This week’s news highlights faith stories from 2026 World Day of Prayer Services in NSW.
2315 THE ROCK
‘We had around 60 people in attendance from all the churches in our area which was really special. My mother Marion made costumes for the ladies representing our three Nigerian sisters which put everyone closer to the mood for Nigeria …how beautiful and bright their clothes are even amidst the despair they live in. It was a very moving and heartfelt service. We had our oldest member of our congregation, Lillian Wheatman, who is about to turn 92 speak and delivered a beautiful message about coming to God and finding rest.
2548 MERIMBULA
On Friday we had a wonderful celebration with representatives from six of our local churches, as well as staff and students from our local Catholic college. There were about 80 in attendance. Our guest speaker was a local Nigerian doctor and his wife. We were blessed to have them with us.
2429 COMBOYNE
I have been attending WDP since 1957 – Hungary – and in 1958 it was actually formulated by Australia. I attended a school where it was part of the curriculum.
2327 KURRI WESTON
The service at Kurri Weston Uniting Church was wonderful as we had a Doctor from Nigeria come and talk about growing up in Nigeria with a Muslim father and a Christian mother.
2866 MOLONG
We had 28 people at our Service which included a young girl from Nigeria
who lives in Orange and spoke to us about her life in Nigeria and how it
is so good to be now living in Australia.
2905 CALWELL ACT.
Our speaker was a former High Commissioner to Nigeria. His talk with slides was very interesting & informative. The highlight was an unexpected attendance from a Nigerian couple visiting family in Australia.
2095 MANLY
The Service held in our Church/School Hall was a lovely occasion. The basket ball hoops were very handy for hanging the Nigerian flags. We had a musician playing keyboard and a beautiful cantor leading the singing. Our guest speaker, Parish Priest Fr. Chima Ofor, a born and raised Nigerian man gave a very personal insight to Nigeria, tying in the stories from the Service. A candle with the details of this year’s service was lit, during the commissioning a second candle was lit with details for 2027
2671 WEST WYALONG
We have an Aboriginal Elder as a parishioner and she started the service with a welcome to Country in both her native tongue and in English and that was very moving.
2281 Swansea
A member of the Presbyterian Church read from a document prepared by the Bible Society – Hope in Hard Places (Bringing God’s Word to Displaced Families in Nigeria). The decorations in the Church included a display of yellow trumpet flowers, the national flower of Nigeria, various Nigerian artefacts and clothing along with the Nigerian flag, photos and images of Nigerian women occupied with various household chores. Bowls of this typical African rice dish were provided and enjoyed by all, along with other platters of food and fruit provided by the ladies from the Catholic Church..
2644 HOLBROOK
Prayers for peace in the Middle East were included, as well as for abundant rain in our then parched area. A surprise Aussie visitor turned up at the morning tea in the form of a joey kangaroo and worshippers enjoyed watching “ Ruby” as she was bottle fed. It was a lovely get together of the Churches in Holbrook, as we petitioned and worshipped our wonderful God together in Christian fellowship.
