Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2008
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Pray without ceasing 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, normally held either 18th - 25th January or at Pentecost.
Centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2008
Pray without ceasing We were invited to join the Presidents of Churches Together in England and sister and brother Christians from all traditions and language communities in a Service of Celebration and Commitment at Westminster Abbey on Friday 18th January 2008 at 5pm This was a great opportunity • to celebrate local ecumenical endeavours in company with people of other local groups, and of many churches, traditions, languages and cultures • to worship in a special service which has music, singing, readings and prayers in a widely representative range of styles • to pray for the new General Secretary of CTE (David Cornick, who will take over from Bill Snelson in the Spring) • to receive the book of scripture texts “One Light: One World” published to celebrate the Centenary • to join in commitment to further prayer and united action for Christ
No one responded to my suggestion that people might like to go as a group from Christians Together in Camden. But when, a week before Christmas, I forwarded an email asking for help with Taizé chants for 20 minutes before the service, it was exciting to see all the Camden names pop up in the emails that circulated as plans progressed. We ended up with 8 Camden people in the 30-strong group and strengthened links with the Kings Cross Taizé Prayer group and with those that lead the Taizé Prayer at Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square.
Saturday 19th January Westminster Abbey Annual Day of Prayer
Each year Westminster Abbey is set aside for a whole day of prayer and reflection ending with Evensong at 3.00pm, to which all are welcome to attend.
This year the day marked the Centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. After introductions and an opening prayer, the day started with an address from Revd Mark Woodruff from the Society for Ecumenical Studies before we dispersed to the first of our workshops. We gathered again for mid-day office led by the Ecumenical Society of the Blessed Virgin Mary before lunch. In the afternoon we were able to attend a 2nd workshop before gathering for closing remarks and preparing for Evensong - when the public was allowed to join us.
There were 5 workshops for us to choose from giving us the opportunity to experience 2 different styles of prayer.
The next Annual day of Prayer at Westminster Abbey
will be on Saturday 11th January 2009
"Unity Week" in Camden (and Highgate)
Sunday 13th January 6.30pm at St Michael’s Church, South Grove, Highgate, N6. United Worship organised by Churches Together in Highgate Sunday 20th January 6pm at St Mary’s Primrose Hill Taizé Prayers and Music Wednesday 23rd January 7.30 pm at Holy Cross Church Cromer Street WC1. Ecumenical Service with contributions from a number of churches and groups in the Kings Cross area. The preacher was the Rev’d.Geoffrey Roper from the United Reformed Church. Friday 25th January 7.30pm at St Saviour's, Eton Road NW3 Unity Service with the Salvation Army Band from Chalk Farm Material for 2008 originated in the USA. The image on the pamphlet is from Ground Zero and symbolises the sense of praying without ceasing for peace and reconciliation both within the Church and around the world.
The pamphlets with Bible readings and prayers for the 8 days of the "Week" and an Ecumenical Service can be ordered from CTBI Publications, T: 01733 325002, E:sales@mph.org.uk. Further ideas and resources available on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland web site. www.ctbi.org.uk
Last updated 27/1/08 (1/10) |
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