A 23 October morning prayer was led by the ambassador from the Jamaica Mission and staff from the Bahamas mission to the United Nations in Geneva. On 24 October, prayers will be joined by the ambassadors and staff from the Barbados Mission and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.
Besides the WCC staff community and ecumenical partners, the morning prayer on 21 October was attended by H.E. Ms Bevon McDonald, ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Guyana to the United Nations. Ambassador McDonald visited the WCC office in Geneva and expressed her appreciation for including prayers for resolution of tensions between Guyana and Venezuela in the service.
“It was uplifting and inspirational to start the work week with a collaboration with the WCC in extending prayers for the Caribbean and Guyana", said ambassador Bevon McDonald. "Even more so as the reflection was on serving and being of service, which is what we all seek to do, daily. I am grateful to have been invited and look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with WCC.”
During the reflection on 21 October, Rev. Onita Samuel-Warner, Moravian minister from the St Kitts Conference, encouraged the participants to ask themselves: why do I serve? “Even the Son of God came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. As Christians, we are called to reflect the love and compassion that Jesus showed us.
“Who do we serve? We are called to serve our neighbors, our enemies, those who persecute and hate us,” said Samuel-Warner. “And let’s remember that prayer is not just words – that it is a powerful force that unites us in compassion and commitment to making a difference for others, serving others.”