Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

At least once a year, Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (see John 17.21). Hearts are touched and Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. The World Council of Churches commemoration of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity traditionally runs from January 18 through to January 25 (northern hemisphere, between the feasts of St Peter and St Paul) and around Pentecost (southern hemisphere), which is also a symbolic date for unity. It is usually between the Day of Ascension and Day of Pentecost.

The 2025 dates are 1st-8th June (southern hemisphere).

2025 is especially important as churches share a common calendar for Easter, and it is also 1700 years since the Council of Nicaea with celebrations around the world.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 theme: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26).
The guiding biblical text for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 comes from John 11:17-27. The theme for the week, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26), takes its cue from the dialogue between Jesus and Martha when Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany following the death of their brother Lazarus.

Here is a link to the 2025 resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

In light of the special Week of Prayer for Christian Unity commemoration in 2025, this child-friendly resource entitled “Praying for Togetherness to a God of Togetherness” is being provided as a World Council of Churches resource for households, schools, and church services where all ages are present. Centred around the Nicene Creed, we hope that this resource will provide a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the common faith of Christians, which was put into words in the Creed at the Council of Nicaea.

Note: The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources are available in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Arabic. See link here.

The Week of Prayer brings together Christians from diverse confessions and backgrounds from around the world, who organize special ecumenical worships, prayer services and events.

Since 1968, the liturgical and biblical material for the annual week of prayer has been jointly coordinated by the WCC’s Faith and Order Commission and the Roman Catholic Church (Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity).

“The church is the place where social and economic barriers are being broken down in demonstration of the reconciling power of the Gospel. That is why the disunity of the church is a denial of the Gospel and a sign not of God’s grace but of God’s judgment. A fragmented and divided church has no message for a fragmented and divided world.”
(Source: Vinoth Ramachandra)

Prayer of Togetherness
How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony! (Psalm 133:1)
Together, Holy One, we turn to you.
Together, Loving One, we sing our faith with harmony.
Together, Listening One, we raise to you our praise and worship.
For together, as your people
we know so much more than we can understand alone.
Open our ears to your calling of being faithful people together.
Strengthen our resolve to share our resources.
Help us learn from the generosity of the early Followers of the Way in Acts.
Draw our focus so we see and work together for all, ‘as any have need’.
For we know of your love,
and share in your grace,
and understand the wealth that is alive in our heart and soul
that comes with belonging to your faith-filled family.
As Easter people, we walk forwards
Blessed by the breath of your Spirit,
Guided by the Word of Christ
Called to be your family
Together in unity – one heart and soul.
(Rev Anne Hewitt 2021)

Prayer for Unity
Father of all who live in the Spirit,
you have brought unity through your Son Jesus Christ:
help all who profess his name to show in their lives,
in their worship,
and their evangelism
that oneness which springs from the truth
as it is found in Jesus,
and fill your church with the desire
both to seek and find that unity
throughout the world; in his name. Amen.
(Michael Saward, and posted on The Jubilate Group website)

I am the way, the truth and the life
Creative God, may we recognise your awesome power
moving in our lives and in so doing,
break us out of our love of self-absorption and self-justification. 
Challenge our adoption of patterns of behaviour that are
dangerous and destructive of the church, the body of Christ. 
Free us from the desire to live in communes, 
walled in and exclusive, rather than in the community
of variety and diversity you have provided. 
Forgive us, we pray. 
Our arrogance of thinking we know all the truth. 
Our ignorance of uncomfortable challenges. 
Our delight in half truth distorting honest struggle, 
and caricaturing those who disagree with us. 
Our absorption in ideas lacking any real truth, 
leading us into confusion and blind alleys, 
and wasting of energy and creativity. 
Our lack of compassion towards those whom
we perceive to be different from us. 
Touch the hidden resources in each one of us
Refresh our understanding of the Gospel
Awaken us to a new vision of a future unmarked by fear or negativity. 
Startle us afresh with the aroma of discipleship. 
Stab us awake – 
to the counter cultural nature of the Gospel
to the power in weakness
to service before selfishness
to suffering for the sake of the powerless
and to dying that others may live
According to the example of Jesus Christ, 
our crucified Redeemer. 
(Source: Church of Scotland)

