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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 

is an ecumenical international Christian week, 

normally celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere 

between January 18th and 25th. 

For this observance, some churches might organize daily events,

or concentrate on one joint service with neighbouring churches.

The beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 

goes back to 1908, 

so 115 years ago,

and Father Paul Wattson, a co-founder of the Graymoor Fransiscan Friars, 

a monastic order that focusses on ecumenical, or inter-church work.

The overarching theme for the week comes from Jesus’ prayer in the Gospel of John Chapter 17, where He prays for his followers: 

“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, 

so that they may be one, as we are one.” (17:11)

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In previous years for this week at St. Matthews, we had pulpit exchanges in 2018 and 2020,

And a joint service with Trinity United in 2019.

Last Spring Evan and I made plans to work 

towards a joint service, 

with some steps in the Fall along the way; 

a pulpit exchange and some joint musical projects.

For today’s service I also invited Trinity United and Iglesia ni Cristo,

the other churches here at 54 Benton to join us, but they declined.

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You know, you can read all you want about a different denomination or a church, but unless you actually spend time with them, 

esp. in worship, you don’t truly know them.

Those dividing walls between churches and denominations 

are sometimes quite large, 

but only by praying, singing and listening to God’s Word together

can you ever hope to grasp 

that what unites us as Christians, 

is greater than what divides us.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity provides such an opportunity, 

at least once a year, to focus on our unity through Christ.

—

—

In our reading from the letter to Ephesians,

“Paul” talks about how the Gentiles and the Jews 

were separated by adividing wall.

This is a reference to the wall that was in the Jerusalem temple. 

In the temple there were four courts separated by walls. 

The outermost court was the Court of Gentiles, 

and moving inward, there was the Court of Women, 

and the Court of Israelites, 

and the Court of the Priests. 

[…] the Court of Gentiles, was the only place Gentiles 

[non-Jews] could worship. 

In 1871 archaeologists actually found this dividing wall that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of Women. 

On that wall it had very strong words: 

"Do not proceed any further for fear of death." 

So the Gentiles understood that this was their place in the temple 

and they couldn't go any farther. They were segregated. 

(Bryan Loritts, preaching today.com)

Like how the Gentiles and Jews were separated in their worship areas in the Jerusalem Temple of Jesus’s time,

There is a lot that divides humanitythese days 

(let alone within Christianity),

-Borders and policies create barriers to immigration and refugees

-political positionings like Brexit and America First 

create distinctions between “us” and them”

-racism and sexism exclude groups and create hierarchies of privilege. 

If we are honest there are issues that divide UNA and St. Matthews,

Topics such as liturgy, sacraments and human sexuality,

The usage of Biblical critical methods,

The structural differences between a young mission plant and a legacy congregation

And of course the power imbalance between lessor and lessee.

But I find there is a lot more that unites our two churches:

We have a common mission in the heart of downtown:

UNA describes itself as a “Community of faith, hope, love”, and

St. Matts as “Sharing God’s love as a caring faith community.”

Both congregations have a passion for good music: 

whether classical or more contemporary,

Both are living in the tension between conservative and progressive 

(not mired in the past, but also not adopting every latest new thing).

Both have enthusiasm for finding new solutions and trailblazing,

Both place an emphasis on solid theological and Biblical preaching

If two churches like ours can focus on what unites us, 

then how much more could the billion Christians worldwide 

focus on working together,

Amidst the diversity of denominations, 

from the ancient ethiopic Orthodox to the newest pop-up Pentecostal church plant,

From the smells and bells of Anglo-Catholics, to seeker mega-churches, and the quiet contemplation of the Quakers.

—

As Paul reminds us, the cross of Jesus Christ brings us closer.

Through the cross we are not only reconciled vertically, 

that is we are reconciled with God 

But also we are reconciled horizontally 

Reconciled to our fellow Christians.

(It’s neat how the cross works that way…vertical and horizontal)

The Cross kills divisions!

Paul writes: that Jesus “has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. “ (v14)

Jesus proclaimed and made peace between groups that had been estranged and far-off.(v17)

In his body, 

which was put to death on the cross, all that divides us, 

all that hurts us, all that creates separation, is also put to death, 

and ends.

(Through the cross we can all as Christians assert that By grace we have been saved though faith, and this is a gift from God.)

In 1979 Sister Sledge sang “We are family”,

And through Christ we are all part of one family,

the household of God,

We are siblings in Christ, fellow citizens in Christ,

And if we are siblings, then we all share the same heavenly Parent, 

God the Father, to whom we have access through the Spirit.

Paul not only uses the imagery of family to describe the unity

 that we as Christians have gained through Christ, 

but he also uses building imagery.

Paul describes the community of Christ-followers to be like a temple, a dwelling place for God.

-Built upon the foundationof apostles and prophets, 

with Christ Jesus as cornerstone.

Jesus is like the foundational stone at the corner of a building, 

on top of which all the followers are like stones and bricks that are joined together

Into a structure that creates, collaborates, and also sometimes disagree.

—

So if we as Christians are brought near, 

brought closer by the blood of Christ, redeemed by Jesus Christ,

We need to act as if we really believe this.

If we really understand what the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is all about, then we need to “live together as children of one parent.” (Israel Kamudzandu).

If God is the parent of all humanity,

Then: hopefully we can live as brothers and sisters, 

To “bring love to places where hatred is found.”

We need to be united for a purpose,

Namely, to evangelize and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ,

to be agents of peace,

We need to work for justice and care for those in need, living the Christ-like life,

With no room for pride, contempt or intolerance of fellow humans.

Christ is our cornerstone!

Let us live and love like we understand that

Our unity through Christ smashes all dividing walls.