ECUMENICAL SUNDAY IS JANUARY 24TH THIS YEAR - CLICK TO EXPLORE

Posted on Tue, Jan 5, 2021

On this day we celebrate interfaith partnerships that link Christians and strengthen Christian unity through prayer and outreach ministries

 

On Ecumenical Sunday, we celebrate interfaith partnerships that link Christians and strengthen Christian unity through prayer and outreach ministries. 

“And Jesus said to them, ‘follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
--Mark 1:17-18, NRSV

 “A single person can sing a church hymn,” wrote Rod Stetzer in The Chippewa (Wis.) Herald. “But a choir singing the same hymn gives it power.” 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Generous God, you give us so much, including opportunities to work and learn together. As we “fish for people,” open our minds and our hearts to new ideas and new ways of doing things so that your church may continue to flourish. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.”
--1 Corinthians 12:12, NRSV

Ecumenical Sunday is an opportunity for us to celebrate the interfaith partnerships that link us with other Christians. We can join together in worship, plan a cooperative fund-raiser or have an interfaith Bible school. The possibilities are endless!

“I cannot imagine that there are separate wings in heaven, one for each denomination,” writes Michael Pommier in The Fort Scott [Kan.] Tribune.

Growing up in the Catholic Church, he adds, “I continue to celebrate my faith.” However, he is perplexed that “people of different faiths do not get along simply because of their chosen faith.”

After all, Pommier continues, people of “all Christian faiths pray to the same God, just in a different way. If you walk up to a stranger and ask, ‘Do you believe in God?’ and they answer ‘yes,’ can you determine what faith they celebrate just by their answer?”

He offers an example of interfaith cooperation from his own community. “Members of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Arma United Methodist Church present a Christmas cantata and raise money for the needy in the community.

“In the grand scheme of things,” Pommier asserts, “no matter what faith you choose to celebrate, God hears your prayers. Spreading God's word is the goal of any faith community, so why not do it together?”

OFFERTORY PRAYER 

God of unity, we are independent beings. Often we think we are the perfect person for a job and no one else can measure up. We forget that you created us to work together, to complement each other. Remind us today especially that your children are of many faiths—not just United Methodist. Guide us as we work, play and pray together. In your holy name, we pray. Amen. 

reprinted from UMC.org - all rights reserved

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