World Day of Prayer at the New Apostolic Church in Grafing, Germany

About 60 women and men gathered on the evening of Friday, March 6, at the New Apostolic Church in Grafing to celebrate the World Day of Prayer together. This year’s liturgy originated from Nigeria. It offered compelling insights into the daily lives, faith, and hopes of Nigerian women. The liturgy was based on the Bible text from Matthew 28:11: “...come to me, all you who are weary and burdened...” Under the guiding thought “Come, bring your burdens,” the service was entirely marked by prayer, solidarity, and ecumenical exchange.
A local ecumenical planning team organized the event. The music of the service was provided by a group consisting of singers supported by a pianist and two flutists. The varied musical accompaniment contributed significantly to the atmosphere of the evening and underscored the emotional impact of the readings and prayers from Nigeria.
“The Nigerian texts touched us and showed how diverse the practice of the Christian faith can be,” said one participant. A member of the organizing team added, “It was moving to see how prayer, music, and personal encounters connect people here with the fates and hopes in Nigeria.” Following the liturgical portion, the guests took the opportunity to socialize over traditional Nigerian food and drinks prepared by the organizing team.
The World Day of Prayer is the largest and oldest ecumenical women’s movement and supports over 100 partner organizations worldwide that empower women and children. For the past 10 years, the event has been organized in Grafing on a rotating basis by the Catholic, Protestant, New Apostolic, and Seventh-day Adventist congregations.
Ingrid Naumann, from the Seventh-day Adventist congregation, provided a preview of the 100th anniversary coming up in 2027. The worship service, provided by the International World Day of Prayer Committee, will be titled “United in Prayer for Justice and Peace!” Women from the Seventh-day Adventist congregation, in collaboration with the ACK Women’s Team in Grafing, will be responsible for preparing the service next year.