“I Made You Wonderfully” – the theme based on Psalm 143: 19 was chosen by the Cook Island women who prepared the resources for the World Day of Prayer 2025.
The painting that was used to promote this year’s theme and focus country seems to tell the story of traditional women in the Pacific: women weaving and crafting harmoniously together. They are wearing the typical Cook Island flower crowns, the ‘ei katu.
The strong coconut tree protects these women and provides them with food and materials. In the background, we see the boats with the first Christian missionaries bringing the Good News to the island country.
The World Day of Prayer has its roots in the Ecumenical Movement that spread in the 19th century and took form when a group of women in the United States first met and prayed together in 1887. Today, there are women in over 180 countries who pray the same prayers at more or less the same time – with the nations in the Pacific being the first due to time differences. The traditional date is the first Friday in March.
Each year, a different ethnic group of women prepare the prayers and songs – and a painting for this day of prayer. It is about justice, peace and solidarity as Christians. While the women are still the leaders and organisers, men are welcomed to join for the Ecumenical Service on the day.
With the focus on the Cook Islands, the World Day of Prayer 2025 has been special for New Zealand. More than 80,000 people of Cook Island descent live in the country.
The ecumenical group in Mairangi Bay had another advantage this year: the Presbyterian Church where the World Day of Prayer 2025 was hosted is led by a minister from the Cook Islands! Thanks to him, his wife and their family, there was a lot of Cook Island flair in the church.
A Cook Island Māori Bible was on the Altar, beautiful shell laces and religious symbols were used for further decoration. Frangipani, hibiscus and many other flowers were omnipresent: as decoration of the church, in clothing patterns as well as beautiful decorations for the hair.
The church was filled with a wonderfully diverse group of Christians of many denominations and many cultures. They were all praying and singing together: “Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, who wondrous things hath done, in whom his world rejoices”.
The evening concluded with a delicious kai, Cook Island food, prepared by the Minister’s family.
There was a buzzing and chatting in the hall, and it was wonderful to see the women and men celebrating this day together.
“We are all fearfully and wonderfully made.” Let us pray for peace in the world so that all communities around the world can participate in a Day of Prayer of thanks and praise.
