wfn.org | UMNS# 04592-United Methodists urged to join 'Week of Prayer'

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United Methodists urged to join 'Week of Prayer' 

Dec. 14, 2004	 News media contact:   Kathy  Gilbert * (615) 7425470* 
Nashville {04592}

NOTE: Photographs of Bishop William Oden and the Rev. Larry Pickens are
available on the Photo Gallery at http://umns.umc.org.

By United Methodist News Service

NEW YORK (UMNS) - United Methodists are invited to join with Christians
around the world in a week of prayer for peace.

The United Methodist Church's top ecumenical officials are encouraging
congregations to set aside Jan. 18-25 to participate in the annual Week of
Prayer for Christian Unity.

Bishop William B. Oden, ecumenical officer for the denomination's Council of
Bishops, and the Rev. Larry D. Pickens, top executive of the churchwide
Commission on Christian Unity and Interreligious Concerns, sent a letter to
bishops and other church leaders asking them to encourage participation in
this annual observance.
 
"For more than 90 years, Christians have set aside time for prayer and
reflection on their unity in Christ," Oden said. "We encourage United
Methodists to join in this important celebration and observance." 

The theme for the 2005 observance is "All Things are Yours ... You Belong in
Christ ... and Christ, the Unique Foundation, Belongs to God," reflecting
Paul's letter to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 3:1-23.

"This is a foundational way for Christians to join together to promote
peace," Pickens said. "Christians across the world will come together in
celebration of our unity in Christ." 

The United Methodist Church has historically been involved with Graymoor
Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute in promoting this week of prayer. The
annual week of prayer began in the Episcopal Church in 1908. 

Each year, the theme and texts are prepared by an international group
appointed by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches
and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The churches in
Slovakia prepared this year's materials. Churches in Slovakia survived four
decades of a political system that allowed them to exist but hindered their
growth. Since then, the churches have experienced more than a decade of
renewal and emergence.

Free resources to assist congregations and ecumenical organizations in
planning and celebrating the Week of Prayer are available from the Graymoor
Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute of New York City at www.geii.org.

Resources include bulletin and pulpit announcements, suggestions for
Scripture references, and tools for communicating messages about the Week of
Prayer in local communities. 

# # #

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.

The letter sent by Bishop William Oden and the Rev. Larry Pickens follows:

Dec. 14, 2004

Dear Friends:

All United Methodists are encouraged to observe the Week of Prayer for
Christian Unity, on January 18th - 25th.

Communities across the world will come together in celebration of our unity
in Christ and United Methodists are a central part of this celebration.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was initiated in 1908.  It has evolved
through the years into a major ecumenical observance.

The theme for 2005 is, "All Things are Yours... You Belong to Christ... and
Christ, the Unique Foundation, Belongs to God."  1 Corinthians 3:1-23

Materials can be ordered from the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious
Institute.  The website is www.geii.org.  These materials can be downloaded
without charge.

Let the unity in Christ be made more visible through this very special week.

Yours In Christ,
 
Larry D. Pickens, General Secretary		  Bishop William B. Oden, 
The General Commission on			      Ecumenical Officer,
Council of Bishops
Christian Unity & Interreligious
Concerns

********************

United Methodist News Service