Prayer for Unity
“My prayer for all of them is that they will be one….
Then the world will know that you sent me
and will understand that you love them
as much as you love me.” John 17:21, 23
O God, we are one with you.
You have made us one with you.
You have taught us that if we are open to one another,
you dwell in us.
Help us to preserve this openness
and to fight for it with all our hearts.
Help us to realize that there can be no understanding
where there is mutual rejection.
O God, in accepting one another wholeheartedly, fully, completely,
we accept you, and we thank you, and we adore you,
and we love you with our whole being,
because our being is in your being,
our spirit is rooted in your spirit.
Fill us then with love,
and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways,
united in this one spirit which makes you present in the world,
and makes you witness to the ultimate reality that is love.
Love has overcome.
Love is victorious.
(Thomas Merton (1915-1968))

Confession (1 Corinthians 1:9-18)
God, forgive your church,
for we have become divided;
in large ways and small
your church has quarreled
and split from one another;
your church has forgotten
the call to unity, to
your purpose of peace and love;
your church has tried
to be clever and popular,
when your Way is foolish,
disturbs: forgive us,
again, make us one.
Grace
God is faithful,
God is calling,
listen, church of God:
you are forgiven.
Be at peace.
Be peace. Amen.
(Source: Rev Sarah Agnew, Pray the Story)

Prayer for Unity Amidst Diversity
God of all creation
who called every being into life
who is mindful of humankind in all its diversity
who embodies us with dignity,
granting different gifts and talents to shape life in this world
we ask for your Spirit to unite us
where we face lack of understanding and disunity
in our churches, in our communities, in our countries.
And in silence we lay before you the burdens of our hearts.
(Silence)
We ask for your Spirit to unite us
in the face of the conflicts, hatred and violation of life
experienced in so many regions of the earth
and in silence we bring to you the pain of the victims.
(Silence)
We ask for your Spirit to unite us
wherever fear prevents us from caring for our neighbour,
from meeting people of different ethnicities, cultures
and faith communities with respect
and in silence we bring to you the brokenness of human relationships.
(Silence)
God of all creation,
in Christ we are reconciled,
and so we ask for your uniting Spirit
to help us to overcome all our divisions
that we may live in peace.
(Source: Christian Aid website)

Benediction
(inspired by John 17:21, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18)
My fellow servants, we are one.
The bread we share makes us one.
The cup we pour makes us one.
Even as our dearest sisters and brothers
come and go from us, we are one.
Even as we scatter from this place
to so many diverse pursuits
throughout this city, this state, this globe,
we are one.
With gratitude we share the Table.
With gratitude we depart.
With gratitude we release one another,
trusting in the One
Who makes us one.
Go in peace.
(Paul Randall, and posted on Ecclesia)

MUSIC
‘Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts’. (Ephesian 5:18-19)

See Together in Song (TiS) section on ‘Life and Witness’ (432-477 for other suggestions)
Consider also music in other languages and/or choirs singing in languages other than English.

Song: Gathered Here to Share Our Music 
(Tune: Beach Springs TiS 493; Words: Jann Aldredge-Clanton)
Gathered here to share our music,
gathered here in unity,
we have come from varied cultures,
blessed by our diversity.
Blending many gifts and voices,
singing peace for all the earth,
we will join the Spirit’s labor,
bringing new creation to birth.

Songs of faith and hope unite us;
songs of healing set us free;
breaking walls and building bridges,
we create community.
With the Holy Spirit dwelling
deep in us and everywhere,
we are filled with loving kindness,
peace and joy forever to share.

Learning, growing here together,
varied gifts enriching all,
we explore the power of music,
faithful to our Sacred call.
Like the many notes converging,
blending in a symphony,
all our cultures, all traditions
join in grace-filled harmony.

Sharing songs from many places,
dancing in a circle wide,
we discover worlds of beauty,
hand in hand and side by side.
As we join the cosmic chorus,
hope springs up, surprise abounds;
all creation now is singing,
earth transformed with music resounds!

One in Love, We Meet Together
(Tune: ‘Hyfrydol’ 87 87D; Adapted by Betty Van Till/3C Exchange)
One in love, we meet together,
one in time, and never apart.
We in flesh as brother, sister,
makes us one in mind and heart.
All incarnate, we would offer,
all we most sincerely prize,
Learning though traditions differ
how they join to make us wise.

One in outlook, always searching,
not to bind in common creed,
As a people, be more ready
to respond to other’s need.
Here we are so finely fashioned,
understanding, here to serve,
Never narrow in compassion,
empathy without reserve.

