December 19th, 2022Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2023
After a multi-year pause in participation due to systems restructuring followed by covid challenges, Mennonite Church Canada is again inviting regional church congregations to participate in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU).
Doug Klassen, Executive Minister, said he’s personally been feeling a deep and recurring call to prayer. “The effects and uncertainties of war, civil unrest, racism, environmental dangers, lie not just in other countries, but right beside us. This Week of Payer is a chance to show the watching world that Christian compassion is a light that shines through the dark shadows of hate and division.”
Amanda Pahl, graduate of Canadian Mennonite University, was program assistant at WPCU for the past two years. In a farewell reflection, she shared that her hope for Christian unity lies in a “Body of Christ [that] is diverse, creative, and tenacious” and that there is power in “worship and prayer to shape communities of peace.”
The theme for 2023 is “Do good; seek justice” (Isaiah 1:17). Resources to help congregations shape their participation are abundant at Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, where listings of events by region can also be found. Participation during the event from Jan. 18 – 25, 2023 is encouraged, but Klassen said prayer for Christian unity is encouraged anytime.