 January 18-25-2008
“Pray without ceasing”
(1 Thessalonians 5:12a, 13b-18)
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2008 is a special one as it marks the 100th anniversary of the inception of a prayer octave (eight days) for the unity of Christians. Father Paul Wattson, Episcopal priest and co-founder of the Society of the Atonement at Graymoor (Garrison, New York), introduced the Church Unity Octave from January 18-25, 1908. Since that time, the cooperation between Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches, parishes and communities in preparing for and celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has become a familiar practice. This in itself is strong evidence for the effectiveness of prayer for unity. It gives us every right to speak about the history of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as a history of success, and it is a reason for great joy and gratitude.
Prayer for Christian unity is a challenging prayer. It requires a change of heart among all of us. Ultimately it means that we will give up our personal and perhaps biased ways of seeing unity in favor of discerning what God wants for God's people. Together we are on the Spirit-led journey, calling us and our churches to recommit ourselves to pray and strive with our whole being for the unity and peace willed by God. In this 100th anniversary year, and every year, may all Christians take to heart the admonition “Pray without ceasing”, making real our quest for Christian unity.
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