-Give thanks for the opportunity to meet in person after such a long time apart. May the World Assembly be a blessed gathering, and may it be a spirit-filled time of fun, fellowship and faith.

-Pray for the ladies who are still applying for their visas to attend the Assembly, and for those who are assisting them with their applications.

-Pray for the busy immigration officers in INZ who receive and review the applications of our sisters. May they see each application as it is: a woman desiring to visit their beautiful country to join in fellowship, teaching and worship with other Methodist and Uniting Church Women with the purpose of deepening her own faith, and returning home to ‘Arise and Shine’ and make Christ known in her local community.

-Pray for the many women who had hoped to be able to attend the World Assembly, but who are no longer able to do so due to visa issues, health or financial constraints. May Jesus draw near to them in their disappointment and heartache. May He Comfort them and may each woman know that they are an important part of our Federation and that their presence will be deeply missed as we gather together. Give thanks for the work that they do locally as they seek to follow the teachings of Christ.

– Pray for the World Officers, Steering Committee and Local Arrangements Committee who are putting together the programme, planning, preparing and gathering resources. Pray for wisdom and direction as they imagine the events centre filled with WFMUCW women, and decide which rooms are best suited for meetings, for gathering as a whole, for workshops and for sharing in fellowship at mealtimes. Give thanks for the LAC who are on the ground in New Zealand and who can offer advice and purchase or source resources locally.

-Pray for Travelink, and the registration team who are communicating with and assisting those who hope to attend the Assembly. Ask for compassion, wisdom and guidance as they translate emails from different languages and seek to accommodate all who need roommates.

-Pray for those who work at the Due Drop Events Centre who are preparing the space for us, for the technology and audio visual teams on site, as well as our own website manager, AV and technology director and the team at Travelink who are assisting us in planning for the various events that will happen throughout the Assembly.

-Pray for the Musical Directors and for the workshop leaders as they plan and prepare for the Assembly. Give thanks for their skills, talents and experience; and their willingness to share these with others.

– Pray for wisdom and guidance for those who are bringing resources to sell at the Marketplace or to share with others at the Assembly.

-Pray for the catering team as they seek to put together a menu that will suit all dietary types, and nourish us throughout our time together.

-Pray over the draft programme of events, may Jesus be at the centre of every business meeting, Area presentation and time of study or worship.

-Give thanks that we belong to a world-wide sisterhood. Pray for those who are involved in translating material into different languages in preparation for the Assembly, and for those who will be translating in real-time for friends or groups of people as we gather together so that all can participate in the activities of the Assembly. Pray for patience and understanding as we seek to communicate and comprehend one another. Give thanks for advances in technology that allow for translations to be made in informal gatherings and conversations. May our Assembly be a place where those from every tongue are valued, heard and know that they belong to Jesus.

-Pray for the hotel staff who will be ready to welcome us, and for the transport team who will be ferrying us to and from our hotels, the airport and the venue.

-Pray for the Helen Kim Memorial Scholars, some who may be new to the Federation, or who will be travelling to Auckland on their own. Pray for any worries or nerves about meeting a new group of people or being unsure about what will be asked of them as they attend the Leadership Development Programme and the World Assembly. Give thanks for their enthusiasm and excitement, and for their commitment to the WFMUCW for the next Quinquennium. Praise God for their faithfulness and for this opportunity- may their experiences at the Assembly deepen their faith and may He continue to use them to further His Kingdom when they return home afterwards.

-Pray for those who are responsible for the HKMS leadership development programme, Martha, Heidi and Janice as they pray over the HKMS and lead the programme. Ask for deep connections, for kindness, lasting friendship and fun as this group of young women gather together for training.

-Pray for the current World Executive, and give thanks for all that has been achieved this quinquennium, may they continue to bear fruit that will last.

-Pray for the incoming World Officers and World Executive. May they ‘Arise and Shine’, knowing that the Glory of God is upon them as they seek to grow in their own faith and serve their Areas seeking to assist the ladies in each of their Units to Know Christ and Make Him Known through the activities and Area Seminars that are planned over the next five years.

-Pray for those who are travelling as Voting Delegates, who will have the opportunity to make changes and elect the new World Officers. May their decisions be prayer-filled and practical, always seeking to uphold the aims of the Federation and our motto to ‘Know Christ and Make Him Known’

-Pray for those who have registered to attend the World Assembly as they pack their bags and begin their journey to Auckland. Ask that God would bless their travelling, that he would grant them peace and rest during and after their long journeys, pray for the many opportunities they will have on their journey to and from the Assembly to meet and interact with others (WFMUCW sisters, fellow travellers, airport or hotel staff etc) may these interactions be filled with kindness and compassion, and provide opportunities to share the purpose of their travels. As they ‘arise’ and embark on their journeys, may each of them be ‘shining’ examples of John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”