Friday, January 18-25, 2019
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is coming! The NH Council of Churches will honor this week by asking leaders of our ten member denominations to write reflections for each day during the week. We will share these on our website and through our email blasts and social media.Jan. 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019
In your local community, you might wish to use the resources below to organize a prayer service that invites all local churches to attend and includes their leadership and involvement.
This year’s theme is, “Justice and only justice you shall pursue” (Deuteronomy 16:18-20).
Here are the materials from the World Council of Churches. You can download the brochure and organize a local prayer service with these resources. If you do, please let the NH Council of Churches know! We would be glad to promote your event and let local churches and people get the invitation to participate!
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019 has been prepared by Christians from Indonesia. With a population of 265 million, 86% of whom are reckoned to be Muslim, Indonesia is well known as having the largest Muslim population of any country. However, about 10% of Indonesians are Christian from various traditions. In terms of both population and the vast extension of the country Indonesia is the biggest nation in South East Asia. The nation is founded on five principles called Pancasila, with the motto Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Across the diversity of ethnicity, language and religion, Indonesians have lived by the principle of gotong royong which is to live in solidarity and by collaboration.
This always fragile harmony is today threatened in new ways. Much of the economic growth that Indonesia has experienced in recent decades has been built on a system that has competition at its heart. This is in stark contrast to the collaboration of gotong royong. Corruption is experienced in many forms. It infects politics and business, often with devastating consequences for the environment. In particular, corruption undermines justice and the implementation of law. Moved by these concerns, the Christians of Indonesia found that the words of Deuteronomy, “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue …” (see Deut. 16:18-20) spoke powerfully to their situation and needs. Before the people of God enter the land God has promised them they renew their commitment to the Covenant God established with them.