Grant it the peace and unity of your kingdom
Tomorrow marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from the 18th to the 25th January each year. This year’s theme is, “Reconcile Your People”.
In working towards Christian Unity, we need to remember that unity doesn’t necessarily mean uniformity. Diversity doesn’t have to mean division. We’re different: let’s celebrate that. Different doesn’t mean wrong; it means different.
Joining in prayer for unity we join in the prayer of Christ, affirming his incarnation. Unity in diversity can express the diversity of the Trinity and explore the greatness of God.
Christian unity should be about coming together with our brothers and sisters; exploring our differences without feeling threatened by them. Then we’ll likely find that there are many more things that we have in common, than there are which divide us. This way, I believe, we can be truly united, or reunited, with our brothers and sisters from around the world
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
Each year the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is developed by one country which produces outline material that is adapted for use in other parts of the world. Korea is the selected country for 2009. And more information and resources can be found on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website, and the World Council of Churches website.
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
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To be honest Paul, I struggle with this as I see and know of such division within our own Anglican tradition, let alone all the other denominations. It is a nice thought but at grass roots it will never happen, I am just being realistic. But it does not mean I have given up, no far from it. I challenge the evangelicals all the time about their own in fighting on doctrinal issues, as well as how they foster their own way of how faith should be conducted by followers. I am reading the new Cliff Richard book at the moment and the last chapter Cliff mentioned how he has softened his approach over the years and has a more open mind about how we live life in the light of scripture. I feel the same and it all started for me about 10 years ago when I was introduced to the beauty of the Catholic Church. Many of my church friends thought I was crazy and even had lost the plot but God was there and He showed me more of Himself and what real Love is all about. I truely wish the church could forgive itself and be one but it can never happen. It is better to learn to love more and live life in the freedom of Jesus alone. Church is not important. Selah!
Thanks for your thoughtful response Steve; very welcome as ever.
You’re right Steve, there is division even amongst our own Anglican tradition. But when we look more closely at what we have in common, we can see there is actually quite a lot, and we’re not so very different.
I’m heartened by events such as happened in Godmanchester just this month. The Baptist Church have appointed a new minister after their last one retired. Their building would not hold a sufficient number of people for his induction service. They asked if they could hold the service in the parish church, and we were glad to oblige. The building was packed with more than 400 people, four times as many as they would’ve been able to have.
We’re trying to overcome differences in Godmanchester, and come together more as Churches. It doesn’t always work, and we still have a way to go. And Churches Together are working hard as an organisation to bring the different denominations together more. Again, still a way to go. But people are beginning to try more.
And you yourself, crossing denominational boundaries and challenging others, are starting to foster more unity. A few more people doing the same can start to make a real difference.
I absolutely agree with your last statements, “It is better to learn to love more and live life in the freedom of Jesus alone. Church is not important.” Church is not important in itself; but it is one of the vehicles for people learning to love more and to live in the freedom of Jesus.