Writer’s Note: Every year, the northern hemisphere recognizes a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity between 18 January and 25 January. This focus on Christian unity recognizes Jesus’ prayer in John chapter 17 that the church “may all be one … so that the world may believe.” For 2025, Christians around the world were encouraged to pray using the theme “Do you believe this?” with a focus on the unity found in the Nicene Creed. Each day was assigned a category of shared belief for reflection and prayer. This week’s prayers are organized around these eight belief categories. More information about the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity can be found at oikoumene.org.
God of all peoples and all nations, your Son taught us to pray and modeled for us the importance of praying for unity among your faithful people. You know that unity is difficult when we all come from different places, different perspectives, different experiences, different language families, and different cultures. Be with us as we continue to wrestle with our witness to the world in our acts of unity, and our acts of disunity. Guide us in emphasizing the importance of those areas of faith, belief, and practice which we share. Remind us that the core of our faith is found in your Son.
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who rules the universe cares for us as a loving parent.
Nurturing God, we are astounded that we are important to you in the face of the vastness of your domain. Help us to live like we truly believe this, acknowledging the full humanity of every beloved person we encounter. We pray especially that this truth would be made known in places where humanity and dignity are only offered to those deemed worthy through their ethnic or religious identity. It is obvious in Palestine where civilians are still being injured and killed in Gaza and the West Bank, and in China where minorities are ‘cleansed’, imprisoned or forcibly medicated in hospitals. Sadly we forget too often this happens in our own countries with the marginalised, homeless, mentally ill or physically disabled, minority communities including first nation groups, LGBTQ+ and others.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who lovingly created all that exists from the stars and galaxies to the tiniest building blocks of life on Earth.
Creator God, the works of your hands show forth your glory, from the beauty of freshly-fallen snow to the hope that springs forth from a budding tree. Help us to live like we truly believe this, caring for your creation and treating the resources you provide as the precious gift that they are. We especially pray for areas of our world that are affected by climate change, such as in Spain where water is scarce due to drought and in California, United States where fires continue to rage even in the wet season of winter.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who came to dwell among us in the form of a helpless baby.
Incarnate God, in your Son you make holy the bodies that we take for granted in all their diversity. Help us to live like we truly believe this, working to bring healing to bodies that are broken and to bring honor to bodies that are considered unusual or undesirable. We especially pray for those injured in the ski resort fire in Turkey, for those affected by the Marburg virus outbreak in Tanzania, and for those we know and love who are suffering in mind, body, and spirit.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who suffered for us, died for us, and was raised to new life for us.
Sacrificing God, since the earliest confession of Paul, our statement of faith has shared the same central core of simple yet profound words: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Help us to live like we truly believe this, dedicating our lives to serving your world as a sign of gratitude for the acts of love you have shown us in your willingness to suffer and die for us. Remind us of the hope that can be found in even the darkest of places because of your promise of resurrection. We pray especially for that hope to be found among the Uyghurs of China who after a decade continue to struggle to find home and safety after fleeing oppression.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who abides with us, guiding us and bringing us life and joy.
Present God, your Holy Spirit is with us in times of joy and sorrow, in times of weakness and strength. Help us to live like we truly believe this, remembering that we are never alone and acting with boldness on behalf of those who suffer due to injustice and oppression. We pray especially for those who are fearful in the face of the pardon of many January 6 prisoners in the United States and for those who were negatively impacted by the corrupt practices of the army’s chief psychiatrist in The Ukraine.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who forms the Church, which is the body of Christ for the sake of the world.
Active God, we see you at work in the world in millions of places and in millions of ways, both big and small. Help us to live like we truly believe this, watching for glimpses of your love in the actions of others. When we glimpse that you want us to be your hands and voice in the world, may we jump in to help with all our hearts. We join together in thankfulness today with our brothers and sisters overseas for the dedicated and inspired work producing the universal availability of electricity in Bangladesh, and the transition toward solar power in Beijing, China. Help your church to discern all the ways you are calling us to partner and participate in your good work in our communities.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God who calls us to be baptized into Christ’s death so that we might rise to new life with him and in him.
Renewing God, in the waters of baptism you promise to wash away everything that keeps us from engaging in deep and healing relationship with you and with each other. Help us to live like we truly believe this, devoting ourselves to prayer, praise, hospitality, and service all the days of our lives. We especially thank you today for the newly baptized, for those who have renewed their faith, and for those who are seeking a deeper relationship with you.
[Brief silence.]
Together with the church around the world, we confess our faith:
We believe in the God whose promises are certain and sure, assuring us that we do not wait in vain for the coming of God’s kingdom and life with God forever.
Eternal God, your promise of life forever with you is certain and sure. Help us to live like we truly believe this, standing with boldness in the face of various types of death, oppression and hatred that will not and cannot have the final word. Remind us of the great cloud of witnesses that stands around your throne in glory, so that we might be inspired by their good deeds and empowered by your Holy Spirit to work for the kingdom that has no end. We thank you especially today for the lives and ministries of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr of the United States, Joan d’Arc of France, and Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, the patron saint of Finland.
[Brief silence.]
Be with us, O Lord, as you have promised, as we strive daily to live in the unity to which you call us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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