Grant it the peace and unity of your kingdom

We’re in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from the 18th to the 25th January each year. The week can be observed at any time, though, and many Churches keep it as a week from Sunday to Sunday at dates close to the traditional ones. At Godmanchester, for instance, this year we start today (20th) and finish next Sunday (27th).

This year, 2008, is a special year, marking, as it does, the 100th year of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. See the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website for more details about the week, and this years’ particular emphasis.

A Collect for Christian Unity

Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your apostles,
‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you’:
look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church
and grant it the peace and unity of your kingdom;
where you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Christian Unity,
from Common Worship: Times and Seasons
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

In working towards our Christian Unity, we need to remember that unity doesn’t necessarily mean uniformity. We’re different: let’s celebrate that. Different doesn’t mean wrong; it means different. Christian unity should be about coming together with our brothers and sisters from around the world; exploring our differences without feeling threatened by them; and then we’ll likely find that there are many areas that we’re actually the same in. That way, I believe, we can be truly united.

And set all your people free

And set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. It’s really heartbreaking to think of the huge numbers of people around the world who aren’t free to praise God. There are far too many people who risk their very lives by continuing to praise and worship God.

I am so fortunate, living, as I do, in the United Kingdom. For me, I have a real choice in whether I do praise and worship God, or not. The little misunderstanding, and mickey taking, I might face because of my Christian faith is nothing in comparison to the persecution some face. There are people who put their very lives on the line to attend a Church service. The classic line from Wayne’s World springs to mind when I think of those people, “we’re not worthy” — I am not worthy!

The Third Sunday of Epiphany

God of all mercy,
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives,
and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Third Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council