Each year the theme of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is chosen by a different group. Increasingly Churches in countries as diverse as Indonesia, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Malta, Latvia and India present prayers for unity from their context, in which social and political challenges significantly impact the Church’s witness and mission. These testimonies from the world Church tell us that we cannot divorce our prayer for unity from the challenging realities of today’s world.
The resources for use in January 2023 come from the US State of Minnesota, where Christians reflect upon the journey towards Christian unity in a context of rising racism and White Supremacy. The resources are an invitation not only to stand in solidarity with Christians in Minnesota, but also to reflect upon our own context, because racism is also a challenge in the UK. 2023 will will mark 30 years since the murder of Stephen Lawrence in South London. There will be numerous initiatives to mark this anniversary, which plays an important role in the story of the struggle for racial justice and equality in our society. If we commit to praying and working for unity, we have to acknowledge the barriers that prevent us from achieving it.
The resources are available to download free-of-charge, or to order in hard-copy format, HERE.
In Birmingham during this week is the annual 24 hours of prayer #Pray24Brum. You can find out more about this event and see the schedule of prayer HERE