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Jan 23 2019

2019 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Photos and Stories

Week of Prayer for Christian UnityThe Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international initiative where Christians worldwide are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). In 2019, the theme was “Justice, Only Justice, You Shall Pursue,” (Deuteronomy 16:20), and was chosen by Christians in Indonesia. We coordinated a combination of nightly worship services and neighborhood dinners aligned with this theme to focus attention on how we can contribute to acts of unity, justice and mercy in our personal lives and within our communities.

Check out the photos below, and be encouraged by the growing interest in neighborhood-based collaboration among Christians from a variety of backgrounds – for the glory of God and the good of the city.

Night 1: UniteBoston Neighborhood Dinner: North Shore

We had an incredible start to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on Thursday evening with the inaugural North Shore neighborhood dinner, hosted by Peggy Hothem from Our Savior Lutheran Church. 35 people from 16 different churches crowded into her home in South Hamilton. We shared a potluck meal together, discussing our various ministry interests and the justice issues that each of us care about. We then joined our hearts in prayer and sang together “The Church’s One Foundation.” You’ll see there are three photos below – too many people to fit in one picture!
 
There was a tangible desire shared among the group to partner across our congregations and model a different way of doing “church” that is characterized by unity and reconciliation, rather than conflict and division. A particular highlight of this gathering was the large representation of both Catholics and Protestants. What a great start to the week!

Night 2: The Art of Hope: Creation

This event had art, spoken word, music, and creative performances related to creation, hosted by Hope Fellowship Church in Cambridge. Kiki Densamo, who is a UB Neighborhood Dinner Coordinator in Cambridge, also showed her short film documenting the story of a young man who immigrated from Ethiopia to the US. It was awesome to see how this evening intentionally welcomed people who don’t normally attend church!

Day 3: UniteBoston Neighborhood Brunch: Watertown/Belmont

Rebekah and Stephen Nyakairu from Grace Chapel Watertown graciously opened their home for a delicious brunch and great conversation around racial justice, multiethnic congregations, and reconciliation. Here is a discussion guide that can be used to foster conversation within your own home or community group around racial justice, which incorporates the artwork of Stephanie Irwin.

Night 3: Anchor Prayer and Worship Service

We had a moving prayer service on Saturday evening for the anchor gathering of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – it was great to join together in prayer amidst the snowstorm outside.  Thank you to Rev. Amy and St. Paul’s Cathedral for hosting this beautiful time of worship and prayer, as well as all participating clergy and congregants. 

The many clergy present represented a variety of traditions, including Catholic, Evangelical, Episcopal, and United Church of Christ.

The Crossing band led us in lively song – jazzing up the traditional Christian hymns and choruses.

Ylisse Bess Washington preached a powerful word, describing that truth telling, truth seeking and living is the beginning of justice, and how we need each other to do this well. Click here to listen to her sermon.

We then lit candles and passed the light from one person to the other – A great symbol of our need to receive from one another in sharing the love of Christ to the world.


The evening concluded with writing our own commitments of how each of us can contribute to acts of justice in our own lives. Each person was invited to take home the card displaying someone else’s commitment to remember our need for one another in the work for justice and to keep them in prayer.

Day 4: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Service Projects

UniteBoston’s Team Leader Kelly Fassett at the Boston Cares MLK Day of Service at Boston Latin School. They had a variety of opportunities, including creating conversation Jenga games and journals for English Language Learners and constructing bed frames for youth who don’t have a bed to sleep in. She helped to paint this mural – It had the word “unity” in different languages.
UniteBoston’s Cambridge Neighborhood Coordinator Kiki Densamo served at the Cambridge MLK day of service by creating valentines for elders and veterans.

Night 5: Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Dinner

There was a great group at our Jamaica Plain neighborhood dinner! Good conversation about the need for economic justice, yet a recognition that systemic complexity provides no easy answers. There was enthusiasm for neighborhood-based connection and collaboration among the group to minister to the needs of the community in the likeness of Christ. Thanks to Kate Devane Brown and her husband Matt from Mosaic Boston for their gracious hospitality in opening up their home for their first neighborhood dinner!

Night 6: Medford/Malden Neighborhood Dinner

We had a great conversation last night at the Malden/Medford neighborhood dinner. There were some deep thinkers in this group – we considered questions involving the tension between unity, justice, and truth, and how we might keep unity at the forefront of our minds in the midst of conflict. It was also great to see the partnership between Mambi and Rebekah working together to host this dinner. 

Night 7: Greek Orthodox Vespers Service

We had the opportunity to experience an Orthodox Great Vespers service this evening – for many of us, this was the first time ever worshipping in the Orthodox tradition. What a deep, rich, reverent style of worship that takes seriously the historical roots of the Christian faith!

We are grateful to Rev. Dr. Demetrios Tonias, Dean of the Anunciation Cathedral of Boston, for hosting us and teaching us about the Orthodox Church, such as their understanding of liturgy as the meeting of heaven and earth. People expressed gratitude for this opportunity to learn about the beautiful ancient traditions within the Orthodox Church, and the continuity with the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.