As in Christ, may we discover
that to give is to receive,
That in God the good is present,
ever, always we perceive.
Not by chance the world’s creation,
not by chance was life begun,
God is love and our vocation
is to love ‘til love has won.
       
O God, In Christ You Call Us
Tune: AURELIA 7.6.7.6 D (“The Church’s One Foundation” TiS 432)
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.  bcgillette@comcast.net  www.carolynshymns.com

O God, in Christ you call us to witness to your grace —
To share the life you give us in every time and place.
So many things divide us — yet we are not our own;
For we belong to Jesus who prayed, “May they be one.”

In Christ is our salvation; in him you’ve set us free —
We make this proclamation in bold humility.
Your image is in others who follow different ways;
Together, seeking justice, we offer you our praise.

In Christ, we’re bound together; in him we find your peace.
Yet even as we gather, the wounds of war increase.
Where terror brings division, God, make us brave to say
Our churches share a vision of Jesus’ peaceful way.

In Christ, the poor and hungry are shown they matter, too —
And where your church has plenty, you give us work to do.
Now may we put in practice the faith that we declare,
Seek economic justice, and find new ways to share.

In Christ, you bless creation and show this planet’s worth;
May every congregation find ways to tend the earth.
Now fill us with your Spirit, that we, as one, may be
A faithful, loving witness to all humanity.

Filled with the Spirit’s Power TiS 411 (tune: Tell out my soul)
Filled with the Spirit’s power with one accord
the infant church confessed its risen Lord.
O Holy Spirit, in the church today
no less your power of fellowship display.

Widen our love, good Spirit, to embrace
in your strong care all those of every race.
Like wind and fire with life among us move,
till we are known as Christ’s, and Christians prove.

Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire,
that unity may be our great desire.
Give joy and peace; give faith to hear your call,
and readiness in each to work for all.

O breath of life, come sweeping through us TiS 409
O Breath of life, come sweeping through us,
Revive Your church with life and power.
O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us,
And fit Your church to meet this hour.

O Breath of love, come breathe within,
Renewing thought and will and heart;
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win,
Revive Your church in every part.

O Wind of God, come bend us, break us,
Till humbly we confess our need;
Then in Your tenderness remake us,
Revive, restore, for this we plead.

O Breath of love, come breathe within,
Renewing thought and will and heart;
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win,
Revive Your church in every part.

Revive us, Lord! Is zeal abating
While harvest fields are vast and ripe?
Revive us, Lord, the world is waiting,
Equip Your church to spread the light.

O Breath of love, come breathe within,
Renewing thought and will and heart;
Come, Love of Christ, afresh to win,
Revive Your church in every part.

Go Walk with God
Tune: O WALY WALY 8.8.8.8 (“Though I May Speak”)
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (website)
Go walk with God in all you do,
And may God’s love bring joy to you.
May gifts of peace fill all your days,
And may God’s truth guide you always.

O may the grace of Christ our Lord,
The wondrous love that comes from God,
The Spirit’s fellowship now be
God’s gifts to you eternally.

We thank you, Lord, for life to share
Through learning, serving, praise and prayer.
And when we say good-bye to friends,
We thank you, Lord: Love never ends.

Hear My Prayer For Unity
Tune: ABERYSTWYTH 7.7.7.7 D  (MIDI)
(“Jesus, Lover of My Soul”; “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night”)
Words: Carolyn Gillette Winfrey (website)

“Hear my prayer for unity,” Jesus prayed for all his own.
“May these ones you’ve given me live the love that I have shown.
Mine are yours and yours are mine; in them I am glorified!
Now I send them as a sign; so may they be unified.”

God, we live in great discord, torn by issues we hold dear;
Even as we call you Lord, we still cling to pride and fear.
Bound together, we’d be free; we could join in serving you!
For the best theology starts when love makes all things new.

By your Spirit, make us one; so the world will come to know
All the love of Christ the Son, all your joys that overflow.
Help us put aside our strife; give your church a humble mind!
Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life, strengthen now the ties that bind.

In Christ there is no east or west TiS 459
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Thru’out the whole wide Earth.

In him shall true hearts ev’rywhere
Their high communion find.
His service is the golden cord
Close binding humankind

Join hands, then, children of the faith,
Whate’er your race may be!
Who serves my Father as a child
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both east and west,
In him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in him,
Thru’out the whole wide Earth.