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The week of Prayer for Christian Unity was initiated in 1908 by the Rev. Paul Wattson, co-founder of the Society of the Atonement. Its observance has changed over the years, in accordance with developments in the ecumenical movement: the universal week of prayer advocated by Abbé Paul Couturier in Lyon, France in the 1930s; the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948; the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism in 1964; and the formation of the Joint Working Group between the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches. A world observance, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an important expression of ecumenical activity at the local level. The theme and text for each year’s observance of the Week of Prayer are chosen and prepared by representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and representatives of the World Council of Churches.
Each day of the Week will have a different theme:
January 18: United through the presence of Christ. "One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism" (Ephesians 4: 5, 6).
January 19: Building Christian unity with Jesus in our midst - daily ecumenism. "You also ought to wash one another's feet" (John 13: 14).
January 20: Praying together in Jesus' name. "The Lord waits to be gracious to you" (Isaiah 30: 18).
January 21: From the past to the future - forgiveness and healing of memories. "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven " (Matthew 18: 22).
January 22: God's presence among us: a call to peace. "The Lord is with us" (Psalm 46).
January 23: Mission in Jesus' name. "So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost" (Matthew 18: 14).
January 24: Recognizing and welcoming God's presence in the other in Jesus' name "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" (Matthew 18: 5).
January 25: One in hope. "On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you" (John 14:20).
O God, holy and eternal Trinity,
We pray for your church in the world.
Sanctify its life; renew its worship;
Empower its witness; heal its divisions;
Make visible its unity.
Lead us, with all our brothers and sisters,
Towards communion
In faith, life and witness
So that, united in one body
By the one Spirit,
We may together witness
To the perfect unity of your love.
Amen.
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