World Day of Prayer is observed in more than 2,000 Canadian communities and in 170 countries around the world. Tillsonburg's ecumenical service at the Tillsonburg Alliance Church, featuring prayer and singing, was prepared by the World Day of Prayer Committee of Chile on Friday.

"The country represented today was Chile, and the theme was how many loaves have you," said Lena Foris of the local World Day of Prayer organizing committee. "We learn about the hardships people have in those countries – women especially.

Women's Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) was created in 1918 when women representing Anglican, Congregationalist, Methodist and Presbyterian women's missionary societies met to discuss 'united prayer and action and a stronger voice in national questions.' That first meeting led to the first Day of Prayer in Canada in 1920, and later became World Day of Prayer in 1922.

"What I enjoy about it is that it brings all the churches together, that we can come together as a church in Tillsonburg, or whatever town you're from, and celebrate all these countries," Foris said. "We learn about the struggles that they have and how they overcome them through their faith, and through working with one another, to meet the needs of the people there.

"It's just a wonderful way to find out what's happening in other countries, and I see how blessed we are in this country."Brenda Laemens, of Glen Meyer, presented a slide show from her agriculture-related visit to Chile.

"They've grown asparagus for 26 years, so she's very much involved in agriculture – she's on committees and boards," she said. "They went to Chile based on their agriculture.

"She gave a taste of Chile to those of us who haven't had the good fortune of going there yet. She was wonderful – it was a very good presentation. "And we enjoyed having the Tillsonburg Senior Centre singers come and sing for us," Foris said with a smile. "It's always a joy to hear them."