Shillong, January 09: Once again, we place into your hands the resource material (http://www.nccindia.in/ncci/images/unity-octave2013.pdf) for the observance of the Unity Octave. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an occasion for all Christians to experience the oneness in Christ and join together in prayer fellowship.
This year it is being observed with the theme from Micha 6:6-8 “What does God require of us”. In the context of Indian social and religious systems, it is a challenge to all Christian communities to explore in ecumenical fellowship what it means to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with God. We hope the week of prayer will be devoted to seriously look into the areas of division and try to understand the possible areas of common acceptance for keeping the unity of the church.
The theme also coincides with the theme of the 10th assembly of World Council of Churches, “God of life, Lead us to Justice and Peace”. It is a prayer to God as well as a call to churches to care for the creation and to preserve justice and peace among all people and nations. This same theme will be used for the NCCI Sunday observation on 20 January 2013.
The Students Christian Movement of India, while celebrating its centenary, has taken the responsibility along with National Council of Churches in India and All India Catholic University Federation, in bringing out the text for the use of the Week of Prayer. Let us celebrate life in all its fullness, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecto of our faith. May the unity of the faithful be achieved according to the design and plan of God? Commission on Unity, Mission and Evangelism.(SP News)
