Christians throughout the world have celebrated The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity since the early 1900s. The dates for the event are January 18-25. Religious leaders in Wisconsin have written a joint letter encouraging Christians to find suitable ways to observe the Week of Prayer. The letter and a list of suggestions for celebrating the Week of Prayer are found below.

January 2004

Dear Friends in Christ,

Since 1968 the World Council of Churches (WCC) Faith and Order Commission and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (PCPCU) have worked together to prepare materials for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Local communities are invited to prepare an initial draft of materials that are then reviewed by the WCC and the PCPCU and made available to the worldwide community. Christians throughout the world observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, from January 18—25, 2004.

During these difficult times when peace is elusive, it is appropriate that this year’s theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, “My peace I give to you,” should turn our hearts and minds towards peace. The peace that Christ promises is more than the absence of war or the experience of inner tranquility. The Arabic word for peace, salaam, shalom in Hebrew, implies a society in which all is rightly ordered, where everything exists in its natural, God-given order. Justice, reconciliation and the recognition of the human dignity of all people are the prerequisites for such peace.

This year’s message which comes to us from the Christian Churches (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant) of Aleppo, Syria is particularly poignant. It reminds us both of the struggle of the Christian Churches of the Middle East to survive and also the mission and calling to the churches to witness to peace in this conflict ridden part of the world.

Mindful of the gift of peace given to us by Christ, we encourage you to seek every opportunity to pray for the unity of the church, especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Let us pray together that we may be united in our common witness and mission to share Christ’s peace in our local communities and throughout the world.

May the peace of Christ be with you.

Rev. Robert D. Berg, Bishop, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA

Rev. Philip C. Brown, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Milwaukee, PCUSA

Rev. George G. Carlson, Bishop, South-Central Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA

The Most Rev. Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of Milwaukee, Roman Catholic

The Most Rev. Raphael M. Fliss, Bishop of Superior, Roman Catholic

The Rt. Rev. Russell E. Jacobus, Bishop, Diocese of Fond u Law, Episcopal Church

Rev. James A. Justman, Bishop, East Central Synod of WI, ELCA

Rev. April Ulring Larson, Bishop, LaCrosse Area Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA

The Most Rev. Robert C. Morlino, Bishop of Madison, Roman Catholic

Rev. David S. Moyer, Conference Minister, Wisconsin Conference, UCC

Rev. Hal Murry, John Knox Presbytery, P.C. [U.S.A.]

Rev. Arlo R. Reichter, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin

Rev. Dr. Lucille K. Rupe, Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Winnebago, PCUSA

Rev. Paul Stumme-Diers, Bishop, Greater Milwaukee Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA

Rev. Sharon Zimmerman Rader, Resident Bishop, Wisconsin Annual Conference, UMC

Suggestions for Observing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 18-25, 2004

Every community has different ecumenical experiences and traditions. These suggestions are meant to be “starters” to help you in deciding how your local ecumenical community might observe the week. We encourage you to be creative. If you are just beginning, you might want to choose something that is not elaborate, but will simply serve to bring people together. Here are some ideas that come from the experience of ecumenical gatherings.

• Gather for morning prayer in neighborhood churches, in a different church each morning of the week.

• Have “pulpit exchanges” on one of the Sundays, with guest preachers from neighboring churches.

• Explore in small groups what it means to be an ecumenical community, reflecting on the experience of the churches in Aleppo.

• Visit Orthodox churches to learn more of their traditions and experience in faith.

• Gather the youth of the various churches in your neighborhood, pose this question: “What is a creative way we can act together as ecumenical peacemakers?,” and let them find ways to act upon their best ideas.

Resources

Excellent materials for the Week of Prayer are available from the World Council of Churches and include:

• A note to those organizing for the week
• Biblical text
• Introduction to the theme for the year 2004
• Preparation of the material for 2004
• A Worship service
• Biblical reflections and prayers for the “eight days”
• Additional prayers
• the ecumenical situation in Aleppo, Syria
• themes for the years 1968-2004
• key dates in the history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

This packet can be downloaded from the World Council of Churches web-site in a PDF format. Visit this link for the World Council of Churches web site.

The Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute offers a variety of resources in color print, including Art/Posters on the theme, a daily scripture and prayer guide, an ecumenical worship service, prayer cards, worship bulletin covers, and a sample kit ($ 5.00). Their web-site is www.geii.org.

WEEK OF PRAYER
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
Route 9, PO Box 300
Garrison, NY 10524-0300