Christian church members were to begin a week-long celebration of Canora’s churches meant to encourage unity between all people on Monday.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being held on January 23 to 27 in Canora, according to Rev. Brett Watson. The event is part of a nationwide celebration of faith in Canada, though the official week is January 18 to 25.
The event is an annual celebration held by the Canadian Council of Churches, which has been celebrating it for over 40 years. Watson said that he has been celebrating the week in Canora for 12 years.
Celebrations consist of a soup lunch followed by a devotional prayer session beginning at noon. Monday’s lunch was held at the Parkland Christian Centre. Other sessions will be held at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church today (January 25), St. Andrew’s United Church on Thursday and Gateway Community Church and Good Spirit Community Church on Friday.
“It’s a good event for people who work, since it’s quickly done over the lunch hour,” said Watson.
“It’s also exciting to see all the different soups the churches prepare.”
The theme for 2017’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is reconciliation, particularly for the churches of Germany.
“This year, we rejoice in the opportunity to pray with the Christians of Germany. They have chosen as their theme “Reconciliation – The Love of Christ Compels Us,” inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:14-20. They invite Christians around the world to celebrate God’s reconciling grace, call us to recognize the pain of the deep divisions which afflict the Church, and urge us to become ambassadors of Christ’s message of reconciliation,” said information from the website.
Watson considers the theme an opportunity for people of Christian faith to strengthen their faith, as well as an opportunity for those who are not religious to reconcile.
“We welcome people from all churches and anyone else who is interested,” he said.
