TROY - Troy was one of the many communities celebrating the annual "World Day of Prayer" recently.
This year, people from all the churches in Troy gathered at the First United Methodist Church of Troy for the World Day of Prayer observance.
The Rev. Rich Noggle and wife Phyllis; Jeanne Applegate; and Marjorie Pratt were some of those involved with the event locally.
Jeanne told me that a total of 45 people showed up.
The offering that was collected goes to the World Day of Prayer Committee and will benefit charitable causes.
The public was invited to attend the program.
It started at 9:30 a.m. with a "continental breakfast" and social gathering. The prayer service took place at 11 a.m. in the sanctuary.
The churches represented included the First Baptist Church of Troy, East Troy Baptist Church, St John's Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Episcopal, United Methodist Churches of West Burlington, East Troy, Columbia Crossroads, Windfall, Big Pond, Wetona and First United Methodist of Troy.
According to information provided by the church, World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together to observe a common day of prayer and action each year on the first Friday in March.
"Each year a different country's World Day of Prayer committee serves as the writer of the World Day of Prayer worship service, interpreting the Bible in their own context, and lifting up issues of mission, justice and peace that are important to them," the description notes. "This year, 2013 the World Day of Prayer service was planned and written by the Christian women of France."
This year, the title for the program was "I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me."
The World Day of Prayer booklet notes, "the women who prepared this year's worship service and Bible studies reach into Jesus' identification with 'the least of these,' in Matthew 25, and draw on customs of hospitality found in Leviticus, to paint a picture of welcoming the stranger."
Do you have an idea for the Western Bradford Notebook? You can reach Eric Hrin at (570) 297-5251; email: reviewtroy@thedailyreivew.com.
