January 18 starts the week of prayer for Christian unity 2019. All Christians are invited to pray together for the unity of all Christians in the world all week till January 25. We should always remember Jesus’ prayer for his disciples in John 17:21 “They may be one so that the world may believe.” By these words Jesus expresses the idea of the unity of the whole Church, that is the main purpose of His prayer.
The contemporary world is full of corruption, greed and injustice bring about inequality and division. As Christians, we believe in the power of Christ to forgive us and heal. So we find ourselves united under the cross of Christ, calling both for his grace to end injustice and for his mercy for the sins which have caused our division. This week of prayer for Christian unity 2019 we should join and pray together with other Christians all around the world. This will show to the world the great unity of Christian Churches.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019 has been prepared by Christians from Indonesia. Indonesia is well known for having the largest Muslim population of any country. However, about 10% of Indonesians are Christian from various traditions. Across the diversity of ethnicity, language, and religion, Indonesians have lived by the principle of gotong royong which is to live in solidarity and by collaboration. This means sharing in all aspects of life, work, grief and festivities, and regarding all Indonesians as brothers and sisters.
This always fragile harmony is today threatened in new ways. Much of the economic growth that Indonesia has experienced in recent decades has been built on a system that has competition at its heart. This is in stark contrast to the collaboration of gotong royong. Corruption is experienced in many forms. Christian communities in such an environment become newly aware of their unity as they join in common concern and a common response to an unjust reality.
This year biblical text for the week of prayer for Christian unity 2019 is taken from Deuteronomy 16: 11-20, these Bible verses speak powerfully to Indonesian Christians situation and needs.
The main theme for the 2019 year is “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue …” (Deuteronomy 16:20). Before the people of God enter the land, God has promised them they renew their commitment to the Covenant God established with them. The pericope comes in a chapter whose central theme is the festivities to be celebrated by the Covenant people. After each festival the people are instructed, “Rejoice during your festival, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female slaves, as well as the Levites, the strangers, the orphans, and the widows resident in your towns” (Deut. 16:14, see also 16:11).
Christ’s Church is called to be a foretaste of God kingdom. However, in our disunity, we fall short. We fail to be the sign of God’s love for his people. Injustice has fed the divisions of the Church. We repent of the injustice that causes division, but as Christians, we also believe in the power of Christ to forgive us and heal. And so, we find ourselves united under the cross of Christ, calling both for his grace to end injustice and for his mercy for the sins which have caused our division.
For each day of the week of prayer for Christian unity 2019, different prayers are proposed. So join the week of prayer for Christian unity 2019 and pray for the Christians unity in the world.
Prayer for each day of the week of prayer for Christian unity 2019
Day 1 Prayer
God of
the widow, the orphan and the stranger,
You have shown us the path of justice.
Help us to follow your way by doing justice as our worship of
you.
As Christians together, may we worship you not only with our
hearts and minds, but also by our deeds.
May the Holy Spirit help and guide us to work for justice
wherever we are,
so that many people may be strengthened through our works.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Day 2 Prayer
God of
righteousness,
grant us wisdom to distinguish right from wrong.
Let our hearts be guided by honesty and our lips speak the
truth.
Give us courage to be truthful even when others go against us.
Keep us from spreading deceit;
make us, rather, agents of unity and peace,
spreading good news for all people.
We pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Day 3 Prayer
Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, one God,
we give praise to you for your great glory made manifest in
all of creation.
Give us an open heart to embrace all who experience
discrimination.
Help us to grow in love beyond prejudice and injustice.
Grant us the grace to respect the uniqueness of each person,
so that in our diversity we may experience unity.
This prayer we make in your holy name. Amen.
Day 4 Prayer
Compassionate God,
we thank you for your bountiful gifts.
Give us the grace to accept all blessings
in simplicity and with humble gratitude.
Enable us to be content and ready to share with others who are in need,
so that all may experience unity in the love that flows from you,
our Triune God,
who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.
Day 5 Prayer
God
our Father,
forgive our lust for power
and free us from the temptation to oppress others.
By your Holy Spirit of communion,
help us to live in solidarity with our neighbour,
and so share together with your Son Jesus
in fulfilling your promise of freedom from poverty and
oppression.
We pray in his name. Amen.
Day 6 Prayer
Loving
God,
By your word all things came to be.
We thank you for the universe
which manifests your glory, beauty and kindness.
Grant us the wisdom to walk gently upon the earth
and together to be prophets of your good news to all
creation. Amen.
Day 7 Prayer
Gracious
God,
You are the source of human dignity.
By your grace and power
the words of Hannah changed the heart of Eli the Priest;
by your grace and power
the words of the Canaanite woman moved Jesus to heal her
daughter.
As we search to manifest the unity of the Church,
grant us the courage to reject all forms of violence against
women
and to celebrate the gifts of the Spirit
that women bring to the service of the Church.
This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Day 8 Prayer
God our Sustainer,
we praise you for your loving kindness,
for upholding us in times of trial,
and showing us your light in times of darkness.
Transform our lives so that we may be a blessing for others.
Help us to live unity in diversity as a witness to your communion,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever. Amen.
Remember the words of Jesus: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Also read: Week of prayer for Christian unity 2018
