St John the Evangelist, Salmon Arm
In Salmon Arm, several churches by rotation share the position of Host Church for the World Day of Prayer. This year, it was the turn of St John the Evangelist Anglican Church to host the 95th ecumenical, annual Service coordinated by WICC (The Women’s Inter-Church Council of Canada).
World Day of Prayer is an international, inter-church event, celebrated in over 170 countries on the same weekend in March. “Together we pursue justice, peace, and reconciliation by standing together in prayer and action”
The theme for the 2022 service, written by the Women from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, was taken from Jeremiah 29 v. 11 “I know the plans I have for you”
Local planning for this event started in November 2021 and ramped up in January / February 2022. The pandemic and ever changing restrictions to keep us healthy St John the Evangelist, Salmon Arm caused us, the planners to decide to try a Zoom Service. Sue Kershaw was our “zoomer.” Several inter- church ladies either read or offered prayers before and after the main Service video created by WICC.
With God’s help and guidance it was done.
Meeting in-person to worship together is always a more welcome choice but we learned of the advantages of a Zoomed virtual service when we observed those who joined us with i-pads, phones, and computers.
We were able to reach people in eight Salmon Arm churches, also in Enderby, Armstrong, Sorrento, Seniors of Andover Terrace, Alberta, Manitoba and internationally in Germany; something an In-person Service could not have achieved.
World Day of Prayer in 2023 will focus on the country of Taiwan.
