Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Friday January 16th 2009

Many of Connor’s churches will be participating in special services to mark the 101st Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which traditionally takes place from January 18-25.

Each year, a different country is invited to write the initial worship material, which can be adapted for local use. The theme for the 2009 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was selected by a local ecumenical group from South Korea, and is “That they may become one in your hand.”

Below are some of the services taking place in Connor Diocese to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:

Greenisland – Christian Unity Community Service; Sunday January 25 at 7.00pm in St Coleman’s Church.

Ballymena, – Friday January 23 at 8pm in Gracehill Moravian Church. Preacher – The Rev Dr Johnston McMaster

Derryvolgie – Members of the Korean Christian church who live in Lisburn will participate in the Service in Derryvolgie Parish Church on Sunday January 25 at 10:30am. Korean snack (kimbap) will be served after the Service.

Larne – Special inter-church service on Sunday January 18 at 3pm in the McNeill Theatre, Larne Leisure Centre. Leader: Fr John Burns; Preacher Revd Maynard Cathcart.

Cairncastle – Unity Services in the four Churches of Cairncastle from 6-6.30pm: Monday January 19 at Cairncastle Non-Subscribing Presbyterian Church: Rev Lena Cockcroft; Tuesday January 20 at Cairncastle Presbyterian Church: Rev Anne Tolland; Wednesday January 21 at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland: Rev Roger Thompson [rector] and Thursday January 22 at St Josephs RC, Ballygally: Fr Gregory Cormican.

Whitehouse/Greencastle – Sunday, January 18 at 7pm, local churches Church Unity Week Service. Preacher: Fr John McManus PP Star of the Sea at St John Church of Ireland, Whitehouse, Newtownabbey

Ballintoy and Dunseverick with Rathlin Island – A united service of Holy Communion to celebrate 30 years of the parishes being grouped on the evening of Sunday January 25 at 6pm in Dunseverick Parish Church followed by a soup supper with donations going to Christian Aid.

Ardclinis, Tickmacrevan, Layde and Cushendun – Christian Unity Service will be in St Patrick's Glenarm on Thursday January 22 at 8pm. Speaker is Gerard Whiteford ,Vice Principal, St Louis Grammar School Ballymena.

St Thomas’s, Belfast – Sunday January 18 at 7pm. Preacher, the Rt Rev Noel Treanor, Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor.

Lisburn Sunday January 18 at 4pm, Churches Together in Lisburn Annual Unity Week Service at St Colman's RC Church, 111 Queensway, Lambeg, Lisburn.

Belfast Cathedrals’ Partnership – St Peter’s on Thursday January 22 at 8.00 pm. The Theme is “That they may become one in your hand.” The preacher is the Bishop of Clogher, Rt Rev Michael Jackson.