Prayer committees
are responsible for providing printed
material.
In Canada, the day of prayer is sponsored
by the WICC, which helps provide
transportation for poor and disabled
women, establishes support groups for
abused women and is planning a
use 1 ,:umenical Decade of
Churches in Solidarity with Women.
111 auurtwti.tu the.praverservice..,, . ._
participatint churches were provided with
suggestions for social justice actions
including North Korea famine relief,
ecumenical work with Korea, and a call for
Japanese,restitution to victims of sexual
slavery.
Local women who participated in the
World Day of Prayer join Christians in more
than 170 countries and nearly 2,000 ,
communities aLross Canada.
Planning has begun for the 1988 service,
which will be prepared by women in
Madagascar. The theme will be 'Who Is My
Neighbor ?'
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, top, hosted one of the area's World Day of Prayer services. Pictured from
left are Theresa Larkin, Helene Regier, from Mt. Carmel, Elinor Clarke, guest speaker, Mary Kenney
of Crediton United Church and Eloise Eagleson of Greenway United Church. Pictured above women
from Exeter area churches helped to organize the service at Bethel Reformed Church. From left are:
' Sieka Van Steeg, Bethel, Edna Simmons, Caven. Patsy Allison. guest speaker . Htler , Coates, Exeter
United, Cecile Mittleholtz, Precious Blood, Katherine Elston, l r,vitt, Jean Hodgert. Thames United.
-' - Straron Lynn, Elimville United, Doris Denham, Exeter United. Flora Doer Exeter United, Mary Korici-
na, Precious Blood, Henny Poortinga, Christian Reform and Betty Brand, Bethel Reformed.
CELEBRATE
•
T nay{ IPV' ntiv
'Come to Murphy's on SI. Patrick's Day ,
and enjoy "Exeter's oil Irish Pub" i
4 Local Entertainment
Fri.; March 14 9 p.m. 2 a. m. *1)
Sat. March 15 - Road Hockey Tournament
Sun., March 16 - Road Hockey Playoffs
ALL YOU CAN FAT
6
89
SUNDAY BRUNCH - 10 - 2 U.
Many Prizes to be won all Weekend Long
(See bar for details)
Murphy's Pub & Eatery
"The Place Where Everyone is Irish on March 17th"
125 Main St. Exeter
25-0271
"Your Neighborhood Pub"
Like a seed which grows into a tree,
So our faith can grow each day.
If the seed is nurtured carefully,
It becomes a tree someday.
But, if no rain begins to fall,
Then the seed with wither and dry up,
To become no tree at all.
Like a seed, faith must be fed each day,
When we've answered Jesus' call.
Faith, too, can wither and dry up
To become no faith at all.
We must plant our seeds in fertile soil
And not in the stony ground;
Not beside the path, nor among the thorns,
But where the roots may abound.
LIKE A SEED WHICH
GROWS INTO A TREE
When our faith is rooted in God's Word,
Growing in a fallow place,
We will bring forth fruit and multiply,
Living daily in God's grace.
If we love our neighbors as ourselves,
Then all enmity will cease,
All peoples will be reconciled,
And, at last there will be peace.
And, at last there will be peace.
Written for the 1997 World Day of Prayer
by Gloria Delaney, Winnipeg, Mb. 29.8.96
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