All are welcome to join a Service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Sunday 22nd January 2023, 6pm at St John the Baptist Church, Crowthorne.
Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 22nd January 2023
Week of Prayer Day 8
“So that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete”
(John 15:11)
read
Colossians 1:15-20 – In him all things hold together
Mark 4: 30—32 – As small as a mustard seed
prayer
Thrice-holy God, We thank you for having created and loved us.
We thank you for your presence in us and in creation.
May we learn to look upon the world as you look upon it, with love.
In the hope of this vision, may we be able to work for a world where justice and peace flourish, for the glory of your name.
go and do
- Global Find out about and join the prayer chain for climate justice.
The Prayer chain for climate justice was set up to help us all connect together across the world in our prayer and action for climate justice. It is an initiative of Christian Aid and is being done in partnership with CAFOD and Tearfund. It was initially set up to lead to the climate change talks originally planned for November 2020 but now postponed to November 2021 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
You can sign up on the calendar to fill a time-slot to pray by yourself or with others from your church. You can choose to pray on a regular basis as part of the prayer chain.
- Local
Are your local churches already involved with ecocongregations or ecochurch ? Visit Christian Aid campaigns to find out how to add your voice to the call for climate justice.
- Personal Take action for climate justice in your own life.
Visit Green Christian to join in the conversation and get involved in making a positive difference in the world. Green Christian are a community of ordinary Christians from all backgrounds and traditions working to care for Creation through prayer, living simply, public witness, campaigning and mutual encouragement.
Week of Prayer Day 7
“I am the vine, you are the branches”
(John 15:5a)
read
1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 3:21-23 – Is Christ divided?
John 17:20-23 – As you and I are one
Week of Prayer Day 6
“Go and bear fruit, fruit that will last”
(John 15: 16b)
read
Genesis 18:1-5 – Abraham hosts the angels at the Oak of Mamre
Mark 6:30-44 – Jesus’ compassion for the crowds
go and do
- Global: Take time to engage with global news stories today. Take action in response to the story that most moves you with compassion.
- Local: Contribute in any way that you can to a foodbank, food growing scheme or community meal initiative in your area. https://crowthorne.foodbank.org.uk/
- Personal: Reflect on and identify who ‘the other’ is for you. How might you connect with and offer a welcome to them in your next encounter?
Week of Prayer Day 5
“You have already been pruned by the word… “
(John 15:3)
read
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 – The word of God is very close to you
Matthew 5:1-12 – Blessed are you
prayer
Blessed are you, God our Father, for the gift of your word in Holy Scripture.
Blessed are you for its transforming power.
Help us choose life and guide us by your Spirit,
so that we can experience the happiness which you want so much to share with us.
go and do
Global: Find out more about the Just Scripture initiative and help organise a session connecting the churches in your area with a community across the world.
Local: What one act of kindness could the churches in your area take together to be a unified blessing in your wider community?
Personal: Read the Beatitudes through slowly (Matthew 5: 3-11). Which of the actions described in the passage are you encouraged to take today?
(see www.ctbi.org.uk/goanddo)
Week of Prayer Day 4
Photo: Christian Aid/Tom Pilston
“I do not call you servants any longer.. have called you friends” (John 15:15)
read
Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit helps us in our weakness
Luke 11:1-4 – Lord, teach us to pray
prayer
Lord Jesus, your entire life was prayer, perfect harmony with the Father.
Through your Spirit, teach us to pray according to your will of love.
May the faithful of the whole world unite in intercession and praise, and may your kingdom of love come.
questions
- Jesus lived as an example of what it means to “live in prayer’! If prayer is the foundation of our relationship with God how much time and attention could you give to your personal prayer life?
- What have you learned from praying with other Christians? What might God want you to learn from the practices and traditions of others?
- What specific need in your community can you commit to pray for over the coming year?
Week of Prayer Day 3
“Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12b)
Read
Colossians 3:12-17 – Clothe yourself with compassion
John 13:1-15; 34-35 – Love one another
prayer
God our Father, you reveal to us your love through Christ and through our brothers and sisters.
Open our hearts so that we can welcome each other with our differences and live in forgiveness.
Grant us to live united in one body, so that the gift that is each person comes to light.
May all of us together be a reflection of the living Christ.
Week of Prayer Day 2
“Abide in me as I abide in you”
(John 15:4a)
read
Ephesians 3:14-21 – May Christ dwell in our hearts
Luke 2:41-52 – Mary treasured all these things
questions
• The Bible tells us very little about Jesus’ youth and early adulthood, when he seems to have lived an ordinary life in Nazareth. How are you conscious of God’s presence with you in the everyday things of life?
• In your church or group of churches how do you nurture your children and young people to walk with God in their everyday lives, and how could you do this better?
• What does the churches having a ‘presence’ together in the community look like in your area?
Source: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021 Resources
Week of Prayer Day 1
“You did not choose me but I chose you”
(John 15:16a)
Read
Genesis 12:1-4 The call of Abraham
John 1:35-51 The call of the first disciples
Meditation
The start of the journey is an encounter between a human being and God, between the created and the Creator, between time and eternity.
Abraham heard the call: “Go to the land I will show you”. Like Abraham we are called to leave that which is familiar and go to the place that God has prepared in the depths of our hearts. Along the way, we become more and more ourselves, the people God has wanted us to be from the beginning. And by following the call that is addressed to us, we become a blessing for our loved ones, our neighbours, and the world.
The love of God seeks us. God became human in Jesus, in whom we encounter the gaze of God. In our lives, as in the Gospel of John, God’s call is heard in different ways. Touched by his love, we set out. In this encounter, we walk a path of transformation – the bright beginning of a relationship of love that is always started anew.
“One day you understood that, without your being aware of it, a yes had already been inscribed in your innermost depths. And so you chose to go forward in the footsteps of Christ….
In silence in the presence of Christ, you heard him say, ‘Come, follow me; I will give you a place to rest your heart.’”
[The Sources of Taizé (2000) p. 52]
prayer
Jesus Christ, you seek us, you wish to offer us your friendship and lead us to a life that is ever more complete.
Grant us the confidence to answer your call so that we may be transformed and become witnesses of your tenderness for the world.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January – the octave (=8!) of St. Peter and St. Paul.
On the eve of the week, (Sunday 17th 6:30pm) we shall meet together (online – see below) and each day share a short reflection. Stay tuned!
For 2021, prayer, worship and reflection materials have been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family.
The service, hosted by St Michael’s Sandhurst, will have the theme of the unity of the person, of the church, and of all creation, based on Churches Together in England (CTE) material. It will start at 6.30 pm and last about 45 minutes.
You can access the service via the public Facebook page, www.facebook.com/StMichaelsSandhurst/live . It is not necessary to log in to Facebook or sign up for an account in order to watch. Those with Facebook accounts will be able to participate by leaving comments during the service.
Following the service, there will be an opportunity to chat via Zoom, please contact your church or [email protected] for details.