Dear Brothers and Sisters,
When you receive this letter, we will be in the midst of celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25. As a matter of fact, it is also the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea held in 325 c.e. which led to the adoption of the Nicene Creed, a central statement of belief for most of Christianity. This week’s Biblical theme is based on John 11:26 where Jesus asked Mary and Martha “Do you believe this?” following the death of
Lazarus. Indeed, the first line of the Nicene Creed is “I believe” or “We believe”, depending on which translation you use.
This is the week where we focus on our common faith, even though we do not minimize our variety of differing practices, tradition and theology. Last Sunday at Morning, we prayed a Litany for the Week of Christian Unity, with petitions for all the various denominations. We will repeat this lovely and inclusive prayer at the Wednesday noonday service.
For more than 100 years the churches have been celebrating this week, doing what we can to honor Jesus’ prayer in John 17:21 “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” For more information on this Week and for many resources, visit the World Council of Churches’ site https://www.oikoumene.org/resources/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity.
Keep this effort in your prayers. And in your actions. I am reminded once more of one of Dr. Martin Luther King’s sayings: “We can all get more together than we can apart.” Surely this applies as much to our faith efforts as it does to social action. Together, we can bring more of God’s Light to the world. And to our own spirits.
Blessings,
Mo. Laura
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COMING UP!
- January 15: Annual Meeting reports due – STREET MEDICINE NEEDS: handwarmers, duct tape, body wipes
- January 26: Dodd’s practicum for lectors (10:30 after coffee)
- February 2: Annual Meeting – 11:00 am
- February 9: Service and sing-a-long at Legend – 1:30 pm
- February 16: Bloom Guest Speaker – 10:30 am
- February 28: Soup Potluck – 5:30 pm
**Wednesdays, noonday prayer via zoom at 12:00**