Delicious Greek food and fellowship with our Orthodox brothers who led us with the chanting of the service.

We are grateful to these clergy and priests who have served as ecumenical pillars in leading the work towards Christian unity. This group represents Catholic, Lutheran, and Greek Orthodox traditions.

Night 8: Taize Prayer Service

The concluding gathering for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was Taize Prayer at the MIT Chapel. Taize prayer connects people with God though contemplation, prayer, and melodic singing and has an international message of Christian reconciliation and unity. Together, we will continue to pray, “Lord our God, you have revealed yourself as One who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people. Be present with your church, Lord, as we respond to your call. Set us free from pious exercises that prevent us from the true worship you choose: Sharing bread with the hungry, sharing homes with the homeless, sharing clothes with the naked, sharing hearts with our own kin. May your justice roll down like waters, your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Lead our footsteps to stand with the poor, that we might stand with you.”


Experiences & Stories

“During the discussion at the Jamaica Plain dinner, I was struck by the emphasis on place in the week’s theme passage from Deuteronomy, which describes the need to pursue justice “in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you… that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Our conversation reminded me that my specific neighborhood is not only a calling but also a gift to me, and I am so excited to continue building these new relationships with neighbors!”
-Kate Devane Brown, UniteBoston Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Dinner Coordinator and member of Mosaic Boston

“I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Anunciation Cathedral of Boston and worshiping God in the tradition of a Greek Orthodox Vespers Service, which I attended as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The service was beautiful in spirit and in ritual and Rev. Tonias’ explanation of the Orthodox tradition and liturgy following the service was a total treat…fascinating and inspiring and enlightening!”
-Matt Crane, Director of Christian Education for the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, and Director of the WEE Forum for the Institute for Christian Unity

“I love how UniteBoston has embraced this important international expression of ecumenism that has been around for decades and integrated it with UB’s vision to bring all the streams of Christianity together to enjoy and learn from one another. This year’s theme “Pursue Justice, Only Justice” helped me to understand how critical “pursuit” is to not only justice, but unity and so much more. We had an enlightening discussion at the Medford/Malden neighborhood dinner I attended: We realized that unity and justice are not things we can create but only pursue, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. And pursuit means placing yourself in settings outside your familiar faith communities – like an Orthodox or Episcopal Cathedral. Each time I set foot in these unfamiliar places, God blesses me in unexpected ways with new relationships and perspectives. I am realizing that unity and justice grow out of the pursuit of those new relationships and perspectives rather than pursuing them in and of themselves.”
-Rev. Dana Baker, UniteBoston Board Member and Pastor of Social Justice, Multicultural Ministry, Grace Chapel

“Worshipping with believers from different streams of the church at the Saturday service at St. Paul’s made me thankful for all the hard work Kelly and the team at Unite Boston have put into promoting the unity of believers in our city.  I had several significant discussions with people I had never met after the service that were uplifting and which made me glad to have been at the service.  God is good.”
-Pastor Dave Hill, Abundant Grace Church

“This year it was a pleasure to see the Deacons of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston at so many of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity events. The services I went to were incredibly beautiful manifestations of our bond in Christ and the desire to complete that unity.”
-Vito Nicastro, Member of the UniteBoston Board and Associate Director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston

“Given the divisiveness and fear in the air all around us these days, as well as the injustices that threaten to overwhelm our hearts and hope, it was deeply nourishing to stand together affirming our commitment to one another and to a better future.”
-Amy McCreath, Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston

“The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is not meant to be the only time we come together as followers of Jesus, but an energizer for our doing so throughout the year. The wonderful cornucopia of dinners, discussions and prayer services during the week here have likely lit that fire in the hearts of many. Let’s keep the fire burning! Winter is not the only season Jesus’ heart needs warming in seeing his followers join hands and hearts and voices.”
-Fr. Tom Ryan, director of the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations at the Paulist Center in Boston

“At the Malden/Medford neighborhood dinner, I learned three things:
-We should make choices to get to know others of different backgrounds, even when it’s messy
-We should start each endeavor asking, “how can I seek unity in this?”
-We should remember that seeking unity means unity comes from God rather than our tired efforts to create it.
If we do these things, we will be closer to the will of God and to the rest.”
-Rebekah Kerstetter, leader of the UniteBoston Neighborhood Dinners in Malden/Medford and member of Highrock in Arlington

“I’m always encouraged to see the number and diversity of people who God has called to his service in Boston, and of their visions for his Kingdom work here.  The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity reminded me that the grandness of God’s redemptive work for our city (and country, and world) extends far beyond the imagination of my own congregation!”

