Baptist Women’s World Resource Sheet

The Baptist Women’s World Day of Prayer takes place on the first Monday in November – this year on 5 November. In this file are Resources to accompany the suggested Order of Service. More are available on the Day of Prayer website: www.bwawd.org

With thanks to the Revd Barbara Carpenter for producing the suggested Order of Service and Resources.

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“When we rise up, He shines through

UNITY and JUSTICE”

SONGS weave into one a welcome for the Son, leave excess and want beneath the manger. Sing to God with joy and gladness hymns and psalms of gratitude; Cloth for the cradle … with the voice of praise discover that to worship God is good. Claimant and queen, wage earners in between, trader and travelling preacher, God unites the scattered people, weave into one a welcome for the Son, gathers those who wandered far, whose word brings new life to every creature. heals the hurt and broken spirits, tending every wound and scar. Cloth for the cradle …

Such is God’s great power and wisdom Wrinkled or fair, carefree or full of care, none can calculate or tell; searchers of all the ages, God is keen to ground the wicked weave into one a welcome for the Son, and with humble folk to dwell. the Saviour of shepherds and of sages,

God, with clouds, the sky has curtained Cloth for the cradle … thus ensuring rain will fall; earth, responding, grows to order John L. Bell & Graham Maule food for creatures great and small. Copyright © WGRG, The Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, God’s discernment never favours . [email protected]; www.wgrg.co.uk strength or speed to lift or move; Reproduced by permission. God invites us to show reverence, trusting in his steadfast love. Tune: Wae’s for me Prince Charlie (traditional Scots melody) Paraphrase of Psalm 147:1 - 11 Available in Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New (2000) John L. Bell & Graham Maule and Copyright © WGRG, The Iona Community, 21 Carlton https://hymnary.org/text/darkness_and_light_and_all Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, _thats_known Scotland. [email protected]; www.wgrg.co.uk Reproduced by permission. There is a line of women extending back to Eve Cloth for the cradle, cradle for the child, whose role in shaping history the child for our every joy and sorrow: God only could conceive; find him a shawl that’s woven by us all and though through endless ages to welcome the Lord of each tomorrow. their witness was repressed, God valued and encouraged them Darkness and light and all that’s known by sight, through whom the world was blessed. silence and echo fading, So sing a song of Sarah - weave into one a welcome for the Son, to laughter she gave birth; set earth its own maker serenading. and sing a song of Tamar who stood for women’s worth; Cloth for the cradle … and sing a song of Hannah who bargained with her Lord; Hungry and poor, the sick and the unsure, and sing a song of Mary wealthy whose needs are stranger, who bore and bred God’s Word.

2 There is a line of women This is a world of injustice. Millions and millions of who took on powerful men, lives are destroyed through injustice and disunity. The defying laws and scruples media screams out every day of violence and gender to let life live again; based discrimination that does not respect nor and though, despite their triumph, protect the victims which in many cases are the their stories stayed untold, women and children regardless of their age or socio- God kept their number growing, economic status, whether poor or rich, stable or in creative, strong and bold. conflict. So sing a song of Shiphrah with Push close at hand; Horrific physical, emotional, and psychological trauma engaged to kill male children, is caused by exploitation, intimidation, terror, they foiled the king’s command; harassment, degradation, physical injuries, disability, and sing a song of Rahab and death. Many are left unidentified. Often the legal who sheltered spies and lied; system which is designed to protect individuals and and sing a song of Esther uphold justice, fails. preventing genocide. Governments struggle to discover the ways in which There is a line of women they can solve the problems of injustice which is who stood by Jesus’ side, caused by so many factors. The world sees justice as who housed him while he ministered the administration of law that determines what is and held him when he died; right based on the principles of equity and and though they claimed he’d risen, correctness, and rewards accordingly. their news was deemed suspect till Jesus stood among them, Moses reminds us that “The Lord is a mighty rock, and his womanly elect. He never does wrong. God can always be trusted to So sing a song of Anna bring justice.” Deut. 32:4 (CEV) who saw Christ’s infant face; and sing a song of Martha We serve a JUST God! The God who is always fair. He who gave him food and space; always makes the right decision. Only He can bring and sing of all the Marys JUSTICE and UNITY to any individual, family, who heed his requests, community or nation. We change but this merciful and now, at heaven’s banquet, God does not change. are Jesus’ fondest guests. As Christians, we witness around us injustice and chaos. What is our response? We cannot just turn a John L. Bell & Graham Maule blind eye to it. Yes, we have world organisations and Copyright © WGRG, The Iona Community, 21 Carlton governments which are introducing awareness and Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, projects to reduce the incidence of violence and Scotland. [email protected]; www.wgrg.co.uk abuse to women and children and all forms of Reproduced by permission. injustice. As believers, we have a vital role to play. Together we must ARISE and SHINE. We must “be fair Tune: The Seven Joys of Mary to the poor and orphans, defend the helpless and https://hymnary.org/tune/the_seven_joys_of_mary everyone in need. Rescue the weak and homeless from the powerful hands of heartless people.” Psalm 82:3-4. We cannot do this in our own strength and GREETINGS wisdom, we need the help of our great God “whose ways are justice”. A message from Amelia Gavidi, President of the Baptist Women’s Union of the South West Pacific God has to be the source of our Faith. Through Faith we should look beyond our limitations. God has the The sun rises on the Pacific and then moves around power to break the hindrances of the world and He is the world. Another day, a new day begins but the always on our side when we work with Him. “For the world around us is still crying out, “Justice! Justice! Lord loves justice and He won’t ever desert His Where is Justice? Will it come?” faithful people. He always protects them.” Psalm 37:28. 3

