20.01.2014
‘Go Forth United’ – Congregation at Christian Unity Week Service Told
The inaugural service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Dublin took place in St Fintan’s Roman Catholic Church in Sutton last night (Sunday January 19). The service was attended by the leaders of many Christian denominations including the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Dublin.
The theme of this year’s week of prayer is ‘Is Christ Divided’ based on 1 Corinthians 1:1–17. The theme was chosen the French Canadian Churches and the Dublin inaugural service was organised by the Dublin Council of Churches in conjunction with local parishes and incorporated an ancient ritual practiced by the indigenous people of Canada.
The address was given by Canon Desmond Sinnamon, retired Rector of Taney, who spoke of the experience of hundreds of thousands indigenous Canadians who were removed from their lands and displaced, effectively making them refugees.
Canon Sinnamon linked this to the current situation in Syria where six million people have been forced to flee their homes with 2.5 million people living in refugee camps. He said churches are working with refugees showing them that they are not forgotten.
These are turbulent times in the Middle East and North Africa, the preacher said adding the profound change has led to wide spread humanitarian catastrophe. He said Christians, Muslims and Jews have all experienced the destructive influence of current trends.
Canon Sinnamon said that in the last few weeks, Christian leaders have expressed concern about the persecution of Christians. He spoke about the difficulties experienced by Christians struggling in Syria and Palestine. He said they are seeking the support of Christians around the world and challenge churches in Ireland and the west to prophetic action.
“It is within this context of turbulence in the Middle East that the International Week of Christian Unity takes place and we pray for Christians, Muslims and Jews but also we pray for ourselves that we may not divide them in our prayers but keep them in our hearts,” he concluded.
Concluding the service, the church leaders present pledged their commitment to unity and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin urged the congregation to “go forth united”.
Photo caption: Church leaders, including Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Archbishop Michael Jackson (centre) gathered in St Fintan’s Church in Sutton. (Photo: John McElroy)