The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as we now know it was first proposed in 1908 Fr Paul Wattson, founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in Graymoor, New York, although a Penticostal movement in Scotland, ca. 1740 included prayer for and with all churches in its revivalist message. The tradition in various forms until 1948 when it was formalized by the World Council of Churches.
On Sunday afternoon, a service was held at SPPC under the auspices of Faithlink as a start to the prayer week. The service was prepared by the a team in Latvia, made up of representatives of many churches, on the theme "Called to proclaim the mighty acts of God," inspired by 1 Peter 2:9 – You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Christians around the world are invited to reflect on what it means to be the people of God, and how we are called both to proclaim and to respond to the acts of God in the world.
The service on Sunday was only the kick off to the week. There are seven more days of prayer. To see a complete list of suggested scriptures, reflections and prayers see here. Feel free to use the resources listed there for your personal prayer in the coming week -- or the coming year. God listens any time.
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