Protestants, Catholics, Anglicans Begin Observing Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Christians around the world and across the 50 states began celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by Sunday, January 16 – two days before official observances are set to launch.
Christians around the world and across the 50 states began celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by Sunday, January 16 – two days before official observances are set to launch. The Week of Prayer is traditionally celebrated from January 18-25, and is a unique annual event that brings Protestants, Catholics and Anglicans together under a common vision of Christian unity.
"I invite every community to make meaningful gestures of encounter and ecumenical dialogue and to implore God for the gift of full unity of all disciples of Christ," said Pope John Paul II, during his weekly homily, Sunday.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rev. Rowan Williams, also urged Anglicans worldwide to become engaged in ecumenical dialogue, during a solemn vespers on Friday, January 14.
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Every year, the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church provides materials and texts related to the theme of the week of prayer to guide individuals and churches throughout the week. This year, the week of prayer follows the theme, “Christ, the One Foundation of the Church” – a reference to 1Corinthians 3:1-23.
In Lincoln Nebraska, the First Christian Church began observing the week of prayer with a special sermon by Monsignor Raymond Hain, a retired Roman Catholic priest.
Building on the Week’s theme, Hain explained that Christ is the building block to Christian unity.
“The key to Christian unity is trusting in Christ and following his command to love one another,” said Hain.
“Christians still want to work toward unity, as is evident in an event like this,” added Hain, as he looked over the 150 people from many denominations in attendance.
Hain explained that as an octogenarian, he recalls the time where Christians were united in dialogue with one another and with those of other faiths.
“Catholics reached out to Christians and those of other faiths, not for the purpose of converting them, but of loving and sharing. … As an octogenarian I can recall those great days of dialogue. We'd share our traditions and beliefs and learn to appreciate the traditions and beliefs of others,” he said.
However, he explained that "as history passed, due to historical events and situations over which none of us had control, we find ourselves divided into separate groups.”
Therefore, as we stand in this era of Christian disunity, Hain said Christians must have a complete confidence in God who can bring everyone together.
“[Christians need] the complete confidence that what we cannot do, God can do,” Hain explained.
