Burnet church hosting World Day of Prayer event for global peace
IF YOU GO WHAT: World Day of Prayer WHEN: 12:15-12:45 p.m. March 6 WHERE: Burnet Presbyterian Church, located at Texas 29 and Pierce St. in Burnet
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — The unrest around the world has prompted members of the Burnet Presbyterian Church to invite the community to a local World Day of Prayer event March 6.
The event is 12:15-12:45 p.m. at the church, located on the corner of Texas 29 and Pierce Street.
“We’re hoping people who work in the (courthouse) square will walk over and join us,” said Janie Howell, the local World Day of Prayer coordinator. “There’s no offering, and it’s open to men and women.”
The first World Day of Prayer was conducted 95 years ago when a pastor’s wife and her missionary group gathered to pray. Howell said the event caught on rather quickly, prompting others to do the same thing.
Today, the World Day of Prayer will be observed in 170 countries.
“Last year, we did it as a church,” Howell said. “We really wanted to enlarge it and include more ladies (as prayer leaders, volunteers and performers.)”
The result was an extensive list of women representing various congregations in Burnet:
- Joy Taylor of First United Methodist Church
- Lily Berard of First Lutheran Church
- Marilyn Petrick of First Christian Church
- Alice Anglin and Kathy Frankum of Burnet Presbyterian Church
- Kara Gaertner of Hill Country Fellowship
- Reflections Choir of First Baptist Church
- Gathering music provided by Sue Hosterman
- Female ushers from Epiphany Episcopal Church
What also makes the World Day of Prayer unique is that since so many countries participate, one nation is chosen to design the service. This year, the program was created by several women in the Bahamas. As a result, members of Burnet Presbyterian Church put pink flamingos on the church’s lawn.
“One of the songs we’ll be singing is a Caribbean hymn,” Howell said. “(The women of the Bahamas) have done (the service) from start to finish. We’ve added a few things, such as prayers and Bible meditations.”
Howell said organizers are praying for a large turnout.
“The world needs everybody’s prayer,” she said. “The National Day of Prayer prays for our government’s leaders. This is more for peace in the world and justice in the world. We’d love for people to come out and enjoy this service. It’s a very meaningful and beautiful service.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com