The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from the 18th to the 25th January. Each year resources are provided for Christians of all nations and denominations to read and pray each day and normally there is a local service for Christians from different churches across North Swindon to come together.
In 2025, we will be worshipping together on Sunday 19th January at 6pm at St Andrew’s Methodist Church, 31 Moredon Road, Swindon SN25 3DF. The guest speaker at this service will be Roger Sutton, the co-founder of Gather Movement (a network of unity movements across the UK).
There are Bible readings and prayers available for each day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and you can find them here Day 1 is Saturday 18th January
This year the ecumenical celebration has been prepared by the community of Bose, an ecumenical monastery of brothers and sisters in northern Italy. In Bose, community life is shaped by the rhythm of regular prayer. As the bells call the sisters, brothers and guests to prayer, they all assemble at the church. As we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, this worship service has at its heart, the Nicene Creed. Reflecting this, the scripture readings for this year focus on belief.
The texts provided for personal or communal prayer for each of the eight days include two scripture readings and a psalm. The biblical texts for each day highlight in turn key statements of the Nicene Creed.
Day 1: The fatherhood and motherhood of God who rules the universe.
Day 2: Creation as God’s work.
Day 3: The Incarnation of the Son.
Day 4: The Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Day 5: The Holy Spirit, breath of God.
Day 6: The Church: Community of believers.
Day 7: Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of the Lord.
Day 8: Waiting for the Kingdom.