Christians to Pray for Unity

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Immediate Release January 12, 2007 Contact: Deacon Charles Clark (717) 657-4804 x265 www.hbgdiocese.org Christians to Pray for Unity To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25, a prayer service will be held at St. Patrick Cathedral, 212 State Street, Harrisburg on Sunday, January 21st at 7 pm. The theme for this year’s observance is, “Open our ears and loosen our tongues” (Mark 7:31-37). All are welcome to the celebration that will include scripture readings, hymns, prayers and intercessions by a variety of representatives from various Christian denominations. The goal of the Ecumenical movement is to work to build understanding and trust among Christians as they work toward the true visible unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed. The Rev. Guy C. Carter, Ph.D., Pastor of St. James the Apostle Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brogue, Pa will deliver the sermon. Father Paul Fisher, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Cornwall, Pa will be the presider. According to Deacon Charles Clark, Director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Diocese of Harrisburg, “the event is open to all Christians who wish to fulfill the will of Christ.” The week of Prayer for Christian Unity was initiated in 1908 by the Rev. Paul Wattson, co-founder of the Society of the Atonement. Its observance has changed over the years, in accordance with developments in the ecumenical movement: the universal week of prayer advocated by Abbé Paul Couturier in Lyon, France in the 1930s; the formation of the World Council of Churches in 1948; the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism in 1964; and the formation of the Joint Working Group between the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches. A world observance, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an important expression of ecumenical activity at the local level. The theme and text for each year’s observance of the Week of Prayer are chosen and prepared by representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and representatives of the World Council of Churches. The international texts are developed, adapted and published for use in the USA by the Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute. XXX .

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