The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Day 6—Tuesday 23rd January 2024 Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10: 34) Lord, turn our churches into inns, welcoming those in need. Additional scripture passages Genesis 18: 4-5 Psalm 5: 11-12 Reflection In any society, hospitality and solidarity are essential. They require the welcoming of strangers, migrants and all people without a home. Such hospitality can require sacrifice, but it is an important witness to the Gospel. When faced with insecurity, suspicion and sometimes violence, we tend to mistrust our neighbours so that extending and accepting hospitality becomes more difficult. Welcoming “the other” and being welcoming in turn, is at the heart of ecumenical dialogue and practice. Christians are challenged to turn our churches into inns, open and inviting spaces where our neighbours can find Christ. When we, as followers of Christ, move beyond our traditions and choose to practise ecumenical hospitality, we stop being strangers and start being good neighbours. We pray for Edenfield Parish Church. Trinity Grace Church. Our churches to be places of welcome to all. Those working with the isolated and vulnerable. We pray together God of unity, Help us to become a community that generously welcomes those who feel abandoned and lost, together building an inn where all are welcomed and loved. Amen Question When have you seen Christ in someone who was not like you? Go and do What ecumenical projects can be found in your area? Find out what Christians are doing together and get involved.
Day 5—Monday 22nd January 2024 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. (Luke 10: 34) Lord, help us see the wounds and find hope. Additional scripture passages Joel 2: 23-27 Psalm 104: 14-15, 27-30 Reflection The Good Samaritan did what he could out of his own resources: he poured oil and wine and bandaged the man’s wounds and put him on his own animal. He went further still by promising to pay for the man’s care. When we see the world through the eyes of the Samaritan, every situation can be an opportunity to help those in need. His example motivates us to ask ourselves how to respond to our neighbour. What can we give, so that we can be part of God’s work of healing a broken world? This brokenness shows itself in our world through insecurity, fear, distrust and division. Shamefully, these divisions also exist between Christians. Though we celebrate sacraments of healing, reconciliation and consolation, we persist in behaviours that cause division. The healing of our own divisions would perhaps promote the healing of the nations. We pray for Dundee Lane URC. St Andrew’s Church, Ramsbottom. Our pastoral care groups. Those who are ill or grieving. We pray together Gracious God, You who are the source of all love and goodness; enable us to recognise the needs of our neighbour. Help us to be honest about our need for healing. Change us, so that we can love all, that we might build a world of peace. Thank you for leading us to a future which is full of hope. Amen Question What can we give, so that we can be part of God’s work of healing a broken world? Go and do What groups already exist in your area that are actively involved in healing in some way? Explore meaningful ways of engaging with them.
Day 4—Sunday 21st January 2024 When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10: 31) May we never turn away from those in need. Additional scripture passages Isaiah 58: 4-8a Psalm 34: 15-22 Reflection The priest and the Levite who walked by on the other side may have had religious reasons for not helping. They would have felt justified in what they had done. Yet, on many occasions, Jesus is critical of religious leaders for placing rules ahead of the obligation to do good. The prophet Isaiah gives us the same encouragement, we should do good rather than look good. As Christians, how far are we prepared to go beyond convention? This parable not only challenges us to do good, but also to widen our vision. The Good Samaritan is often the one we do not expect. Light and love are embodied in our enemy too. We pray for St Mary’s Church, Hawkshaw. Holcombe Brook Methodists. Our clergy, ministers and church leaders. World leaders that they show faith and integrity. We pray together Lord Jesus Christ, may our eyes not look away, but be wide open to the world around us. As we travel through life, may we stop and reach out, bind up the wounded and in so doing experience your presence in them. Amen Question Who are the Good Samaritans in your community? Go and do Reflect on your own circle of relationships and their geography. Choose today to walk through another part of town. What do you see and who do you notice?
Day 3—Saturday 20th January 2024 “Who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10: 29) Lord, open our hearts to those we do not see. Additional scripture passages Romans 13: 8-10 Psalm 119: 57-63 Reflection The teacher of the law wanted to justify himself, hoping that the neighbour he is called to love is one of his own faith and people. This is a natural human instinct. We prefer places of familiarity. This can also be true of our church communities. But Jesus takes the lawyer, and his wider audience, deeper into their own tradition by reminding them of the obligation to welcome and love all, regardless of religion, culture or social status. The Gospel teaches that loving those who are like ourselves is nothing special. Jesus steers us towards a much more radical version of what it means to be human. The parable illustrates in a very visible way what Christ expects from us – to open wide our hearts and walk in his way, loving others as he loves us. In fact, Jesus answers the lawyer with another question: it is not “who is my neighbour?”, but “who was a neighbour to the man in need?” We pray for Greenmount URC. St Paul’s Church, Ramsbottom. Our outreach to the elderly and our local care homes. Those who find it difficult to integrate into society. We pray together God of love, who writes love in our hearts, Instil in us the courage to look beyond ourselves and to be the unexpected neighbour. Amen Question Who are the people who are excluded within your community and why? Go and do Think of a person you have never really thought of as your neighbour? How can you be a neighbour to them in a practical way?