-Jeremy Wolcott, member of Park Street Church

 

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: boston, christ, christian unity, ecumenism, jesus, justice, neighborhood, uniteboston, week of prayer, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Nov 28 2016

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

“We saw his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” (Mt 2:1-2)

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an international initiative where Christians worldwide are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disciples that “they may be one so that the world may believe” (John 17:21). Locally, UniteBoston coordinates evening collaborative gatherings of fellowship, prayer and worship from January 18-25 annually.

The theme for 2021 is the Epiphany, taken from the second chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “coming forth.” Each year in January, the Church recalls the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem, as they come to see God’s redemptive work in the Incarnation of Christ.

The material was developed by the Middle East Council of Churches and, in particular, churches in Lebanon. Present times in Lebanon are extremely difficult and economically disastrous. All this combined with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have made the situation quite stressful. The power of prayer in solidarity with those who suffer is a demonstration of Christian unity and a sign of communion.

Mark Your Calendars – You are invited to mark your calendars and plan to attend the evening gatherings! Even though the pandemic continues to prevent us from gathering physically for this important annual time of prayer, we can still gather virtually. In this time of Epiphany, we encourage you to receive the manifestation of Jesus Christ through those of different denominations, races and cultures. Let’s make the most of these virtual opportunities in order to truly be the family of God and serve as the body of Christ in the world.

Spread the Word – We also appreciate help spreading the word to people in your congregation, family, friends, and neighbors. A personal invitation goes a long way.

Schedule

Monday January 17 | Self-Guided Reflective Prayer based on Martin Luther King’s book “Where Do We Go From Here? Community or Chaos?”

We encourage you to take part in various events happening around the city to celebrate the impact and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Devlin Scott will also offer reflective prayer points based on Martin Luther King’s book “Where Do We Go From Here? Community or Chaos?,” as we pray for the unity of the church amid great division and discord. These reflective prayer points will be posted on our blog HERE.

Wednesday, January 19 | 7:00pm | “Where do we go from here?” A Panel Discussion of Now Generation Ministers

As the next generations get set to inherit the world and Church we have created, what do they see as the biggest concerns and how do they plan to address them?  For those in ministry in the current generation(s), this is an opportunity to learn ways we can support the Church of the future by acting now.  Questions from non-panelists (via chat) are planned. Featured panelists include Christian Grant, Katie Lamirato, Andrea St. Louis, Fugi Acevedo, and Jane Kyong Chun with Reverend David Wright as the moderator. Zoom link here.

Friday January 21 | 7:00pm | Prayer gathering led by the Focolare community

“We saw his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” (Mt 2:1-2) The community of the Focolare Movement in Boston will host an ecumenical prayer service that includes the intercessions and inspirations suggested in the materials presented by the Middle East Council of Churches on this year’s theme. Come to worship him! Zoom link here.

Saturday January 22 | 8:00pm | Ecumenical Prayer Service

Join for an ecumenical prayer service co-hosted by the Initiative, the Focolare Movement, and University Bible Fellowship in Chicago. Speakers include Dr. Mark Nimo from St. Moses the Black Parish, Sr. Kathlyn Mulcahy, OP from Bethany House of Hospitality, and Dr. Mariana Cuceu from St. Paraskeva Orthodox Charity. Zoom link here.

Sunday January 23  | 7:30pm |  Taizé Contemplative Prayer

Song & Stillness, Taizé at MIT is a contemplative practice of simple, quiet, evening prayer, with an international message of Christian reconciliation and unity. Using the music of the Taizé community in France, our service includes readings from Christian scripture, candlelight, meditative singing, and time for silence. 

Organized by Susan Butterworth, Lutheran Episcopal Ministry at MIT. Zoom link and service bulletin posted on our website, taizeatmit.org

Monday, January 24 | 7:00pm | Unity Prayer With Local Boston-Area Pastors

In these divided and turbulent times, the need to pray for Christian unity is more apparent than ever.  Join believers from around Boston for a time of prayer on Zoom led by local Boston area pastors.  This will be co-hosted by Rev. Melinda Priest and Rev. Robin Lutjohann. Zoom link here.

Tuesday, January 25 at 7:00pm | Listening Prayer & Discernment

What God is speaking for the Church in Boston in 2022? Join Christians throughout the city together as we listen, discern, and share words we can hold onto for 2022. This will be led by Rev. Devlin Scott and co-hosted by Kika Ghobrial . Zoom link here.


Photos from Previous Years

In 2017, we coordinated a large worship service on January 21st in alignment with the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, that had over 8 co-sponsors and was attended by over 800 people.
Here are many of the leaders hosting gatherings for the 2019 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
UB City-Wide Dinner Launch – November 2017
UniteBoston dinner at Sally’s house in West Roxbury
Prayer Gathering at the Greek Metropolis of Boston
Neighborhood Dinner at Adam’s house in East Boston
Co-presiders from various Christian traditions at the 2017 Week of Prayer Anchor Gathering

Written by uniteboston · Categorized: Blog · Tagged: boston, christian, dinner, ecumenical, ecumenism, fellowship, Institute for Christian Unity, john 17, movement, prayer, uniteboston, unity, Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, worship


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