Minute for Mission: May Friendship Day

May Friendship Day, a Church Women United initiative, is most often celebrated on the first Friday of May, around a theme of shared concern for Christian women and their communities. The predecessor to May Friendship Day, May Fellowship Day, began in 1933 after two Christian women’s groups planned gatherings based on similar concerns: child health and children of migrant families. These groups united and over the years eventually became what we now know as Church Women United. The May celebration has been continually observed since 1933; in 1999, Church Women United changed the name from May Fellowship Day to May Friendship Day.

The 2025 Church Women United celebrations — including World Day of Prayer, Human Rights Day, World Community Day and May Friendship Day — share the theme “God’s Daughters Living Powerful Lives,” based on Proverbs 31:30. The focus for May Friendship Day is “Life is better with friends,” based on Colossians 3:12. As followers of Christ, we are moved by Jesus’ special care of his friends, such as Lazarus and sisters Mary and Martha, and their tender care for Jesus.

Christian women’s groups from many denominations (including Presbyterian Women, which encourages participation in and support of Church Women United) will participate in May Friendship Day throughout the United States during the first days of May. For more information about May Friendship Day, visit churchwomenunited.net or call 212-870-1030.

Carissa Herold, Marketing Associate for Presbyterian Women in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)         

Let us join in prayer for:

• Christine Long, Church Consultant, Tacoma, WA, Board of Pensions
• Ivy Lopedito, Mission Associate I, Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, Interim Unified Agency 

Let us pray:

We are called to love and care for your people, dear One, and are grateful for the ones whom we call friends. We pray that we model friendship in ways that are pleasing to you, reflecting your radical love and light to your people. Help us extend your warmth and care so that all feel welcomed into friendship and community. Amen.