Let us ARISE and SHINE in JUSTICE and UNITY, with STORIES courage and faith moving forward, believing in the God of justice our Rock and Chief Commander, who is God Delights In Unity on our side. May we remember every victim of abuse At all times we must maintain unity to receive and violence around the world during the Baptist God’s goodness and blessing. “How good and Women’s World Day of Prayer. Visit victims, talk with pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. them, stand up for them and It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down pray with them. on Aaron’s beard, down on his robes. It is as if the dew Go forth! of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Let your light shine! Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalm 133 To God be the glory and may the Lord bless you all. My husband Pastor Reuben Semi was diagnosed with heart disease three years ago. We were in and out of REFLECTION/SERMON/TALK/BIBLE the hospital. In between that time he had a massive STUDY heart attack and two mild heart attacks. God

delivered him through much prayer. Our children, our Notes on Numbers 27 from Amelia Gavidi immediate family members and the church family

here in Port Moresby and around the country stood in I’m reminded of the story of the five daughters of prayer. Zelophehad, from the clan of Manasseh, son of

Joseph. Numbers 27: 1–11. They faced injustice when During that time we received a lot of encouragement, their father died in the desert before they crossed the financial support and Bible verses. It really gave the Jordan river, even before reaching Canaan the family the strength we needed. Promised land. A census of men took place preparing for the division of the land in Canaan, the Promised On April 2nd, 2017, a team of four surgeons arrived land. The five daughters were not entitled to a share from . Dr Anil, the team leader called to see me because they were female. and our eldest son. He told us very seriously, “Your

father is much worse than the last time I came and THREE VITAL LESSONS that I want to share from these saw him. He will not manage to live 6 months. I have courageous young women. As Christians we can learn to do the surgery on him now.” from them and apply as we share in bringing justice to those around us and to the world. Our God gave us the peace we needed at that

moment. I praise God for that. We went and told 1. They stood up in faith and unity: They believed in Reuben and God had already prepared him. He told us God’s promises of Canaan and God’s promise of an he had peace and that he was ready. We praised God inheritance for each family. Nothing was going to for that and we all joined our hands in prayer hinder them from going to the Sacred Tent. Together expressing our unity in one heart, soul and spirit. Then they had the faith to claim their father’s inheritance our son informed his brother and sisters and they and they did this in God’s presence. were also filled with peace. Praise God.

2. They stood up because of their problem: They were The next day the surgery went ahead. All of us stood not entitled to a share of the land because their father united in prayer for healing and deliverance. God had died in the desert without a male heir. Together heard our prayers. The operation was successful! My they stood before God and Moses and presented their husband went through a triple bypass, two valve problem. repairs and aorta repair. It was a major operation. But

praise God, God himself was the surgeon behind the 3. They stood up with courage: The five brave scenes. daughters of Zelophehad assisted in the formulating of a new law that women, who do not have a brother, The healing process was so quick that we spent only were to have a share of land. They stood with courage three weeks in the hospital. He was discharged on the to state their case before a God who is right and just. 26th of April and he is enjoying a new life. All the

