WOMEN’S World Day of Prayer is an international, ecumenical, prayer movement that invites women from different parts of the world each year to prepare a worship service through which their hopes and fears for their country may be brought before the whole world in prayer.

On Friday, March 4 an estimated three million people in more than 170 countries and islands will gather to observe the day of prayer, using an ecumenical service written by the Christian women of Cuba and translated into more than 50 languages and 1,000 dialects.

In the British Isles alone, more than 6,000 services will be held. The day begins as the sun rises over the island of Samoa and continues until it sets off the coast of American Samoa some 35 hours later.

This is not a day of prayer just for women - everyone is welcome to attend a service.

In Crediton, it is the turn of Holy Cross Church to host the service, which will be presented jointly by women from Holy Cross, the Congregational Church, Methodist Church and Roman Catholic Church, at 2pm on Friday, March 4 in the Boniface Centre.