Cuba comes to Cambridge
Friends in Cambridge marked the Women's World Day of Prayer on 4 March
The Women’s World Day of Prayer on 4 March was marked in a decidedly Cuban way at Jesus Lane Meeting in Cambridge.
The service was written by the Cuban World Day of Prayer (WDP) national committee and others in Cuba, Jane Wheatley of Jesus Lane told the Friend. This year’s theme was Receive children. Receive me.
Participants embraced Cuba’s culture in a number of ways, from eating Cuban-style biscuits to carrying symbols representing the lives of Cuban women and children. They also made flowers. Jane explained: ‘Cuba’s national flower is a butterfly jasmine. It is a symbol of resistance and struggle for freedom. Apparently women used to hide messages in the petals for the troops fighting the Spanish colonialists.’
Participants wrote their name on a flower. A basketful of them was dedicated during the service. Afterwards each participant took home a flower and promised to pray for the person named on it. Jane added: ‘The music was beautiful, with several hymns and songs of South American origin.’