struggles of the heart disease are gone. He is still on God’s justice gave them courage to take a step of medication and goes in for his reviews. What a Mighty faith. In doing so, they accomplished the impossible. God we serve! 4 church. The familiar faces of non-church goers were What I am trying to share here is that in any situation: twisted with horror, praying for protection from God. in a family, a fellowship group, church congregation or The wind and the rain continued throughout the any other group, if you want to receive miracles and night. Sleep was just impossible as we were cold, blessings— answers to prayer both spiritually and hungry and thirsty. We were witnessing the power of physically—let the hearts be united in one, one in God in action and yet at the same time, witnessing His spirit, soul and mind, so that “the LORD bestows his mercy and grace. blessing“. He can do even more than what you ask for. The following morning, we walked out from the safety That is what my family has experienced. We have of the church. The sight that met our eyes is a sight witnessed God’s blessing in healing and deliverance in that will forever be imprinted in our hearts. my husband’s life. My family stood together and Naboutolu village was now just an empty piece of asked the Lord for His will to be done. And it was. No land—no house standing, scattered twisted debris, situation is too big for God. stripped and naked landscape. And we the survivors were saved through God’s grace. I knelt down to the There is something in unity that God is delighted in ground and wept, thanking the Lord and he releases anything and everything when we are for His mercy upon my family and the whole village. living in unity. There were no deaths! Only two young men were injured but not seriously. The next few days we All praise, honour and glory belongs to the Creator of collected food utensils, clothing, and food scraps so heaven and earth. Amen that we could eat. Water was collected from the dirty Norma Semi creek to drink and cook with and amazingly, not one person was ill! God is good.

Justice In A Time of Need A few weeks later assistance arrived through The experience of the wrath of Cyclone government, churches, and international and private Winston, the strongest tropical cyclone ever organisations: building materials, food, clothing and experienced in the southern hemisphere, was the other needs—even spiritual needs. We continue to most horrific event that I have ever experienced. experience the blessing of God. Every family has a new corrugated iron home now. It was the 20th of February, 2016. It was my little grand-daughter’s 1st birthday. About 5 pm, the wind Now when we see rain or hear the wind rustling, began to be felt in the village. I have experienced memories of that terrible night come automatically in cyclones before, but was not prepared for this one. our hearts for all of us. I know that we are still going Just as I stepped into my house with the cooked through this trauma which can take some time to heal birthday pudding, I saw my whole kitchen which I had but through His power and strength, we are just left, rise and fly away! experiencing this.

With a relative helping me we patched the gaps on Early in 2017 we, the villagers of Naboutolu in Ra, Fiji the wall of the house with coconut leaves but they Islands, celebrated in worship God’s mercy and flew out. My roof began to show strain in the pressure goodness for sparing our lives during Cyclone of the wind and suddenly it disappeared in the dark. Winston. Many lives are now changed but I still The sound of the strong winds was deafening to our encourage my fellow villagers to repent and be more ears. Fear dominated our hearts and yet with committed and to be involved in God’s Kingdom. God determination, knowing our family depended on us, is a God of second chances. we searched for ways to take them to safety. I declare and still say after all this incredible, horrific My relative and I decided that the church was the and miraculous experience, God Is Still Good!! Amen. safest place to go to as we saw it was still intact. In Vani Tidre the dark, dangerous night, we crept together as a A widow from Fiji family while praying that no flying object would hit us. The church was filled to the brim with people; the whole village! As the strong wind grew louder damaging everything in its path, the cries of fear and loud prayers were heard from every being in that 5

PRAYER OF THE WOMEN Lord, you told the story of the widow who would not give up… I Jiova noqu Kalou you told this story to teach us, your people, your will. You invite us as your daughters to heed the call Allah maha basar for the rights of women and all disadvantaged people. Wairua Tapu You commission us to be willing to argue for justice Papa God for all. Lord, you set out a challenge and an example. Help us The prophet of old reminds us do what is right that what you require of us is with determination and the dignity in your story. To do justly, To love mercy, and to walk humbly with you, our God. Lord, we think of Rachel and Leah, We confess we have fallen short as we have heard two women who were forced together in unhappy your voice and divisive circumstances. in the experiences of women in the scriptures. They had no control in the decisions that affected their lives Ruth reminds us that you have told us to share our and yet Lord, out of this difficult unjust situation you food with the hungry created a nation. and to provide the wandering Out of this nation came our Lord with shelter. and Saviour Jesus Christ. When we see the naked we are to clothe them. Lord, in this world there are We have been promised that if many women who have been we spend ourselves on behalf of deceived and manipulated. the hungry They have no power and no and satisfy the needs of the hope. oppressed, May they hear your voice then our light will rise in the promising that that which was darkness and our night will planned to harm them, become like the noon day. in your hands will bring good. Ruth heard your voice and went May they not be afraid but know out with boldness so we would that you will take care of them leave behind our timidity and their children. and become the women who May we be to these women would claim justice for our instruments of your peace and people. fight for the justice they deserve. The daughters of Zelophehad were a group of women who May we all sing with Hannah united together “You make us strong and happy to ask for justice and received justice. Lord. When we see unjust situations, help us to bring You rescued us. Now we can be glad and laugh at our change. enemies. When we know of others who need help, show us No other God is like you. what we can do. We are safer with you than on a high mountain.” When we have the opportunity to pray and to give financially for women who do not receive justice, Written by Olwyn Dickson, help us to take it up and be instruments of change. For you have said “as much as you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me.”

