World Day of Prayer at Resthaven
Today, Christians from all around the world are celebrating World Day of Prayer – and that is no exception at Resthaven Paradise and Resthaven Leabrook.
Starting as an ecumenical Christian laywomen’s initiative, World Day of Prayer’s motto is ‘informed prayer and prayerful action’.
Today, this date continues to be a time for promoting action to make the world a better place – and reiterate the importance of prayer.
This year’s service at Resthaven Paradise and Resthaven Leabrook focused on the people of Vanuatu and tell of the concerns and issues they currently face as a nation.
Coordinating Chaplain, Rev. Cate Baker, led World Day of Prayer services at Resthaven Paradise and Resthaven Leabrook.
‘We marked the occasion by hearing personal stories from residents, seeing the photos prepared and made our offerings of prayer for the people of Vanuatu and to the world’, says Rev. Cate Baker.
While sending a collective prayer to the people of Vanuatu, residents and staff spoke about building on strong foundations, a popular theme of the day.
‘With many natural disasters every year, it can feel as though the ground beneath our feet is shifting.’
‘At Resthaven Paradise, we recalled the Adelaide earthquake many years ago, and tried to remember the feelings evoked from the earth shaking.’
(On 1 March 1954, a 5.5 Richter Scale earthquake shook Adelaide for 20 to 30 seconds.)
‘We spoke of the times when our own lives have been turned upside down by ill health or a fall, and how throughout all of this, God remained a constant presence and a source of hope and strength’.
‘We all wrote down our prayers for Vanuatu on hand-crafted fans, the colour of the Vanuatu flag. They are a sign that we can hear another’s story and show compassion.’
No matter where we are in the world, we are here, and we are interconnected. Happy World Day of Prayer.
Every day, Resthaven shares the lives and wisdom of older people and their carers, being one of only a select few aged care providers in Australia offering the full range of aged care service options.
A not for profit, South Australian aged care community service associated with the Uniting Church, Resthaven’s residential and in-home care and support options are offered throughout metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Riverland, Barossa, Fleurieu Peninsula and the Limestone Coast.