Yesterday marked the beginning of the octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. We don't do very much here for this octave, but do tend to work with our friends from other denominations daily and are always open and receiving to them. I must add they are similar to ourselves as well.
Christian Unity must not be confused with Christian diversity and we do all need to cherish our own ways and be open to receiving from others. I always remember David in his first appointment, many years ago now, in a mining village just outside Durham town. He invited the elderly, very set in his ways, Catholic priest to come and preach in the Methodist Church. Father was delighted and came preached an excellent homily and endeared himself to all. Just before Holy Week, David received the gracious invitation to come and share in the Stations of The Cross and thus was born a new unity between the two churches and the only two clergy in the village at the time. Now, they were never going to form one church but what happened there was a diversity in worship added to the richness of sharing together and growth between the two congregations and the clergy.
And so what are we going to do about Christian unity this year when we are not able to visit other denominations? Have house groups? With the Methodist closed temporarily here since last March I have been helping out pastorally and various Methodists have dipped into all manner of our parish (Ministry Area) worship and activities. There is a richness and a depth as we share together.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January – the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. However, some areas observe it at Pentecost or some other time
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2021 has been prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1-17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the Church and the human family.
Today the community has fifty sisters, all women from different generations, Church traditions, countries and continents. In their diversity the sisters are a living parable of communion. They remain faithful to a life of prayer, life in community and the welcoming of guests. The sisters share the grace of their monastic life with visitors and volunteers who go to Grandchamp for a time of retreat, silence, healing or in search of meaning.
For 2021, the sisters are inviting churches across the world to enter into their tradition of prayer and silence that is rooted in the ancient traditions of the Church catholic.
There are some ideas here for how we can focus during this octave with prayer, issues we can become involved with and things we can even try and action both globally, locally and even personally.
Click here for a link to read for each day and make us stop and think and to be united with our Christian brothers and sisters from all manner of denominations and all manner of languages.
Personally, I am always impressed with the monastery in Gloucestershire - Mucknell Abbey who were fully ecumenical and when I last had a conversation about the brothers and sisters discovered they were on the verge of appointing a Methodist minister who is a full time brother within the community, as its new Abbot!
Surely we so often discover Christ, not in the tried and tested of the familiar, but in our discomfort of the different and new.
Eternal Father, we praise you for sending your Son to be one of us and to save us. Look upon your people with mercy, for we are divided in so many ways, and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love. We ask this gift, loving Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
