WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – 2024

The Week of Prayer is an opportunity to make particular opportunities to link with neighbouring churches for ecumenical worship.

The international materials for 2024 were prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso facilitated by the local Chemin Neuf Community. It takes as its text “You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Attached is a version for Aotearoa New Zealand. Based on the international liturgy, it has been adapted by a Wellington-based ecumenical workgroup co-ordinated through the National Dialogue for Christian Unity for Aotearoa New Zealand. Further local adaptation may be made to the text, add or substitute prayers or litanies, choosing your own hymns and songs, or incorporating actions and expressions in the worship; so as to add local relevance to the international theme.

The traditional observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Aotearoa New Zealand is between Ascension and Pentecost (12-19 May 2024), or at some other date appropriate for the local context. Maybe consider organising a local observance, maybe through a combined service, or other shared activities and prayer:

• A combined ecumenical service of neighbouring churches held one evening during the week.
• A combined social event or meal
• A combined initiative for a local issue (such as a beach clean or community garden planting)
• Commit with local churches to incorporate a prayer within respective Sunday services; praying for each other’s churches, and praying for ecumenical unity.
• Commit to a prayer relay – where for each day during the week, a different church community commits to joining the prayer for Christian unity, for each other’s ministries, and the communities in your town/city/region are served.

Rev. Tony Franklin-Ross
Secretary – National Dialogue for Christian Unity