Day of Prayer: The Deborah Circle of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Holds a Prayer Event |

The women of Deborah Circle at The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on West Andrew Johnson Highway will host a World Day of Prayer service and luncheon on April 8 at noon.

The World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together every year on the first Friday in March for a common day of prayer and action.

Each year, a different country serves as the author of the World Day of Prayer service, interpreting the Bible in its own context and addressing mission, justice and peace.

World Day of Prayer 2022 will celebrate the women of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The service traditionally takes place on the first Friday in March. However, due to the Covid pandemic, the women of Deborah Circle were given permission to offer the service and lunch a month later.

The April 8 call to worship begins with the words, “I know the plans I have for you,” inspired by Jeremiah 29:1-14. The program is based on the letter that the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the exiles in Babylonia. The Exiles found themselves in a place of suffering, uncertainty, and conflicting views on how to respond to the moment.

During the meeting, participants will hear the stories of women feeling left out, hear the fear of a refugee child and learn to see the context of a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious society in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

God’s plan was clear to Jeremiah, and we share that certainty as we sing it. Let us celebrate hope by lighting a candle on behalf of the seven regions of the world, knowing that our prayerful actions can bring to life the promises of God who cares like one mother and one father for us all.

We are given a seed of hope to ponder where to plant in our lives and communities.

Take this opportunity to raise awareness of the needs of your community and to offer the gifts of prayer and commitment. A seed, nourished by intercessory prayers and acts of love, connects us all over the world.

Through the WDP offering, women share their resources with women and children around the world. Since the first WDP service, celebrated worldwide in 1927, offerings have been collected annually at every WDP service.

As women join with women around the world in prayer, asking God to ease their suffering, bring healing, mend brokenness, break down barriers, and bring peace, justice, and prosperity, they gather together whatever they offer as an offering can give. It is the responsibility of each WDP National Committee to determine the use and distribution of the Offering.

Offerings collected during services are given by the WDP National Committees to charitable organizations that are addressing issues identified by the author country. The WDP motto is “Informed Prayer. Prayer Campaign.” The World Day of Prayer in the United States promotes justice and equality for women through prayer, partnership, service and celebration.

Over the years, a common understanding developed that limited expenses for running the national committees and for promoting the WDP in a country could be paid for from the funds raised, at the committee’s discretion. The principle was and is that the hiring of part-time or full-time staff is to serve WDP work and its commitment to informed prayer and prayerful action.

With the founding of the WDP International Committee (WDPIC) in 1968, the WDPIC constitution called on the WDP national committees to make a contribution from the offer to financially support the coordination work of the international committee. With all these developments, the basic understanding of the sense and purpose of the offer remained unchanged. As this process repeats itself each year, there is continued growth and renewal in the worldwide movement.

The service includes an opening prayer, candle lighting, greetings, songs – including “Praise him! Praise Him!” written by Fanny Crosby – Bible Readings, Confessional and Intercessory Prayers and Stories of Hope.

To reserve a lunch, call the church at 423-586-1621 and leave a message with the name of the individual or group attending, the number of participants, and a contact number.