“Good morning! Gutpela moning tru! Daba namona!,” said narrator Pearlyne Laurence, greeting the attendees in the three official languages of Papua New Guinea during the World Day of Prayer celebration hosted by the Church Women United of Cooke County. The celebration took place March 6 at the First United Methodist Church in Gainesville.
Laurence then invited the women to exchange a handshake of friendship with the women next to them and to greet each other in one of three official languages.
The theme for this year’s World Day of Prayer was “In Christ, Many Members Yet One Body.” The day also focused on the women of Papua New Guinea and invited people throughout the world to learn about their faith, culture and country.
Laurence, a member of Mt. Olive First Baptist Church, read from an international script prepared for the prayer celebrations throughout the world.
“The Christian women of Papua New Guinea welcome you with open hearts, brothers and sisters throughout the world, as members of God’s family, to this World Day of Prayer service,” said Laurence, quoting the script.
Laurence said that the women of Papua New Guinea invite women throughout the world to have the confidence of Ruth, who left behind what was familiar to her and went with Naomi to another land.
The program included a Prayer of Adoration, Bible readings, Prayer of Thanksgiving, a Prayer of Confession and Forgiveness, choral responses, the Offering Hymn “Guide My Feet,” an Offering and a Prayer of Intercession.
During the program, Eddie M. Scott sang “I’ve Got a Mind to Live for Jesus.” Myrtle Thomas sang “I Love You Lord.” Pearlyne Laurence and Myrtle Thomas sang “Lord, Hold My Hand While I Run this Race.”
Laurence asked attendees “what can we do to help out in our community and the world?” Wallace responded that meeting here today as a united group was helpful.
Other responses included praying for the community and residents to be free from the influence and addiction of drugs. Another woman recounted that a loved one is recovering from a stoke, which has brought him closer to the Lord and that the experience has required much prayer and fasting for healing on his behalf.
The purpose of Church Women United, as stated on the program, “is to encourage church women to come together in a visible fellowship to witness to their faith in Jesus Christ as divine Lord and Savior, and enabled by His Spirit, to go out together into every neighborhood and nation as instruments of His reconciling love.”
Local Unit Officers for CWUCC are President Patti Wallace, Vice President Sharron Acker, Secretary Patsy Morris and Treasurer Sandra Currie. Mary Jo Graham oversees Ecumenical Action, June Sherrill oversees Ecumenical Celebrations, Lucy Haverkamp oversees publicity and the Nominating Committee members are Dottie Jarvis, Ruth Nicholson Jo Brannan and Juanita Bright.
Local churches participating in Church Women United of Cooke County are Antioch New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Bethel AME Methodist, Corinth Baptist, First Baptist, First Christian, First Presbyterian, First United Methodist, Mt. Olive Baptist, Sacred Hearth Catholic, St. James CME Methodist, St. Mary’s Catholic, St. Paul’s Episcopal, St. Peter’s Catholic and Whaley United Methodist.
Churches in Cooke County are invited to join CWUCC.
Church Women United of Cooke County President Patti Wallace welcomed members and visitors to the celebration.
The minutes from the Nov. 7 meeting for World Community Day were read and June Sherril gave the Treasurer’s Report.
Wallace closed the program and thanked First United Methodist Church for hosting the meeting and providing the refreshments.
The next meeting for Church Women United of Cooke County is Friday, May 1 at 9:30 a.m. at the Whaley United Methodist Church.
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