|
 Sisters
and Brothers in the Lord,
Two thousand years ago, the first Christians
gathered in Jerusalem experienced the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit at Pentecost, and were joined together in unity as
the body of Christ. In that event, Christians of every time
and place see their origin as a community of the faithful,
called together to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Although that earliest Jerusalem Church experienced difficulties,
both externally and internally, its members persevered in
faithfulness and fellowship, in breaking bread and prayers.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity invites
the whole Christian community throughout the world to pray
in communion with the prayer of Jesus "that they all
may be one" (John 17:21).The theme for the 2011 Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity is One in the Apostles' Teaching,
Fellowship, Breaking of Bread and Prayer. It comes from Acts
Chapter 2 verse 42. For 2011, the churches in Jerusalem were
the initial consultants to the Joint Working Group for the
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The Christians of Jerusalem
call upon their brothers and sisters to make this week of
prayer an occasion of renewed commitment to work for genuine
ecumenism grounded in the experience of the early Church.
Once again may we pray and work together for the unity of
all, joining our prayer to that of the Lord Jesus Christ,
"that all may be one" (John 17:21).
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black
General Minister and President
of the United Church of Christ
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Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster
President-designate of the
Council of Bishops
United Methodist Church
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The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America
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The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop
Episcopal Church Center
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Rev. Dr. A Roy Medley
General Secretary
American Baptist Churches USA
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Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory
Archbishop of Atlanta
Chair - USCCB Committee
for Ecumenical and
Interreligious Affairs
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