6 OFFERING The Women’s Department of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua under the leadership of Welena 2018 Day of Prayer Projects Wenda, The Women’s Department of the Grace Baptist Church of under the leadership of

Lydia Karetii and the Women’s Department of the NAME OF PROJECT: Lydia’s Sewing Project Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Papua under the ORGANIZATION: Fiji Baptist Women’s Fellowship leadership of Amelia Yigibalom. These groups are Lydia’s sewing project was established in 1994 with working in unity on this project. In the rural areas assistance from a grant from the Day of Prayer educational opportunities are limited with poorly offerings of 1993. The project ceased to operate in equipped schools, so migrants are ill-equipped to meet 2012 due to financial constraints. The churches run a the challenge of the city. The poverty rate in the rural program of visitation to the local women’s prison area is twice the rate of the urban areas. where friendships are formed. On release the women Leadership Development is needed as women adjust are offered training in sewing by the Lydia team. to moving from a rural economy to a highly developed Many women are rejected by their families once they urban community. Each department will develop a have been imprisoned so the assistance they receive project for their own specific needs working in unity from Project Lydia and fellowship in the local churches to meet these challenges. is the only support these women have. Women from the local Baptist Churches are also able to gain skills NAME OF PROJECT: New Horizons for Girls enabling them to be self-employed. At present the ORGANIZATION RESPONSIBLE: First Baptist Church of project is being revived, the building is being Desamparados, Costa Rica renovated and reequipped. Money will also be used to In a society full of social issues that include broken purchase fabric and other supplies to maintain the families, drug addiction, domestic violence and ongoing success of this project. discrimination against women, this project is meant as

a process for education, psychosocial prevention and NAME OF PROJECT: Peanut Mills for Babies motivation for young women in the northern area of ORGANIZATION: Baptist Women’s Union of Papua Costa Rica. The aim is to nurture their spiritual life and New Guinea the fulfilment of their personal goals, with the goal of In the highlands of Papua New Guinea, protein is very enabling a better economic future for them and their scarce. There is very little access to animal protein but families. Through interdisciplinary studies, workshops, peanuts are an excellent source of protein and they bimonthly retreats and other activities, the goal is to can be given to very young children. There is not the build awareness and help them make right decisions same prevalence of peanut allergies as experienced in and develop healthy lifestyles. the west. Through the community with other women, the girls A number of years ago the women of the BUPNG set will find positive models to follow in their Christian up a pilot project of providing a peanut butter mill to and personal life. The desire is to empower the each district in the region. Peanuts were easy to women as they find their true value as daughters of transport to the mountain villages and the women God. would grow the peanuts alongside their vegetables.

The women would harvest the peanuts and with the shared mill make peanut butter which would then be spread on the kaukau (sweet potato) sandwiches and given to the young children. The desire is to increase the supply of mills and to train the mothers in the use and production of peanut butter. Any surplus is donated to the women’s group and sold in the local market so that more mills may be bought. The dream is to provide one mill per village. The cost per mill is

$US 88.

NAME OF PROJECT: Leadership Development

ORGANIZATIONS: Baptist Churches of Papua

Indonesia

The Women’s department of the Baptist Churches of

Papua consists of three separate organisations.

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Where to send your Offering

Please send your offering to: Hilary Treavis, Baptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot, OX11 8RT.

Please make cheques payable to ‘The Baptist Union of Great Britain’. Or you can pay by bank transfer using these details:- Baptist Union of GB Home Mission Fund Sort Code: 40-19-35 Account: 41083635 Please use reference: BWWDP

If you would like an acknowledgement of your offering, please indicate this, and provide an email address where possible or SAE as this cuts down on administration and postage costs.

All offerings will be collated and sent to the European Baptist Women’s Union for onward transmission to the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Department.

Faith and Society Team, Baptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist House, PO Box 44, 129 Broadway, Didcot OX11 8RT Tel: 01235 517700 Email: [email protected] Website: www.baptist.org.uk Registered Charity Number: 1125912 August 2018

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