The introduction offers suggestions for those organizing the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, noting that the materials can also be used throughout the whole year.
“This material is offered with the understanding that, whenever possible, it will be adapted for use in local situations,” notes the introduction. “Account should be taken of local liturgical and devotional practice, and of the whole social and cultural context.”
From 18-25 January, churches will draw together across the globe to “Do good; seek justice (Isaiah 1:17).”
The reflections explore how learning to do right requires the decision to engage in self-reflection.
Christians from Minnesota developed the the resources with input from an international group representing the Roman Catholic Church’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission. The resources include an ecumenical opening prayer service, biblical reflections and prayers for eight days, and other elements of worship.
"As we pray for Christian unity, this year’s theme invites us to reflect beyond the confessional divisions that exist among Christians,” said Rev. Dr Mikie Roberts, WCC programme executive for Spiritual Life. “We are being challenged to allow the cries for social justice to also inform our praying together for Christian unity.”
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international Christian ecumenical observance kept annually around Pentecost in the Southern Hemisphere and between 18-25 January in the Northern Hemisphere.
Each year ecumenical partners in a different region are asked to prepare the materials.
With roots going back over 100 years, the dedicated octave of prayers has been jointly commissioned and prepared since 1966, after the Second Vatican Council, by the Roman Catholic Church and the WCC.
The materials for 2023 are already available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Arabic.
Access the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023 materials in all available languages