January 18-25, 2025
A Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The theme “Do You Believe?” is based on Jesus’ conversation with Martha in John 11: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
The theme was chosen in recognition of the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea (325), at which the words “I believe” were chosen to anchor the Creed as an instrument of universal Christian unity.
Over these eight days, the members of the Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships (CUIR) committee will share a series of devotions based on the statements in the Nicene Creed.
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Daily Devotions
Devotions from members of the Christian Unity and Interreligious Relationships (CUIR) committee.
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 5
Seyun Hwang, Day 5: Have you ever recited a creed and felt that the words seemed routine rather than meaningful? That happened to me one Sunday morning. As the phrase “under Pontius Pilate” rolled off my tongue, I had to pause. Why do I often name this Roman governor in passing—this hand of imperial power that played… Continue Reading→
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 4
Roderic L. Mullen, Day 4: The words of the wonderful Christmas hymn, “Once in Royal David’s City,” echo in my mind as I write this meditation. What does it mean to say with the hymn, “he came down to earth from heaven?” When we picture the babe in a manger, “little, weak and helpless,” it is… Continue Reading→
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 3
Shawn Blackwelder, Day 3: As the Council of Nicaea sought to bring about unity in the Church, the primary obstacle was the existence of differing beliefs about the nature of Christ. Was it homoiousios, as Arius argued, that the Father and the Son were of a similar nature and essence, or was it the belief… Continue Reading→
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 2
Rob Licht, Day 2: According to the Book of Genesis, the creation of heaven and earth begins in darkness, the kind of darkness that defies being named. It is the darkness before darkness, a darkness without form or substance, a fathomless deep, a cavernous void that doesn’t know whether it is or it isn’t. The historic… Continue Reading→
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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Day 1
Shawn Blackwelder, Day 1: The Shema, a daily prayer and affirmation of faith for our Jewish siblings that has been shared with us, gives an important reminder in a polytheistic world. Depending on the translation you read, it may say, “The LORD is our God, the LORD alone,” or “Our God is the LORD! Only… Continue Reading→