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Week of prayer for Christian Unity:  Guided by the Lord

                                                          “We saw the star in the East, and we came to worship him” (Mt 2:2) 


This week the Canadian Council of Churches invites us to pray globally with the World Council of Churches for Christian Unity.  I invite you to look at www.weekofprayer.ca for Canadian daily prayers and meditations.  This year’s theme, developed by the Middle East Council of Churches is based on Matthew 2:2. In the Middle East Christian churches are a minority and often face persecution.   Rev. Dr. Rima Nasrallah gave a powerful reflection of the plight of Christians in the Middle East and the broader challenges and opportunities of following Christ in today’s world of upheaval and uncertainty.  Here is a part of her reflection: 
 
“Meditating on the Magi, we were also driven to think about how sometimes we tend to claim the light that came to dispel darkness through Christ. Assuming it is only for us and behaving as if we alone understand its value. In the Middle East, we are surrounded by Muslims and Jews as well as other smaller religious groups. What have we done with that light in their midst? Have we assumed that they could not see it? …….The light is for everyone, but our Scripture should also be accessible and understandable to everyone, particularly in our dark world, a world becoming darker today as confusion reigns (no one seems to know the way) and despair is rising with the aftereffects of COVID-19. “…..

Is God calling us to a new way of being Christians?

“A little detail in the story that was probably intended to reveal the evil of Herod and the saving message of God speaks of the Magi returning “through another way.” Though making a little hermeneutical jump, we were very inspired by that sentence. It made us think and ask whether God is maybe calling us to take another way—a new way. 
Different from what we have been doing so far. Particularly in these COVID times, in crisis times, in changing times. In times when maybe some of us are tired of talking about the same things and same topics and going about things in the same old way. 
So we placed that in our prayers asking the Lord to show us a new way and to give us creativity as we seek to walk together in our ecumenical journey following the light of the star so we can “rejoice with great rejoicing”! 
This was our journey with this text. We hope that gathering around this text it will inspire you along your journey."

Rev. Dr. Rima Nasrallah’s message inspires us in Canada to remember that just as God spoke to the Magi of taking a new way, God speaks to us to find a new way of taking God’s message of salvation and redemption into the world.  A new way of healing creation, healing our relationship with First Nations, of speaking out for social justice. A new way of being Christians.

To  watch the full address delivered to the Council’s Governing Board in November by the Rev. Dr. Rima Nasrallah (The Middle East Council of Churches) click   this wonderful talk  .  In her address, Nasrallah connects the theme of this year's WPCU to the plight of Christians in the Middle East today and the broader challenges and opportunities of following Christ in today's world of upheaval and uncertainty. 

Prayer of Intercession:
The birth of Jesus was good news for all, gathering people from different nations and religions in worship of the holy child.
We pray for our efforts to seek harmony and dialogue with other religions: 
Lord, give us humility and patience to walk with others with respect on their journey. 
O, Lord, hear our prayer 

The Magi returned to their home by a different way.
We pray for our churches in this changing world:

Lord, help us to find new and creative ways to follow you and to witness to you so that the world may believe. 
O, Lord, hear our prayer 

When the Magi saw the holy child, they rejoiced with great joy.

Heavenly Father, fix our eyes on him so we do not lose our way. 
Unite us in the Lord Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life, and who has taught us to pray, saying: 
Our Father in heaven... 

Prayer 
O Lord God our Father, you sent the star to lead the Magi to your only begotten Son. Increase our hope in you and let us know at all times that you are walking with us, watching over your people. Teach us to follow the guidance of your Holy Spirit, however strange the path may seem, so that we may be led to our unity in Jesus Christ, the light of the world. Open our eyes to your Spirit, and encourage us in our faith, so that we may confess that Jesus is Lord, and worship and rejoice in him as the Magi did in Bethlehem. 
We ask you these blessings in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.