World Day of Prayer
Unity created World Day of Prayer eighteen years ago. Held on the second Thursday of September it represents a global effort to uplift our world in shared prayer consciousness. Since its inception, this sacred initiative has supported more than 15 million people worldwide with prayer.
This year’s theme for World Day of Prayer, held on Thursday September 8th, 2011, was:
Together We Shine
We are channels through which Spirit illumines the world.
Positive prayer is one of the best things we can do for ourselves and each other. Connecting with millions of others, knowing and affirming the presence of God in, through and around us, will change us and bless our world.
A prayer vigil was held at Unity Maidenhead on September 8th and the many hundreds of prayer names received by us were read out through this very special day.
Many dear friends came in person throughout the day, to hold the vigil of prayer with us, and the wonderful prayer energy built and built as we went through the day, culminating in our group meditation.
During the day we also received some wonderful prayer messages from a sister Unity Centre in Gainsville, Georgia, USA. Here are just a few of their powerful messages, sent across the globe on World Day of Prayer.
Dear Unity Maidenhead, I hold a vision with you of peace in the United Kingdom. God is in the midst of every situation, bringing comfort to all…
We are united in our quest for peace and harmony in the world. Thank you for channeling the light with us.
We are one in Spirit and love! We join with you in peace and joy! All is well!
It is truly an honour to hold each dear person in prayer, on this day and every day – no need is too small or too large, each dear one held close in our hearts in recognition of the spiritual beings we all really are.
If you want to join us next year, keep the date Thursday, 13th September, 2012, free. In the meantime, do continue to reach out to Silent Unity for prayer support.
One lovely lady, Beverley Thomas, who attends Unity Birmingham, and came to our Prayer and Meditation class the weekend before the World Day of Prayer, shared some wonderful experiences she had during this special day. Bev planned her day really well – she did everything she needed to do the day before so she could spend the day in prayer, study and contemplation without being disturbed; she switched her phone off, put together some music and material she knew would bless her, and planned an inspiring day.
Bev, in her own words, “submerged myself in prayer and meditation practice all day.” And on receiving her report afterwards, boy did she have an amazing day! Here is what she shared:
So what did I learn today:
- To find the Secret Place we need to clear the clutter of our lives
- Finding the Secret Place is within our reach and it is in our experience
- “Let us not at any time lose sight of the fact that our desire, great as it is, is only God’s desire in us.” Emile Cady
- “You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit.”(Jn 15:16)
- Emily Cady also said that: you are not seeking God, God is seeking you. This was the biggest aha moment for me of the day, especially when Lora Beth (a Unity minister who has a radio show on UnityFM) added “What I want is wanting me.”
- “You need not worry. You need not be anxious. You need not strive. Only let it. Learn how to let it.” Emile Cady
- Lora Beth also said that when we put God first, we eliminate some of the mental clutter in our lives.
World Day of Prayer, as Beverley’s words show, affirms the joy, energy and wisdom of prayer working through our lives on this and every day of the year.
