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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025

January 18th to 25th

“Do you believe this?”  

  John 11:26

MaryandMartha.jpg

Image: 32 – Martha and Mary © Vie De Jesus MAFA

Each year, a local Christian community makes an initial choice of a biblical text and for 2025, the prayers and reflections were prepared by the brothers and sisters of the Bose monastic community in northern Italy.

 

The idea for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 comes from John 11:17-27. The theme for the week, “Do you believe this?” (v. 26), follows the lead from the dialogue between Jesus and Martha when Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary in Bethany after the death of their brother Lazarus.

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For the complete programme for the Week of Prayer visit the website of the World Council of Churches:

www.oikoumene.org/resources

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Or download the booklet here: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025

Reflections for each day

 

January 18th, DAY 1: The fatherhood and care of God who rules the universe

Scripture Readings:  Isaiah 63:15-17; Psalm 139:1-3, 13, 23, 24b; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6

 

Prayer

Let us pray.

Father of compassion,

renew our faith in you and bind us together through your love,

so that we can recognise each other as your children,

and come together as one.

We praise you through Jesus Christ, your only-begotten Son,

in the communion of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

 

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January 19th, DAY 2: Creation as God’s work

Scripture Readings:  Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 148:1, 3, 9-14; Romans 8:19-23

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Prayer

Let us pray.

Lord God, Father of lights,

strengthen our hearts in expectation and hope

as we work for unity and together seek the harmony of all creation.

Let us be burning lamps,

until the day of the coming of your Son in glory,

with all his saints in the everlasting kingdom.

Blessed are you, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. AMEN.

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January 20th, DAY 3: The Incarnation of the Son

Scripture Readings:  Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 72:7, 12, 16-17; John 1:1-14

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Prayer

Let us pray:

Lord God, our Father

draw our eyes to you

so that together we may walk

from darkness to the light of your face,

revealed to us in Jesus,

your Son and our brother,

who lives with you and the Holy Spirit

now and for ever and ever. AMEN.

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January 21st, DAY 4: The Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus

Scripture Readings:  Exodus 3: 7-8; Psalm 16:5, 7, 10, 11; Philippians 2:5-11

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Prayer

Let us pray

Lord our God,

glorifying your Son Jesus, you have freed us from death.

Through his resurrection,

awaken our slumbering hearts,

enlighten all who seek you

and make the morning star shine upon us,

Jesus Christ, the Living One,

who is Lord for ever and ever. AMEN.

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January 22nd, DAY 5: The Holy Spirit, the giver of life and joy

Scripture Readings:  Ezekiel 36:24-28; Psalm 104:24-25, 27-29, 33-34; John 3:4-8

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Prayer

Let us pray:

God our Father,

you have revealed to us the wondrous mystery of your life,

sending your Son into the world

and sharing with us your Spirit of holiness and joy.

Let us rejoice in the Spirit,

who renews the face of the earth and draws us towards unity.

We confess our faith in you,

the One God, three times Holy:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed are you, now and for ever and ever. AMEN.

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January 23rd, DAY 6: The Church: Community of Believers

Scripture Readings:  Isaiah 2:2-4; Psalm 133; Ephesians 4:1-6

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Prayer

Let us pray.

God of heaven and earth,

your Son Jesus Christ has revealed you as our Father

and promised us the gift of the Holy Spirit:

grant to your Church to overcome the scandal of our divisions,

so that we may bear witness to your life of communion,

in the unity of our profession of faith

and in the love of mutual service.

Through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

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January 24th, DAY 7: Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of the Lord

Scripture Readings:  Micah 7:18-19; Psalm 51:1, 7, 10, 12; Matthew 28:16-20

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Prayer

Let us pray.

God our Father, we praise you and bless your name.

Accept our thanksgiving for the unity Christians already enjoy

in the confession of Jesus the Lord.

Hasten the day, we beg you, of the full mutual recognition of our churches

in the communion that you desire,

and for which your Son prayed.

We ask this in the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.

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January 25th, DAY 8: Waiting for the Kingdom and the life to come

Scripture Readings:  Revelation 21:1-4; Psalm 85:8, 10-12; Luke 12:35-40

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Prayer

Let us pray.

O Lord, hasten the coming of your great and glorious day!

In our darkness, many men and women no longer dare to hope.

Protect the flame of faith in the hearts of the weak and the suffering.

May the Church be a faithful herald of the victory of Christ your Son over death

and a beacon of expectation for his return in glory.

He is the Living One, with you and with the Holy Spirit.

now and forever and ever. AMEN.

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