With roots going back well over 100 years, an ecumenical Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has been observed internationally every year as an octave (eight days) of prayers. Prepared in collaboration between members of the World Council of Churches and the Roman Catholic Church, the theme for this year was chosen by the Middle East Council of Churches knowing that more than ever, in these difficult times, we need a light that shines in the darkness and that light, Christians proclaim, has been manifested in Jesus Christ.
“We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him.”
Matthew 2:2
As part of the Anglican Communion, we are members of this council and you might be interested in learning about other churches that also belong. The list includes the Assyrian Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Old Catholic Church, the Moravian Church, the Lutheran Churches, the Mennonite Churches, the Methodist Churches, and the Reformed Churches, as well as the Baptist Churches and the Pentecostal Churches.[1] The Roman Catholic Church, which is an observer in the World Council of Churches, celebrates the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
Find more information, worship material, and additional resources on how you and others can participate by visiting the World Council of Churches: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity webpage. Through their work “hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity.” Congregations exchange preachers, special ecumenical celebrations are arranged and prayer services are held around the globe.