THIS year’s World Day of Prayer – which is tomorrow (Friday) - will be celebrated with two services in Malvern.

The first is at 2pm at Christ Church, Avenue Road, and the second at 7.30pm at the Friend’s Meeting House, Orchard Road.

The mayor of Malvern, Councillor Clive Hooper, is due to attend the afternoon service and there will be a choir to support the singing, some of which will be in Arabic, from Malvern St James School.

Every year a different country takes the lead in preparing the service so it is poignant that this year Palestine was chosen and chose the theme “I beg you, bear with one another in love” a quote from St. Paul.

The World Day of Prayer is supported by all the major Christian denominations and takes place all over the world.

In Malvern it is planned to try to understand a bit about the host country in preparation for the service and to offer Palestinian cakes with the refreshments afterwards.

Olive Wickens, secretary to the Malvern committee of the World Day of Prayer, said: “We have a lot of fun each time learning more about the country in question – sometimes we even dress up if someone on the Committee has access to suitable national dress.

“Last year it was Taiwan, next year it will be the Cook Islands and in 2026 it will be Nigeria. Money donated at the Service is sent to National HQ which is then distributed to various charities.”