Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

 

Because of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus many congregations in Canada have chosen to be responsible and are worshipping online rather than gathering physically, possibly compromising the health of those who might attend.

If we can't get together as our individual flocks, what is the point of considering the global church of Christ during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity? This week of reflection on unity has been a tough sell for decades now, and being forced to hunker down during a pandemic makes this even more challenging.

Yet here we are at the beginning of the week which this year begins on a Tuesday. Perhaps it is even important in 2022 than ever. Certainly we see the divisions in the Christian community widen for our neighbours to the south. Brothers and sisters in Christ are persecuted in many nations and others live in places where vaccine inequity threatens their health and safety far more than in wealthier countries And with the rise of toxic populism and strongman leaders around the globe we need reminders of the light of the Christ of humilty and the witness of those who follow his Way.

This year the churches of the Middle East have developed worship materials for the week which focus on the story of the Magi who may well have been Zoroastrian astronomers and astrologers who were intrigued by a heavenly body called a star in Matthew's gospel.

Christians are called to be a sign to the world of God bringing about this unity that he desires. Drawn from different cultures, races and languages, Christians share in a common search for Christ and a common desire to worship him. The mission of the Christian people, therefore, is to be a sign like the star, to guide humanity in its hunger for God, to lead all to Christ, and to be the means by which God is bringing about the unity of all peoples.

The material for the week goes on to acknowledge the ongoing strife and turmoil in the Middle East which seems to defy politcal resolution or calls for common respect and peaceful coexistence. To join together in prayer during these days lifts our heads from the preoccupations of this moment to consider a greater good in Christ's name. Here is a prayer which is included, and a link to the website if you're curious to explore further:

 God, our only refuge and strength, we glorify you for you are a just and righteous God. We confess before you that we often covet worldly models of leadership. Help us to seek our Lord Jesus Christ not in the palaces of the powerful but in the humble manger and to emulate him in his meekness. Encourage us to empty ourselves as we serve each other in obedience to you. We pray in the name of Christ who with you and with the Holy Spirit reigns forever in glory. Amen.

https://www.weekofprayer.ca/sites/default/files/1%20International%20Booklet%202022%20WPCU.pdf

A carving on a column in Saint-Lazare Cathedral, France depicts the Magi being visited by an angel. Three crowned figures are shown together under a large, round cover. Two of them are still asleep, but the third has been woken by the gentle touch of the angel who is pointing the star out to him.

It was carved by a man named Gislebertus, the greatest sculptor of his period. His name is known because on one of his carvings he put the words ‘Gislebertus hoc fecit’ – [Gislebertus made this]. The work was carried out between 1125 and 1135.