Here’s a prayer adapted from a liturgy prepared in 2001 by the Gospel and Gender Commission of the Uniting Church in Australia. International Womens Day is on Wednesday March 8.
Short Liturgy for International Women’s Day 2006
Gathering
We come before you,
God of ancient times,
acknowledging your presence with us
We come before you,
God of the present,
believing in your presence with us
We come before you,
God of the future,
hoping for your presence with us
Celebrating, Living, Journeying
We are women (people) on the way
Fighting, Caring, Challenging
We are women (people) on the way
Hurting, Believing, Exploring
We are women (people) on the way
Sharing, Understanding, Nurturing
We are women (people) on the way
Blessing
Gather us to you
as a mother hen
under your sheltering wings;
And shield us as we go -
For we are women (people) on the way.
We go from here
– blessed for the journey that lies before us;
and strengthened for the challenges we may yet face;
We go with -
the love of the God who nurtures us
the presence of the God who protects us
the sustenance of the God who inspires us.
Adapted from Liturgy for IWD 2001, Gospel and Gender, National Assembly Uniting Church in Australia
Thank you for sharing this freely on the web. I am on the worship team at my church Holy Covenant Metropolitan Commmunity Church located just outside of Chicago, Illinois USA. In March all the women of the church totally take over the liturgy for one Sunday and create a special service. Perhaps you are familiar with our denomination that is totally inclusive of all sexual and spiritual orientations. Every year we look for new works to use and give full credit to wherever we find them.
So thank you for sharing. Peace and good journeys.
Holly from Holy Covenant.