Christian Unity and Dialogue
Resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022
‘We Saw His Star in the East’
The Christians of the Middle East are offering the resources for the 2022 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, traditionally observed from 18th to 25th January. In doing so, these fellow followers of Jesus are conscious that the world shares many of the travails and much of the difficulties experienced by the region, and yearns for a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness.
Serving the Gospel today requires a commitment to the human being, especially the poorest, the weakest and those marginalised. It requires from the Churches transparency and accountability in dealing with the world, and with each other. This means Churches need to co–operate to provide relief to the afflicted, to welcome the displaced, to relieve the burdened, and to build a just and honest society. This is a call for Churches to work together so that young people can build a good future according to God’s heart, a future in which all human beings can experience life, peace, justice, and love.
The resources pamphlet includes daily reflections plus an order of service. Materials are available for download in English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish at this link.
Commending the resources, Bishop Michael Burrows remarked: “The Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue urges you to make imaginative and appropriate use of these resources in every place. Sometimes the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can I fear seem a ‘tired’ concept, not helped by the fact that it comes at a time of dark evenings and post–Christmas fatigue, and this year there is the reality of ongoing Covid caution. But let’s always remember that the week is not an end in itself, but is meant to create a mood and an attitude that textures the entire year.
“Each New Year, we might make a Resolution – for the sake of the crying needs of the world – to ask ourselves honestly how true we are locally to the principle famously articulated by the World Council of Churches at Lund nearly seventy years ago, namely that ‘separated’ Christians should be doing together everything save what conscience obliges them to do separately. It’s a big ask, yet ought to pervade our prayers and actions absolutely instinctively.”
Please note that, for 2022, printed resources will not be available to order.
You can show your support for Christian Unity by posting unity messages and details of your events to our Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Twitter wall – simply add the #wpcuwall hashtag to your Twitter post (note there is a delay before they appear). You can also find updates about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Twitter by following the #wpcu2022 hashtag.