World Council Opening Worship and Morning Reflections
World YWCA Council and the International Women’s Summit are packed with many exciting and meaningful programmes, workshops, speakers and activities. One of these activities is the opening worship and also the morning reflections which will be held during Pre-Councils, the IWS and the Business sessions.
‘Women Creating a Safe World,’ is the theme of the World Council and IWS. The International Women’s Summit will explore the intersection between violence, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and the spread of HIV. The theme celebrates women as leaders and co-creators of life everyday. In the company of many faith traditions, Christianity explores and affirms the role of women in creation, nurturing life and reaching out to the other.
For centuries, women and girls have been leaders in responding to the threats and conflicts of their time. Is a safer world possible and if so, how can the YMCA and YWCA movements contribute to build it?
The morning reflections during Pre-Councils, IWS and the Business sessions of World YWCA Council will invite the participants to reflect on these questions through different focuses such as: Loving oneself, Being sheltered in God’s arms; Daring to disobey; Restoring relationships; Liberating Wisdom; and Caring for Creation. The dynamic reflections prepared by a team of women from the YWCA YMCA Switzerland will include drama, mime and symbolic actions, music from different parts of the world and multiple traditions, and will examine non traditional images of God also found in the Scriptures.
The opening worship will take place at the historical Fraumünster in Zurich. This is a Gothic, Romanesque building founded in 853 and rebuilt 1250 AD. It is well known for its most beautiful set of five stained-glass windows designed in 1970 by the famous Russian artist, Marc Chagall. The windows, portraying different moments and characters in the Bible, will accompany the meditation on the challenge of creating a safe world. A group of Swiss women theologians have developed an interactive and meaningful liturgy for this service.
How can YMCAs and YWCAs be challenged and encouraged to do more to build a safe world for women? Is this too much of a dream? Don’t miss the morning reflections which will explore these questions in creative and deep ways.
The World YWCA acknowledges with thanks the work of the Swiss worship committee who prepared the liturgies: Ms. Nora Bandixen, Ms. Eliana Graf, Rev. Dr. Katrin Kuzmierz and Rev. Beatrice Perregaux Allison.
