Women’s World day of prayer is an international, inter-church organisation which enables us to hear the voices of women from all parts of the world: their hopes, concerns and prayers.

The theme of our service is ‘Streams in the Desert’ and we are asked to reflect on our Christian role of being a ‘stream in the desert’ for those who experience spiritual drought. We believe that the service from Egypt has universal appeal.

One of the oldest civilisations in the world, Egypt has long been home to Coptic Christians. Since the uprising in 2011 there has been conflict between religious groupings. Political change affects individual lives and we pray with the women of Egypt for peace.

We envisage a great wave of prayer, rising with the sun over the island of Samoa, and sweeping across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, coming to rest in American Samoa some 36 hours later. By then WWDP services will have been celebrated in over 170 countries.

All are welcome to attend, men and women and people of all ages. The service for the western area of Southend-on-Sea will be held on Friday, 7th March at 10.30 am at Crowstone St. Georges United Reformed Church, Corner of Crowstone Road and Kings Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. The Speaker is Rev. Melanie Smith, Minister of Crowstone St. Georges.